AFC PORTCHESTER have announced the signing of experienced defender Aaron Cook.

A former Portsmouth youngster, Cook, 38, went on to captain the old Salisbury City club during their rise up the leagues.

He also includes Bashley, Eastleigh, Havant & Waterlooville and Gosport Borough among his ports of call.

Portchester finished sixth in the Sydenhams Premier Division last season and won the Wessex League Cup under the joint management of Ian Saunders and Mick Catlin.

The Wicor Rec club, meanwhile, have been awarded a £6,000 Grow The Game grant, paving the way to start a new under-8 girls' team.

Grow the Game is a programme funded by The FA and delivered by the Football Foundation. It awards grants to grassroots football clubs wishing to create new teams, especially among under-represented groups.

Darren Lambe, AFC Portchester’s U8s coach, said: "This grant is a massive help to get our team up and running, and to provide the equipment that the girls will need for their weekly training sessions.

"Long-term it will also provide the funding to enable our coaches to take their FA coaching qualifications."