Winchester sign Watts and Castle (From Daily Echo)

Winchester sign Watts and Castle

2:44pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in Non League By Wendy Gee

Winchester City are close to finalising their squad for their big return to the Southern League.

The Sydenhams champions have made two new additions, signing 20- year-old winger Nick Watts from Division One South & West rivals Sholing and strapping centre-back Pete Castle from Wessex outfit GE Hamble.

Watts was on Portsmouth’s books as a youth player at the same time as Winchester defender Conor McCarthy.

Equally at home on the left or right flank, he initially joined Sholing on loan three seasons ago and then signed permanently following his release from Fratton Park.

For Castle it will be a welcome return to Southern League football a year after leaving Gosport Borough.

Now 25, he made history as Reading’s youngest ever first-team player at the age of 16 years and 49 days during Alan Pardew’s time in charge.

He has since done the non-League rounds with the likes of Staines, Eastleigh, Bashley, AFC Totton and Lymington Town.

*Full story in today's Daily Echo.