CLUB owner Paul McCarthy predicts Winchester City’s defence will be “bomb proof” next season following the signing of former England under-16 captain and Tottenham Hotspur cen tre-back Leigh Mills.
Winchester born and bred, the 6ft 3in defender started out at Swindon Town’s Centre of Excellence before a cash deal was struck to take him to Tottenham’s Academy as a highly- rated 16-year-old in 2004.
Capped at various age levels for England, including alongside Theo Walcott in the European Under-17 Championships of 2005, Mills made 19 youth appearances for Spurs in his first season as they progressed to the semi- finals of the FA Youth Cup.
He played another 22 times for the under-18s in 2005/06 and stepped up to make four appearances for Tottenham’s title-winning reserve side.
Injury problems restricted him to just six reserve team appearances the fol lowing season, but he got himself fit again and went on loan to Gillingham, making eight appearances for the League Two club and scoring one goal.
He returned to Tottenham from Gillingham in January last year and had his registration cancelled a month later.
“Leigh’s still only 22, but he’s been out of football for a year,” explained McCarthy.
“He’s a Winchester lad and we’ve managed to entice him back into football.
“He’s a quality player, but it’s going to take a while for him to achieve match fitness and get his pace back.
“But once he’s fully fit, he’ll be a big asset for us and, defensively, we should be bomb-proof.”
City’s determination to regain their Southern League status under the lead ership of ex-Saint Glenn Cockerill has been reflected in a host of summer signings.
New goalkeeping number one is Scott O’Rourke from Southern League outfit Sholing (formerly VT FC). Rory Anderson remains as back-up, but City will also dual-sign former Romsey Town ’keeper Mike Hookway, who is spending pre-season on trial at Dorchester.
Midfielder Gary Fulker and widemen Martin Beck and Tom Donaldson have also climbed aboard from Romsey, join ing Brockenhurst pair Liam Crook and Ben Kneller and manager’s sons Liam and Sam Cockerill in the battle for places.
Frontman Zach Glasspool has re- signed having initially left City when the Hussey brothers departed as man agers, and ex-Portsmouth and Eastleigh youngster TJ McClory- Cuthbertson is back in the mix after a long struggle with injury.
On the left, City have brought in adaptable winger/full-back James Screen, who was part of both the Portsmouth and AFC Bournemouth youth set-ups.
“I know Joe Roach, the head of youth down at Bournemouth, and he says the lad’s got a tremen dous left foot,” said McCarthy.
“I feel good about this sea son.”
