Bexhill sign Borough ace Atkin

The versatile 30-year-old has joined Bexhill on loan from Blue Square Bet Premier strugglers Eastbourne Borough until the end of the season.

Atkin was due to train with Bexhill for the first time on Thursday night and is available for the Sussex County Football League Division Two match at home to Rustington on Saturday.

Senior Bexhill player Ben White said: “We think we’ve signed the best player in our league. I would describe him as the best centre-half, centre-midfield player or centre-forward at the club.

“He’s not a big time player coming in from out of Bexhill, he’s a Bexhill lad and I think he will fit in to how we play really well. What he brings to the table as well is all that experience.”

Atkin, a tall figure who is strong in the air, made 216 appearances for Borough during a six-year stay at Priory Lane, scoring 60 goals, 30 of which came in the Blue Square South promotion-winning season of 2007-08.

“Obviously the club and Andy especially are very grateful to Garry Wilson (manager), Nick Greenwood (assistant manager) and Eastbourne Borough for allowing the deal to happen,” added White.

“Also the deal wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of (Bexhill secretary) Dane Martin. The contribution to the player’s wages (and those of fellow loanee Kenny Pogue) is being met by a Bexhill United supporters’ group.”

The full article will appear in Friday’s Bexhill Observer.