United snap up hungry Searle

EAMONN SEARLE joined Worthing United on Monday night after a remarkable career rebirth in one of the stories in senior football this season.

The 40-year-old had scored 11 goals in the equvalent of almost six games in playing time, coming off the bench for manager Carl Stabler at Wick after eight years away in parks football.

The Storrington-bred, Worthing based striker turned down four other offers from Division 1 clubs to join his first senior club in his now home town. He told me on Monday afternoon: "I've changed clubs because I've started the season so well scoring goals. I've now got the bug and I need to play.

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"I'd otherwise have been pleased to get 15 minutes a game at Wick but Carl's trying to build something there with visions of going up into the Ryman League. He said he would welcome me back there one day, either as a player or on the coaching side of things.

"I've had a great time at Wick and I've got total respect for Carl. He didn't want me turning round in February wishing I'd played for him more during the season and itching to go then. On Saturday at Dorking in the FA Vase, I stayed on the bench. People thought I could have come on but Carl was playing Jonas Templeman as a lone striker and I'm not cut out for that role at my age.

"But he said I've probably got another two years in me, so in a way, he has pushed me into going. One of the managers I phoned back out of courtesy to say I was going to United instead said to me I needn't have bothered to call him. I'm not saying who he is but I'm really looking forward to playing against his team this season.

"But I can't wait to go to United. They've got two wingers I used to play with for AC Azzurri '” Danny Azimi and Stuart Sell. I'm looking forward to getting onto the end of their crosses."

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Searle has played for Arundel, Wick, East Preston, Littlehampton and Lancing and Storrington but never United. He will join Gavin Geddes in a strike partnership that may not always last 90 minutes but should yield the goals United have been needing.