Loxwood sign three more with Beard keen to turn on the style

The latest to join the ranks are Josh Courtney, who has been released by Brighton, German Monty Gimpel, whose last club was Leeds United and Charlie Pitcher, who has dual-signed with Peacehaven.

Boss Mark Beard has used his professional contacts to continue to sign exciting young talent for his first season in charge.

He said: “They are all quite young themselves but still have all had experience at a higher level. Josh comes recommended to me by Simon Rusk, the under-21s coach at Brighton, and has definitely showed his class over the games he has played.

“With Charlie Pitcher, whatever level he plays at he scores goals. We had some quality already, but they will add a bit more.”

The Magpies kick-off their campaign away to Arundel on Saturday, before hosting an early derby on Tuesday night when Horsham YMCA are the visitors to Plaistow Road.

Beard continued: “There are no easy games in this league. We are not a new team, but have a lot of new players and are quite a young team, so we have to get to playing with confidence and doing what we have in the last couple of weeks.

“It will take time to play the way we want but it has all been very positive.

I will set the boys targets of what we want to achieve this season in the next couple of days for where we want to be.

“If we play the way we keep stressing to them we will be successful in what we want to do.”

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