Boss interrupts holiday to ensure Sarge signing
Moneyfields manager Glenn Turnbull has revealed he almost missed out on a reunion with Harry Sargeant for the second summer running.
The midfielder was part of Turnbull’s US Portsmouth squad that reached the FA Vase semi-final and Wessex League Cup final in 2020/21.
Yet Sargeant - unlike a large amount of his colleagues - turned down the chance to move to Moneys once Turnbull had taken over at Dover Road.
Instead, he joined Baffins Milton Rovers and became a regular thanks to his boxto-box style. Never a regular scorer at US, he also netted seven times for Rovers - including a winner against Moneyfields.
Sergeant has now agreed to join Moneyfields, but only after Turnbull was forced to take time out of his Spanish holiday to stop the player from signing for Wessex League Premier rivals Horndean.
‘I’d had good conversations with Sarge before going on holiday,’ Turnbull remarked. ‘They weren’t based around money, it was really refreshing.
‘Then, as I was about to go into a restaurant (in Spain) I had a message from Sarge saying he thought Horndean were showing more ambition.
‘I stewed on that while I was having dinner, I was wondering if I’d under-sold the club. I messaged him back after the meal, and later in the week I got a text saying ‘I’ve had a rethink, is the offer still available, I’d like to come.’
‘I’ve always had a lot of respect for Sarge, he’s got a mature and sensible head on his shoulders. The year’s break from the US (Portsmouth) culture has been really good for him.
‘It’s thanks to Shaun (Wilkinson, ex-Baffins boss) and Danny (Thompson, current Baffins boss) - and Sarge himself - that we’re now getting a better player than if we’d signed him a year ago.’
Turnbull has also brought back another member of his US Vase semi-final squad, keeper Tom Price, and signed Stoneham forward Callum Laycock.
His close season squad rebuilding will be complete if he can bring in another centre half. A seven-day approach for a central defender has been submitted this week.