Infinity boss gives himself ‘headache’ with raft of signings ahead of first game
Infinity boss Gary Wheatcroft has given himself a ‘headache’ following a raft of signings ahead of the new Hampshire Premier League season.
He has brought in Josh Carey and Ben Roles from Southern Leaguers Sholing as well as Moneyfields keeper Anton Blake and Eastleigh academy midfielder Zac Cole.
In addition, midfielder Jack Jewell has returned to Infinity after a few years with divisional rivals Bush Hill.
‘We had a strong squad anyway!’ said Wheatcroft. ‘I’ve given myself a headache now. I’ve got 20 players who could all play in the first team.
‘I think a few people were panicking early on, but it’s all fallen into place now.’
Infinity already boasted the considerable firepower of former Southampton striker Jamie White (41 goals last season) plus Andrew Powell (21), Danny Phillips (20) and Wayne Boud (20).
But now they also have Carey, who was the Wyvern Combination Premier Division’s second highest scorer in 2019/20 with 24 league and cup goals in only 20 outings.
Carey scored against Infinity for Sholing under-23s in a friendly last weekend and was impressed he asked to sign for them.
He netted three first team goals for the Boatman last term – all in the Russell Cotes Cup.
Carey also scored twice on his Infinity debut in last Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Braishfield.
That game also saw debuts given to Blake and Cole, while Roles
– a midfielder – was recommended to Wheatcroft by his friend Iain Calder, who is on the coaching staff at Sholing.
Wheatcroft, meanwhile, is feeling the pressure ahead of his first HPL season, which starts with a intriguing trip to Hayling United tonight (7.30pm).
Last term Infinity were on course for promotion to the Wessex League, for the first time in their history, before life went into lockdown.
Under Danny Thompson, Infinity won 20 and drew four of their 24 HPL games – only to have their season controversially null and voided by the FA.
They were just six matches away from becoming the first team in HPL history to go the entire league term undefeated.
Wheatcroft has managed to keep most of last season’s squad, having only lost keeper Tom Boyle to East Grinstead, Kurt Watts and Charlie Cooper to Baffins and Chay Dugan to league rivals Locks Heath.
‘I know we will be the team everyone raises their game against,’ said Wheatcroft, left.
‘I am under extra pressure because of what happened last season.
‘I want to win the league – the aim is to be playing in the Wessex the following season. ‘We are looking strong. It will be a tough first game at Hayling but I can’t wait. That will be a hard game, but it depends how hard we want to make it for ourselves.’
Prior to the glut of recent arrivals, Wheatcroft had signed centre half Richard Sibley, from Southampton area grassroots football, and also brought in one-time Salisbury midfielder Cameron Hough.
Infinity have been handed an early-season clash with fellow top flight heavyweights Bush Hill.
The Southampton-based side are due to visit Hythe & Dibden FC – where Infinity are groundsharing in 2020/21 – on September 23.
Both games between the teams were drawn last season. Out of 44 league games combined, Infinity and Bush only lost once in 2019/20 – the latter’s 2-0 home defeat to Fleetlands on September 7.
Hayling preview: See page 41.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s edition of The News for report and reaction from Hayling v Infinity and a round-up of the rest of tonight’s football action.
I am under extra pressure because of what happened last season
Gary Wheatcroft