A keeper who got specialist training from former England number one David Seaman last season hopes to bring some vital experience to Bedfont & Feltham.
Lee Pearce was at Wembley when the club's link up with FA Cup sponsors Budweiser saw the likes of Seaman, Graeme Le Saux, Ray Parlour, Brian McBridge and Claudio Cannigia pitch up at Vale Farm.
Since then, he has played in the Southern League for Ashford Town (Middx) and North Greenford United, but had no hesitation in dropping down two levels to sign up for Bedfont & Feltham's Combined Counties Division One promotion push.
Pearce is no stranger to TW14, having started his career at his new club's predecessor, Bedfont FC, as well as winning the Combined Counties Premier title with Bedfont Green five years ago.
By coincidence, the wheels for his arrival back at The Orchard were set in motion when Neil Shipperley, who started his managerial career at Bedfont five years ago, was recently sacked by North Greenford United.
By further coincidence, Shipperley had succeeded Jon-Barrie Bates at Greenford, and it is Bates, now assistant at Bedfont & Feltham, who persuaded Pearce to come.
The keeper said: “I know Jon-Barrie Bates and Garry Hedges, and I had trained with Bedfont before I joined North Greenford last season. Me and JB were at Bedfont Green together, and I knew him from Wembley too.
“I had a chat with a few other clubs after leaving North Greenford, but when JB rang me and said he needed a keeper, my mind was made up. I didn't really want to drop down to this level, but he said they want to push for promotion, and with a couple of additions they could really be up there.
“They have got a good young keeper but he is a bit quiet. They have a young back four too, and sometimes they are quiet, and that's when mistakes are made. All I will say is my back four always hear me, and between me and JB, we can offer a whole wealth of experience.”
Pearce is yet to make his Bedfont & Feltham debut as their game, along with the rest of the Combined Counties League programme, was wiped out by the weather last weekend.
Pearce could make his debut at home to Knaphill tomorrow, while elsewhere in Division One, CB Hounslow United travel to Cobham. In the Premier Division, Hanworth Villa visit Chessington & Hook while Bedfont Sports host Croydon.
Meanwhile, out of The Orchard's exit door goes Ayoub Amellai, who has joined Spartan South Midlands Premier side London Tigers.
