THE massed ranks of Wealdstone’s faithful support were pivotal in Tom Hamblin’s decision to join the playing staff at The Vale.
The former Gloucester City defender has made an impressive start to life with Gordon Bartlett’s men, even proving one of the few bright spots of the recent humiliating FA Cup exit at AFC Hornchurch.
However, it was while sitting in the stands spying out the land on the club’s league visit to the Urchins in September when the highly rated centre-back made the decision to turn down other offers in favour of playing in front of Stones’ impressive vocal support.
He said: “To be honest I originally moved up to London in June for work reasons and I had a few options, but met the gaffer here, came down and watched a couple of games. I was impressed with what was going on.
“I was particularly taken with the following which turned up on a cold, wet Tuesday night at Hornchurch when England was playing.
“It is the same here on our home games where we can get 700 and it’s the sort of place I want to be with a club pushing to be at the top.”
Hamblin caught the eye again on Saturday as Stones shrugged off their FA Cup disappointment to comfortably clear the first hurdle in this season’s FA Trophy, winning 3-0 away to Leiston.
He showed his class with several key interceptions, forming a strong barrier at the heart of the visitors’ rearguard along with Sean Cronin.
With no way through for the hosts, Scott McGleish’s goal just before the interval and second-half strikes from Glen Little and man of the match Tom Pett were more than enough to ease Gordon Bartlett’s men through.
Their reward is a second qualifying round tie at home to fellow Ryman Premier high fliers Maidstone United on Saturday, November 2.
