Eastbourne Borough revolution continues with rash of new signings

A host of new faces have been unveiled by the Sports in recent days as Beard plots a National League South promotion bid.

Defensive midfielder Imran Uche, a versatile 23-year-old, is the newest addition to Beard’s squad and joins from Isthmian Premier side Billericay Town.

Originally from Richmond, Uche joined the Hampton & Richmond Borough Academy aged 16, completing the two year programme, and captaining the side for his second year. Upon graduating, Imran moved into the non-league game, but returned to Hampton every pre-season where his improvement was noted each year.

After spending the 2019-20 season with Bedfont Sports in the Isthmian League South Central, Imran once again spent pre-season with the Beavers, and Gary McCann saw enough in the friendly matches to offer the then 20 year old a first team place. He then joined Harrow Borough for the 2021/22 campaign, before a move to Essex last season. Able to play across the midfield or defence, he will be a welcome addition to the team.

Former EBFC youth player Freddie Carter has joined from Gillingham. The young centre-back is no stranger to Priory Lane having played for the club’s U18 side before leaving for the EFL side in March 2021.

He was part of the U18 team which reached the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup in 2020/21 – the furthest the club have got in the competition in their history – before losing away at MK Dons. Carter went on to make his first team debut in a mid-season friendly against QPR before he made the move to Priestfield Stadium.

Whilst he didn’t make a first team appearance for the Kent outfit, he did play for the Gills’ youth academy before he spent majority of last season on loan at Cray Wanderers in the Isthmian Premier.

Former Crystal Palace defender Daniel Quick has also been, well, quick, to join the Priory Lane revolution.

The 20-year-old centre back has previously worked with boss Beard during his loan spell at Dorking Wanderers last season, and joins after being released from Crystal Palace this summer. He came through the ranks at Selhurst Park, and was virtually an ever-present in the heart of the defence as Palace Under 18’s narrowly missed out on the Premier League South title in 2020/21.

Quick is a versatile defender that is capable of playing anywhere across the defence, and went on to feature in the defence for the Eagles’ Under-23s in 2021/22 and made 13 appearances, including a start against Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy. His performances earned him an appearance off the bench against Manchester United in the 22/23 pre-season tour of Australia and Singapore.

He went on loan to Dorking at the start of last season, where he first met new Sports boss Beard, and ended the season with a spell at Billericay Town.

De-carrey Sheriff has signed from Kettering Town. The left-footed attacker came through the youth system at Colchester United, during which he enjoyed loan spells with Maldon & Tiptree, Dulwich Hamlet and Needham Market.

Now 25, Sheriff was released by Colchester in the summer of 2019. He was quickly snapped up by Concord Rangers, before joining Kettering Town in 2020/21. He spent the proceeding three seasons at Latimer Park for the National League North side, before making the switch down to the south coast this summer.

Midfielder Jack Clarke has arrived from National League side Chesterfield. Clarke, 24, arrives at Priory Lane with plenty of experience at a higher level and becomes the latest face in Mark Beard’s exciting squad.

The left-footed playmaker came through the ranks at Aston Villa, playing for their Under 21 side before joining Chesterfield. He was part of the team that achieved back-to-back play-off finishes in the National League, and whilst he has also had a spell on loan at Yeovil Town, he will be keen to make an impact on the south coast for the Sports this season.

Creative midfielder Jack Paxman has signed from Ebbsfleet United. Paxman, 29, is no stranger to the National League South and is new manager Mark Beard’s second new signing at Priory Lane.

And the former Southend United scholar has a wealth of experience at this level. The creative midfielder joined Ebbsfleet United in September 2020 from Billericay Town after impressing in pre-season games. He joined Chelmsford City aged 19 and following spells with Thurrock and Witham Town, he signed for Maidstone in March 2015, helping the Stones wrap up the Ryman League title that season.

The following year he was part of back-to-back promotions, scoring in the penalty shootout win in the promotion final of 2016 against Ebbsfleet. Paxman spent almost five seasons in total with Maidstone, playing regularly in the National League for them, amassing more than 150 appearances and becoming their longest-serving player in the process by the time of his departure.