`Batman & Robin` Re-Sign for GE Hamble

GE Hamble’s ‘Batman and Robin’ strike force are ready to repeat their super-heroics in the Sydenhams Football....

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Published 24th June 2012

Jamie Musselwhite and Ashley Jarvis - with perhaps GE Hamble`s next generation of striking talent!

......League (Wessex) Premier Division next term.

Despite interest from several Evo-Stik Southern League clubs, Jamie Musselwhite and Ashley Jarvis have pledged their futures to Follands Park.

While now ex-Winchester City’s Jamie White was easily the Premier Division’s most lethal marksman last term, Musselwhite and Jarvis were the most prolific pairing.

Between them the dynamic duo banged in fifty-seven Wessex League and Cup goals, with ‘Batman’ Musselwhite on thirty and the Jarvis, the boy wonder, on twenty-seven.

Their return was slightly up on 2010/11 when they weighed in with a combined Wessex total of fifty-five.

In all competitions last season, the pair finished level pegging on thirty-three goals and shared the `golden boot` award at the annual presentation night.

Jarvis – formerly of Brighton, Gosport Borough and AFC Totton – also won the players’ player and supporters’ player of the year awards.

“Batman and Robin have signed on again for another caper!” smiled Dave Lewis, who has stepped up from first-team coach to co-manager alongside Paul Cotton.

“I’m absolutely delighted they’re staying. Without doubt they’ve been the best strike combination in the league for the last couple of seasons simply because of the number of goals they’ve scored.

“Ashley has turned down offers from Sholing and Poole Town to sign on again, which is fantastic.

“We finished fifth last season and, in Ashley’s words, the job’s not been completed yet.

“He’s turned down higher league status and more money out of loyalty to this club and because he believes in what Hamble are trying to do.”

Musselwhite, the senior half of the duo, was also pursued by a couple of Southern League clubs and Wessex rivals Blackfield & Langley.

But the former Fareham Town, Winchester and Sholing targetman turned down those offers in the hope of firing Hamble to their first Wessex Premier title.

The bulk of last season’s squad – including winger Rory Williams, who was also on the radar of Sholing and Winchester – have also re-signed and Lewis hopes the remaining few will follow, spurred on by the likes of Musselwhite staying.

“Jamie’s a juggernaut performer and when he puts pen to paper it shows we’re serious about winning the league,” said Lewis. Just two players have left – young keeper Jon Webb and experienced defender Peter Castle, who are heading to Southern League new boys Winchester.

“Three-quarters of our squad are capable of playing Southern League or above, so to have only lost two shows how far the club has come,” said Lewis.

[Source: Daily Echo]