Sholing thrilled to sign ex

Sholing were thrilled to sign ex-Southampton, Burton, MK Dons, Lincoln, Crawley, Eastleigh player Jake Hesketh as their latest addition.

The 27 year old, who plays as an attacking midfielder, has linked up with the Southern League Premier Division South club.

It's proved popular with fans with many stunned to have him sign for the newly promoted side considering the standard of footballer he is along with his experience.

✍️⭐️ 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗝𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗛!

Boatmen have pulled off a major coup by signing former Southampton midfielder, Jake Hesketh @JakeHesketh

More details & quotes from Jake & Diapes on our website :https://t.co/gqg48fkcQh#uptheboatmen 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/bxRBS6iWs6

— Sholing FC (@sholingfc) May 31, 2023

The club is delighted announce that former Southampton & Eastleigh attacking midfielder, Jake Hesketh, has signed a contract with the Boatmen.

Since his release from Eastleigh, Jake has been the hottest free agent in southern Non League football and we have beaten a host of other clubs to acquire his services. The 27 year old put pen to paper with Dave Diaper yesterday and is buzzing to get started.

Jake said : "I am really happy to be here! I watched the Play-off games and spoke to a few people at the club and they all really sold it to me. I’m looking forward to starting pre-season and getting going to help the Boatmen to push on in our new challenge at Step 3 football"

Dave Diaper was over the moon with the signing : "Jake is a very significant acquisition for the club and I thank all involved with making it happen. He of course brings great quality, but also he adds a level of professionalism and experience which can only benefit the rest of the squad. He’d fallen a little out of love for the game, but after watching our play-offs and spending some time at the club, he recognised what we have here is something special, with a team spirit like no other and he wanted to be a part of it"

Sholing Chairman, Gerry Roberts said : "This is a massive signing for us and demonstrates our ambitions for the new season when we play in the Southern Premier for the first time. Signing a player of Jake's quality will send ripples through non-league football and it will show we are not just here to make up the numbers"

"Our supporters & local businesses can play their part in backing the Boatmen by taking advantage of the excellent Early Bird Season ticket offer (10 home games for free for the adult price of just £138!, click here) and by taking up one of the many sponsorship packages available"

"We are always on the look out for more matchday volunteers, be they stewards, tannoy announcers, videographers and bar staff. Please get in touch if you want to get involved in our exciting future"

For Season Tickets & Sponsorship, please contact : Claire Paine – [email protected] – 07887 778266

pic.twitter.com/Azh4CQ6FFL

— Sholing FC (@sholingfc) May 31, 2023

Jake was first spotted at Southampton FC when he was just 7 years old, going on to stay with the club from the Academy to signing a three-year professional contract in 2014.

Jake became the top scorer of the U18s during his time at the Southampton FC Academy, catching the eye of Ronald Koeman who then promoted him to the First Team squad.

Hesketh made his first-team debut in the Saints’ home game against Manchester United on December the 14th, 2014, when he came on as a sub for Dusan. Hesketh made his Premier League debut the following week at Burnley. Claude Puel's arrival boosted his chances of making the first team. In 2016, he scored against Crystal Palace in the League Cup and appeared in the Uefa Europa League. He signed a 4-year contract with Saints but due to the frequent turnover of Saints’ managers, he was sent on loan to several clubs in order for him gain first-team experience.

He started his career with Burton Albion and scored a wonder-goal at Fratton Park in a match against Portsmouth. In a period of 23 games, he would score two more goals. Jake had loan spells with MK Dons and Lincoln City before his Saints’ contract expired. He was then picked up by Eastleigh. In two seasons, he scored six goals in 60 games with the Spitfires.

Jake Hesketh signing for 7th tier Sholing aged just 27.

So highly thought of when at Southampton. Doing things like this in a loan spell at Burton Albion. It's been a fall that I was not expecting to see… pic.twitter.com/BUjmDw2T6S

— Edward Walker (@edward_w97) May 31, 2023

And the fact he gave me my favourite moment following this club in the last few seasons.

That 18-19 team was class.#BAFC

pic.twitter.com/vRQjI85wa9

— Edward Walker (@edward_w97) May 31, 2023

Here's what Twitter users are saying with Sholing thrilled to sign the ex-Southampton, Burton, MK Dons, Lincoln, Crawley, Eastleigh player…

@Born1990: Brilliant signing, welcome to sholing Jake

@yodamkrfc5: Wow, still think he could have done a job in this league

@acostar1411_: holy fuck what a signing

@LiamGreen___: What the fuck?

@KingslandMush: One of the most confusing falls from grace we’ve seen. Looked like a decent youngster, went on to play league one, two and national League, and is now joining sholing? We had a whole generation of youth fall to the bottom end of the pyramid. Seager, Vokins, etc etc #saintsfc

@BAFCMatty: How's he fallen off this bad?

@foreversaint__: Wait what

@hiccup_pit: Jesus christ I used to think this guy would be our next big thing. What a drop off #saintsfc

@SFCDanielH: Nice one for you, good luck Jake!

@WarrenBonathan: Bloody hell, good work.

@Sofenna19: Wow what a signing ❤️❤️

@chiphazardSFC: Remember him at saints academy. You’ve got yourself a cracking player. Good luck Jake, OASAAS 🇦🇹

@benf2744: Wish him all the best

@bafc_tom: He was class at burton

@sfc_jack_: Good luck Jake 🙌

@BenBrownsTweets: Quite the coup. Nice.

@SFC_1885: Wow!

@JCoffen17: Class signing that

@RRusher7: WOW! Incredible signing! All the best Hesketh hope you get that love back for the game bro ❤️⚽️

@cheriton101: Great signing bloody can't wait for the season to start

@TheRealStuHack: wow, great signing, congratulations and wishing Jake all the best 👍

@Sam__SFC: Wow. Good luck Jake.

@BAFCMatty: How's he fallen off this bad?

@JamieCotton1978: Some signing that! Well done to all at the club for getting it over the line.

@Leestevens1983: Didn't see this 1 coming 👀👀! What a signing Sholing have pulled of here 🙌

@SaintRobinho86: I was at St Mary's when I saw Jake score in the Carabao Cup against Palace to start our run to the final that year! Great signing for @sholingfc #UpTheBoatmen #SaintsFC

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