Havant and Waterlooville skipper Brian Stock has committed his future to the Hawks after signing a new 1 year deal with the club.
Stocky who skippered the Hawks to both of our league titles over the past two seasons stays with the Hawks despite offers coming from elsewhere which included a coaching role at Premier League AFC Bournemouth.
The defining reason for staying at the Hawks was due to the feel and vibe he has for donning the famous Havant jersey and it was that feeling that fended off offers from the Premier League club.
“Getting promoted two years on the trot you feel apart of the club and to be in the conference next year is incredible. It’s an exciting time for many fans and all at the club and it’s great to be apart of it”.
“It would have been an easy decision if I didn’t get a coaching role at AFC Bournemouth. It’s because I’m at the end of my playing career and coaching is what keeps me in the game but hopefully that time will come.”
Stocky believes the situation that the Hawks are in is similar to that in which he encountered when at Burnley after promotion to the top flight in 2014 and believes that the lads need to “keep” that close nit bond.
“I asked the gaffer that. And he said if we can keep the squad together we can do well. Our budgets not the highest in the league but our team spirit is, and it reminds me of when I was at Burnley and we were promoted to the premiership, no one gave us a chance and we were favourites to go down and that is like us, firstly we have to consolidate and then push on.”
“There’s some big teams with big budgets in this league and mistakes will be punished but we have to keep the attitude that we have had for the last two years.”
Everyone at the club is thrilled to have Stocky back on board for the new season as he becomes the first player in history to skipper the Hawks in the 5thtier of English Football.
Henry Deacon Media 