Sholing Promote Long-Serving Midfielder

Boatmen appoint a new number two from within and make a new signing.

Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South club Sholing have announced the appointment of experienced player Byron Mason as their new assistant-manager.

Manager Dave Diaper has appointed from within following the loss of Ian Calder, who has taken the job as boss of Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) Division One neighbours Totton & Eling.

Mason, 33, he has made over 500 appearances for Sholing and been club captain for over ten years.

A natural leader, he lifted the FA Vase at Wembley in 2014 and the central midfielder will continue to play.

Meanwhile, the Boatmen have signed another central midfielder in Robin Nicholls.

The 30-year-old, who is the current academy football operations manager at Premier League Southampton, is an English/Malaysian holding midfielder who arrives at The Mackoy Stadium from Wessex Premier outfit Lymington Town, who he joined earlier this season from Sholing`s league rivals AFC Totton.

Nicholls was added to the Stags` squad in 2017/18 and is an experienced performer, having played for a number of clubs including Brentford, Weymouth, Yate Town, Hanwell Town and Brazilian side Corinthians FCSA.

Earlier this month, the Boatmen signed former Southampton academy graduate Ryan Cluett.

The full-back came through the ranks at St Mary`s from the age of 8 to become a regular in the under-18s before being released by the Saints in the summer.

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