Basingstoke Reveal First New Signings

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South club Basingstoke Town have announced their first new signings in attacker Danny Rowe and young defender Kai Hobbs.

Twenty-six-year-old Rowe joins after starting last season with `Stoke’s new league rivals Hanwell Town before securing a move to Vanarama National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough in January 2023.

He had joined the Geordies in September 2022 from the sadly now defunct Walton Casuals, having been with the Stags since July 2021 after arriving from then-Isthmian League Premier Division side Leatherhead.

He had been with the Tanners since February 2020 after joining from then-National League South side Oxford City.

He had been frustrated with injuries and, despite being back to full fitness, found starting opportunities limited with Oxford.

His highlight this season was a first half hat-trick in the Hoops` 6-2 win at Chelmsford City in November 2019.

He started his career with Leicester City and progressed through the under-18 and under-23 ranks.

He left the King Power Stadium to join Queens Park Rangers in January 2017 and was a regular in the R`s under-23 side.

After being released by Rangers, he joined Braintree Town in August 2018 before switching to National League North side Boston United the following November.

He returned to the Iron in January 2019 and then made the switch to Oxford City in the summer of 2019.

Talented full-back Hobbs plied his trade at Basingstoke’s former Isthmian League South Central rivals Binfield last season where he became a mainstay of the Moles squad during the 2022/23 campaign.

The 19-year-old made his debut in senior football with Berks County a few years ago having previously been part of Camberley Town and Bracknell Town’s youth sides.

Basingstoke manager Dan Brownlie told his club’s website: “Kai has been on our radar since the early stages of last season. He impressed every time we came up against him. There’s not many that keep our wingers quiet – but Kai managed to last season. He’s tenacious, great on the ball and has a speed that is an asset in both defence and attack.

“He’s got modern day full-back qualities; a lot is asked of that position now – but in that, there doesn’t appear to be any sacrifice to his defensive play. He really enjoys defending. He’s not the tallest of defenders, but as his old coach Roger Herridge put it, he plays like someone a foot taller. He has beautiful timing with aerial duels and that’s more than half the battle”.

Basingstoke Town Web Site