Mousehole AFC are delighted to announce the signing of 19-year old forward Evander Grubb.
The youngster joins Mousehole from fellow Southern League side Bristol Manor Farm, where he has been gaining experience of senior football, while also dual-registered with National League South club Taunton Town.
He has previously benefitted from an impressive early footballing education at Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town and Newport County, having being described by his managers and coaches as having huge potential by virtue of his game intelligence, technical ability, tenacity and pace.
As a 16-year old at Bristol Manor Farm, Evander hit the national headlines as the youngest ever player (at the time) to score a goal in the history of the FA Cup – in fact, on that occasion he made his debut and scored twice in a Preliminary Round tie.
He will join two other former pro-club Academy players who arrived at Trungle Parc and took up residence locally in the summer – defenders Ryan Barrett (ex-Newcastle United) and Morgan Lewis (from Cardiff City). They will work together within the club’s unique technical coaching programme under the expert guidance of vastly experienced Head Coach Andy Graham, supplemented by the remaining part-time players’ twice-weekly training sessions.
Mousehole’s Head of Football Adam Fletcher explained the background to the signing:
“Evander caught our eye earlier in the season when we played at Bristol Manor Farm. Our ‘Player Trader’ contact Julian Joachim and his colleagues watched him in action a few weeks ago and recommended him as a player they believe has a huge future in the game and would benefit from the coaching regime at Mousehole. Evander has all the attributes we look for, and together with his desire to help us kick on and at the same time take his own career to the next stage, it’s a win-win situation”.
Manager Jake Ash is keenly anticipating how Evander develops at Mousehole: “He is a young man I first saw in the summer of 2022 and he instantly impressed as a bright and exciting player who you want to see have the ball: a proper ‘bums off seats’ type. This opinion was further enhanced by watching him up close in our game at BMF in September, when he was an important part of probably the best front line we have come up against this season.”
Jake Ash also wished to place on record the club’s full appreciation of the ready support of Bristol Manor Farm and their Manager Lee Lashenko in positively assisting with Evander’s departure and his best wishes for the next stage of his football career. “In all my dealings with Lee, he has shown the proper way for managers to go about their business. He is someone I greatly respect and feel I can pick up good habits from.”
Seagulls’ Chairman Deryk Heywood added: “We extend to Evander a very warm welcome to the Mousehole Family, and also applaud our management team who are working so hard to bring in the right calibre of player. It must be said: Evander has come here to further develop his game, and certainly not for the money on offer. To set the record straight, and in complete contrast to what is repeatedly alleged – without any basis in fact – Mousehole operates within strict and sustainable financial limits. It does not have a wealthy owner, benefactor or investor, nor any external financial support for the accommodation it rents for the three players who have recently arrived from further afield – nor for the substantial costs of operating at Step 4, including in our case this season’s 7,500 miles of away travel. Apart from access to the same partial grant funding as other clubs, we earn our operating income by attracting sponsorship and advertising, running the adjacent campsite and providing a widely-appreciated match day experience – all thanks to the relentless work of our unpaid volunteers.”
The Chairman went on to say: “We are immensely proud to be a Southern League club, with a squad that has probably one of the smallest playing budgets in the Division, and not one single player receiving anywhere near the impressive sums reportedly being paid out elsewhere in the region. We are delighted that Evander has come here solely for footballing reasons and that he and his family have recognised the benefits of the Mousehole approach.”
Evander will be sponsored by his sister Esther Dodd’s company, ‘Broadies Supplements’. The newcomer will be available for Mousehole’s next Home game this Saturday (16th December, 3pm) against Salisbury-based Bemerton Heath Harlequins, who were also promoted to the Southern League this season.
