WHISPER IT quietly, but the new captain of Barton-on-Sea is a former Portsmouth goalkeeper.

And the man from whom he's taking over the tiller is an avid Saints supporter!

Add to the mix a club president who is a former Football League referee and a newly-crowned club champion who used to play for Tottenham and you may wonder whether you've walked into the wrong sport at the lovely clifftop golfing venue.

Talk of football often fills the cosy clubhouse, with its stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.

And why not, with such a cross section of footballing people in the Barton ranks?

New captain Eddie Tompkins was a fine goalkeeper in his younger days and looked destined to play for his nearest League club Bournemouth until a telephone call from Freddie Cox took him to Fratton Park.

Tompkins explained: "Freddie was moving from Bournemouth to manage Pompey and he phoned me to ask whether I would like to come along, too. So I did."

Tompkins was spotted by Bournemouth playing for his local side Hordle Spurs and was turning out for the Cherries youth and A sides (in the Hampshire League) when he got Cox's call.

"With hindsight, I maybe should have stayed at Bournemouth," said Tompkins. "When I got to Fratton the place was brimming over with seasoned pros. They had four sides and the man in possession of the first team jersey was Norman Uprichard, a highly accomplished Northern Ireland international.

"I spent two years there, most of them in the Football Combination side and, when another top goalkeeper, Dick Beattie, came in from Celtic, I knew my days were numbered."

After two years he was released by Pompey and moved to play for Gravesend and Northfleet in the Southern League Premier Division. But he quickly tired of the long trip each weekend from his New Forest home and, with a resigned smile, recalls: "I got my self a proper job in local government. The ironical thing about going to Pompey was that I hardly ever got to talk to Freddie Cox after following him over there. Now, of course, I realise I would have had a far better chance making it at Bournemouth."

His Portsmouth connection is not lost on the man he's taken over from as Barton captain. Ian Chastney is a fervent Saints fan who has followed them for years.

"Needless to say, he isn't over-impressed with my old Pompey connections," smiles Eddie. "I've had to take some stick in the past but the boot's been on the other foot this season."

If ever the debate gets too hot, club president Bob Kirk is just the man to intervene. Bob was a Football League referee back in the 1970s. "He keeps us firmly in our place," said Eddie.

If a neutral viewpoint is required, they can always turn to the club's proud new champion John Chiedozie.

A brilliant winger in his day, Chiedozie graduated from Notts County to Spurs where an injury prematurely ended his Football League career.

Chiedozie married a local girl, moved to the New Forest and finished his playing days at Bashley. Now in his 40s and playing golf off a handicap of four, he has been one of Barton's leading players for many years and confirmed it only last month when he took the club title for the first time.