FORMER Hampshire cricket wicket-keeper Iain Brunnschweiler is looking forward to more comfortable landings when he plays in goal for Brockenhurst on the lush, green turf of Christchurch tonight.

The 23-year-old, who has been released from his cricketing contract at The Rose Bowl, kept a clean sheet for the Badgers' reserves in their 6-0 win at Andover on Saturday, but was somewhat jolted by the notoriously bumpy Portway Stadium pitch.

He laughed: "I asked the guys afterwards whether that was the sort of pitch they have to play on every week. I took a few knocks, but you've got to be a tough guy in football, not like that pansy cricket malarkey!

"I didn't have much to do on Saturday and would prefer to have got more involved, but it rekindled my inner fire for football."

Brunnschweiler, who was understudy to Nic Pothas at Hampshire, was invited down to Brock by his good mate Alan Wright, who plays up front for the Sydenhams Wessex League club.

Their friendship dates back to their youth days at Vosper Thornycroft Colts where Brunnschweiler switched from centre-half to goalkeeper before turning seriously to cricket at the age of 18.

He recalled: "I was at the Saints' Centre of Excellence for two or three years playing for Stewart Henderson from the age of 11 and became a keeper when I was 15.

"Obviously the ball's easier to catch in football because it's bigger, but in terms of body positioning and diving, the jobs of goalkeeper and wicket-keeper are very similar. Diving around was one of my strong points with Hampshire."

Because of his Sky Sports work at St Mary's, Brunnschweiler, right, will not be regularly available for Brock.

With that in mind, new manager Graham Kemp is hot on the trail of Hamble ASSC's former Winchester City youth keeper Scott Jacobs who he hopes will become the regular No1.

The busy Kemp has made a spate of captures in his first week in charge - the most high-profile of which is experienced striker Jason Lovell.

At 37, ex-Bashley, Havant and Salisbury man Lovell was winding down playing Hampshire League football for Ringwood, but Kemp said: "I've managed to sign him short-term to help me out and he's going to see if he enjoys it."

Full-backs John Grace from Christchurch and Craig Harris from Lymington Town have also signed along with midfielder Nick Kemp from Winchester City.

Kemp was also hopeful that midfielder Steve Jenkins would return from Lymington Town in time for tonight.

And he aims to bring frontrunner James Bailey-Pearce back to Grigg Lane from Bournemouth Poppies.