FORMER Eastleigh skipper Dean Beckwith has followed the well-trodden path to Sutton United.

The 31-year-old defender joins a plethora of ex-Spitfires to have linked up with one-time Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell at Gander Green Lane.

It was following the signing of the former Gillingham, Hereford, Northampton and Luton centre-back in January 2013 that Eastleigh’s spectacular rise under manager Richard Hill really took off.

Beckwith and fellow newcomer Chris Todd – now Hill’s assistant – provided the backbone of the side that went on to win the Conference South title in 2013/14.

His farewell season for Eastleigh was interrupted by injury and illness, but he was an integral part of the team that came triumphantly through a torrid sequence of March fixtures, laying the foundations for the push into the Conference national play-offs.

Beckwith was one of seven players released by the Spitfires in the wake of the two-legged semi-final defeat against Grimsby for which he was an unused sub.

Sutton boss Doswell, who is keen to follow the Spitfires into the National League (Conference), said: “Dean is one of the players I was keen to sign this summer.

“We almost got him two years ago when he left Luton and I’m delighted he’s joined us now. He’s a major signing.”