AFC TOTTON have confirmed their goalkeeping stable for the upcoming season, with new signing Lloyd Thomas set to be joined by last season’s number one Lewis Noice.

Noice, who was named as the Manager’s Player of the Season last term, will face stiff competition in the form of 25-year-old Thomas, who joins from Isthmian Premier side Carshalton Athletic.

Portchester-based Thomas decided to drop down a tier in the non-league pyramid due to the travelling to London.

After coming through the ranks of hometown club AFC Portchester, Thomas moved onto Blackfield & Langley.

Further spells in the Wessex Premier with Andover Town and Horndean followed, before Thomas stepped up to Step Three as back-up goalkeeper to Jordan Seabright and Tom McHale at Weymouth.

The 6ft 4in-tall shot-stopper made eight appearances as the Terras won the Southern Premier title, before departing Weymouth ahead of the two COVID-curtailed campaigns.

As non-league football returned to operating as normal, Thomas joined Carshalton Athletic, making 50 appearances last campaign.

Impressed by the facilities at Snows Stadium, Thomas told the club’s website: “The set-up here at Totton is ridiculous!

“I’ve been around Conference South clubs where the players are full-time that don’t have facilities as good as this.

“I knew of Jimmy Ball, but now that I know more about his background and what he’s done in the game, I’d have been mad to pass up the chance to come here.

“And now that I’ve signed, my ambition is to play as many games as possible and help the team in any way I can.

“I know this club is ambitious and eager to succeed, and so am I.”

With two capable goalkeepers now signed on for the season ahead, Stags boss Jimmy Ball revealed that he hoped the pair would push each other in the competition for the number one shirt.

“The opportunity arose to bring Lloyd to the football club and it was just too good to turn down," Ball told the club's website.

“We need to have healthy competition for places throughout, if this team is going to succeed, and Lloyd will help to ensure that’s the case.

“Steve Hollick (goalkeeping coach at Totton) and Keith Granger (ex-Saints) have both recommended him and I’m pleased to bring Lloyd into the group in time for our pre-season programme.”