Most Southampton fans will remember Charlie Austin and although he would not be described as a club legend, he still scored some significant goals before he left in August 2019. No he is set to make his debut for AFC Totton.
The signing of Charlie Austin for AFC Totton has caused a lot of ripples in the footballing world and it made headlines in the national press as well as the local Southampton media.
He is perhaps the highest profile signing that the club has made since 1985 when Saints FA Cup winning goalkeeper Ian Turner played for the club, also managing it later in his career.
Interest is high for the pre season friendly with former league club Forest Green Rovers and a big crowd is expected at the Snows Stadium, including plenty of Saints supporters interested to see how Charlie is now.
Forest Green Rovers were in the football league last season and as recently as 21/22 season they won promotion to League One, however they then suffered two successive relegations that have seen them drop back into the National League.
Forest Green Rovers are famous for being the world’s first vegan football club. Chairman Dale Vince, the owner of renewable energy company Ecotricity, banned meat and dairy products from the New Lawn’s canteens and food kiosks in 2015. Three years later, Rovers became the first football club in the world to be certified carbon neutral under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) initiative Climate Neutral Now.
But the main attraction of the day for Southampton fans will be the chance to see Charlie Austin in action, last season he plied his trade with Swindon Town in League Two and in 35 starts plus 11 as sub he played in all 46 League games for the Robins, dispelling his reputation as being injury prone, he also scored 12 goals in the process.
This is a statement of intent for AFC Totton, they are hoping to bounce back after the disappointment of the play off defeat to Salisbury which meant they missed out on promotion to the National League South, hopefully Charlie Austin will be the icing on the cake for them this coming season and they achieve this goal.
AFC Totton vs Forest Green Rovers takes place at the Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton SO40 2RW on Saturday 03 August 2024. Kick-off at 3:00pm. Tickets: £10 Adults; £5 Concessions - Buy online in advance.
More information can be found at afctotton.com