Yeovil Town have announced the signing of former Welling United defender Jamie Sendles-White.
The ex-Torquay United man made 53 appearances for – and captained – Welling in National League South before announcing he would be leaving for a new challenge this summer.
Speaking to YTFC.net, in true footballer fashion, the new signing ‘can’t wait to get going.’
“I’m very excited. It’s a big club, a massive club for the level and I can’t wait to get going. I’m sure that the fans will be turning up in their numbers this year. I’ve played here before and the fans really get behind the team so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
“With it being such a big club, with the squad that’s building here, I think that as a collective there should only be one real target and I think that’s a realistic target.” Pre White presumably the target is pr*m*tion but no one will say it…
Sendles White has represented Northern Ireland up to Under-21 level and has played numerous times in the Football League for the likes of Crawley Town and Mansfield Town. At 29, he comes with plenty of experience that he feels will benefit the squad.
“I think it [experience] helps. I’m 29, I feel young but I’m more of an older head. So I think its good to have the older heads in the team to help the younger ones. I’ve been promoted with Torquay, I’ve played League One down, so I’ve got a lot of experiences and I feel that I can bring that to the team.”
He spent time on trial at Swindon under manager Mark Cooper at the start of the 2015-16 season and knows what the manager is about. On his discussions with the boss he said: “We had a good chat and I’m a big fan of the style of play that he implements in his teams. We spoke about that and I feel like I can fill into that really well. I like to play the right way. Obviously I’m a defender and I like to defend and do that side of the game. I want to play the right way, I want to get the ball down and play proper football and I know that that’s exactly what the gaffer here wants.”
He signs on an initial one-year deal with an option for a second year.
Absolutely delighted to be on board @YTFC ? A big and greatly supported club…let’s try and bring the good times back to Huish Park ⚽️ #YTFC pic.twitter.com/DVmtwe4cKw
— Jamie Sendles White (@j_sendles_white) May 30, 2023
Manager Mark Cooper told the club’s YouTube channel he was pleased with the signing of Sendles-White.
The manager said: “I’m trying to make us nice and solid at the back. He is a bit of experience having played at (National League South) level and above that level.
“I have been aware of him for a few years, Jamie did really well at Swindon and he will be a real competent, solid signing for us and he can play a bit as well. It is important the blend of the team is right, it can’t all be something of one and not enough of the other.
“We are trying to get a blend of defenders who are really solid and can defend and have that attacking threat at the top of the pitch.
It is about putting a good squad together which is what we are going to need and Jamie adds to the defenders we have got with Josh Staunton, Morgan Williams, Ollie Haste, Will Dawes can play (in defence).”
Yeovil are of course known for signing one particular central defender from Welling back in 2000 – Terry Skiverton, if you were wondering – but we aren’t ready to put that kind of pressure on the new man just yet.
Welcome to Yeovil, Jamie!