Robins number one commits the the club for 2022-23
He is a keeper. After making the number one shirt his own during his fifth spell with Hassocks last season, Alex Harris will be staying with the Robins for the 2022-23 Southern Combination League campaign.
The goalkeeper made a major contribution to Hassocks’ Premier Division survival in the second half of 2021-22 as a settled back line provided the bedrock for the Robins to finish nine points clear of the bottom two and reach the semi finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
Hassocks had struggled for consistency in selection between the posts between August and November, partly explaining why they conceded so many goals whilst hovering around the bottom three.
It was once Harris established himself as first choice in the autumn and centre backs Bradley Tighe and Dan Turner returned from injury that the Robins’ defensive record improved, including six clean sheets from the final 13 games of the campaign.
Mickey Jewell first brought Harris to the Beacon at the start of the 2013-14 season as a 16-year-old dual signed from Woking to gain experience of senior football whilst also playing for the Cardinals Under 18s.
Harris initially provided back up for Jack Simpson. When Simpson went travelling midway through the campaign, Harris took over as Jewell’s number one and went onto make 16 appearances.
He next returned to Hassocks in the 2015-16 season from Metropolitan Police when the Robins were embroiled in a battle against relegation.
Mark Dalgleish and Phil Wickwar viewed strengthening the goalkeeping department as a potential way out of trouble.
Signing Harris proved to be an inspired bit of transfer business as he played a major role in pulling Hassocks clear of the drop zone, including keeping keeping four clean sheets in a club-record run of eight consecutive wins in senior football.
Harris lost his place to James Broadbent at the start of the 2016-17 season, subsequently moving to Burgess Hill Town. His third spell with Hassocks came at the start of the 2017-18 campaign and his fourth a year later ahead of the 2018-19 season.
Between his time with the Robins, Harris has also turned out for AFC Uckfield Town, Broadbridge Heath, Ringmer and Alfold amongst others.
He currently sits on 89 appearances for Hassocks. 11 more and he will become the first goalkeeper since Simpson to pass a century of matches between the posts for the Robins.
