VETERAN striker Scott Rendell has been confirmed as AFC Totton's latest summer recruit.
Now 35, Rendell has turned out for a host of clubs throughout his lengthy career.
Starting out at Aldershot Town in 2004, Rendell's most prolific spells came at Cambridge United, Wycombe Wanderers and Woking.
He featured as high as the third tier, during the 2011-12 League One campaign with the Chairboys, as well as three years earlier during loan spells at Peterborough United and Yeovil Town.
In more recent times, Rendell reached double figures for goals during his season with Eastleigh in 2019-20, before dropping down the leagues to feature for Maidstone United and Havant & Waterlooville in National League South.
But now the Ashford-born forward has dropped down two further levels, into Southern Division One South, with Jimmy Ball's Stags.
Rendell will combine his playing duties with Totton with a coaching role in the club's youth academy.
“I spoke to Jimmy Ball about what he’s building here at Totton and he convinced me to come and be a part of it," Rendell told the club's website.
"I may be 35, but I’m still physically fit and I have a bundle of experience to bring to the squad – which I understand was something slightly missing here last year – as well as my own ability as a footballer.
“COVID had the effect of folding two seasons into one in terms of playing time and the general wear and tear of a normal season.
"I keep myself fit and I know how to look after myself between matches, so I feel good and I still have a lot to give on the pitch.
"But this move also gives me the opportunity to get into coaching, which is something I have always planned to do, and I’m excited to have the chance to work alongside Brett Williams to develop young players on behalf of the club.”
He added: "Whenever I’ve moved clubs, I’ve always tried to make sure that I know what I’m signing on for and the system I’m going into, and that has enabled me to maintain a one-in-three goals-to-games record, which isn’t too bad!”
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