The Fleet reported for the first pre-season session today with a new face in the ranks as forward Josh Coley joined his teammates following his signing at the Kuflink Stadium.

The 26-year-old has just completed two seasons in League Two and the National League with Sutton United, having progressed to the EFL through the non-league ranks he first graced as a teenager.

The front man, who can also operate as a winger and wing-back, started out in senior football at just 16 years old with Arlesey Town. He stayed local to the Home Counties while playing for Letchworth Garden City and Hitchin Town before a loan spell at Baldock Town proved crucial to his development.

Aged just 19, he fired 21 goals in his season with Baldock, helping them to promotion. Such was his impact that he made a move to Norwich City in the summer of 2018 and went on to feature regularly for the Canaries’ U23s. He saw further loan experience with Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Championship before playing a full season in the National League with Maidenhead United in 2020/21.

He was back in the EFL when Exeter City paid a fee to take him away from York Road and after another loan period with Harrogate Town, Sutton also paid an undisclosed fee to land his signature in June 2023.

Coley played two of the U’s three games against the Fleet last season and proved a big hit amongst Sutton supporters in his time at Gander Green Lane.

The new signing told FleetTV: “I’ve always been one of those players happy to play wherever suits but I just want to be out on the pitch working hard and enjoying myself. I’ve been keeping a close eye on who’s been coming in here and I’m just really looking forward to playing with these players.”