Former AFC Bournemouth midfielder and Isle of Wight representative footballer Josh Wakefield has joined Wessex Premier Division side Cowes Sports.
The Yachtsmen have secured the services of the vastly experienced 32-year-old, who spent 4 seasons as a professional with Bournemouth and has also played for a string of Football League and leading non-League clubs.
Wakefield began his footballing career with Shanklin Youth on the Isle of Wight before joining AFC Bournemouth, where he signed professional terms in 2012.
He made his first-team debut as a teenager in a League One game against Scunthorpe United and remained with the Cherries until 2016.
One of the more memorable appearances of his time on the south coast came in July 2013, when the then 19-year-old Wakefield came on as a substitute for Bournemouth against Real Madrid in front of 12,000 spectators at Dean Court. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as the Cherries were beaten 0-6.
Wakefield gained further senior experience through loan spells with Dagenham & Redbridge, Dorchester Town, Welling United, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town and Walsall before leaving Bournemouth in the summer of 2016.
He subsequently joined Aldershot Town and later Poole Town before enjoying a lengthy spell with Weymouth, making more than 100 league appearances for the Terras. Wakefield moved to Salisbury in 2021, adding further Southern League experience to an already substantial footballing CV.
The midfielder was selected for the Isle of Wight representative side which competed at the 2023 Island Games in Guernsey, having scored for the Island in a 3-2 victory against a Cowes Sports XI at Westwood Park in their final warm-up fixture before the tournament.
Announcing Wakefield’s arrival, Cowes Sports said:
“With a seriously impressive footballing CV, Josh has played professional football for AFC Bournemouth, which included loan spells at Dagenham & Redbridge, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town and Walsall, to name but a few.
“He went on to represent Aldershot Town, Poole Town, Weymouth and Salisbury.
“Having also represented the Isle of Wight at the Island Games, it’s very clear that Josh is a talented, experienced footballer, and we are elated that he has decided to join The Yachtsmen.”
Wakefield becomes the Yachtsmen’s 2nd high-profile addition in the space of a few days, following the arrival of former AFC Bournemouth professional and Football League striker Jake Scrimshaw, who made his Cowes debut against Hamble Club on Tuesday evening.
