The 35-year-old comes with a wealth of experience having played the last five seasons in the National South or above and after signing for the club last Tuesday has revealed his motivations behind the move from Dartford: “Worthing has a bright future – helping the club compete in this league and proving I’ve still got goals at this level are big reasons I joined”.
“I also have a few friends at the club which has eased me into it – Hinsh is an ambitious manager, tactically I hope to suit his play”.
The striker also revealed the opportunity to join a club close to his home was a huge draw: “Being only 25 minutes up the road was a big pull for me”. “Mentally and physically that’ll do me the world of good; I can bring my family along to games now”.
The last time he played at the Crucial Environmental Stadium was back in 2017/18, a season in which he scored an impressive 57 goals in all competitions, helping Billericay Town to promotion from the Isthmian League Premier Division.
“As a striker you want to set 20 goals as the benchmark and go from there”
Jake Robinson
“I played at Woodside regularly during my younger days with Brighton in the reserves, the improvements from then to now are clear – I’m really impressed with the facilities on and off the pitch”.
Last season the Rebels bagged an impression 100 league goals on their way to the title and Hinshelwood’s attacking options have been bolstered by the arrival of Robinson, as well as Lewis White from Carshalton and the return on a permanent basis of Callum Kealy, but Robinson feels competition amongst the squad will be important:
“Competition for places is healthy, my strengths are between the posts putting away the chances and I can trust the manager to get the best out of me”.
“Hinsh said in one of our early meetings that me and Ollie Pearce could compliment each other well and create a good partnership”.
One thing he has over the majority of his teammates is a wealth of experience at National League South with spells at Whitehawk, Hemel Hemstead, Billericay, Maidstone and Dartford in recent seasons.
“Having previous experience at this level will certainly compliment the energy and enthusiasm of the squad. “In this league there’s a good mix of teams and it will be open”.
“Some teams play nice football and others like to play quite direct”. “I know Hinsh will stick to the passing style but we will also need to be physical, once the winter rolls in and the pitches get soft you need to mix it up and have that determination to grind out results”.
Despite not always being first choice the former Brighton man still managed 17 goals in 34 appearances for Dartford last season and has already set himself targets going into the new campaign: “As a striker you want to set 20 goals as the benchmark and go from there”. “But I also want to just start enjoying my football again and I know I’m in the right place to do that”.
“We have a good bunch of lads and the club is certainly moving in the right direction”.
Robinson will likely pull on a red shirt for the first time when we take on Three Bridges at the Crucial Environmental Stadium on Tuesday 5th July, with the National League South season kicking off a month later.
