The defender returns to the club he played for until 2017 – and joins his sister who plays for Mousehole Women.
by Pablo Woolls-Blanco
Mousehole have completed their second signing of the summer, securing the services of defender Josh Storey from Helston Athletic.
The 21-year-old comes off the back of a season where he captained Helston to a Cornwall Senior Cup and Les Phillips Cup double in dramatic fashion and will now be eager to join up with Jake Ash’s team in July, where a pre-season line-up features the likes of Exeter City and Dorking Wanderers.
Storey, similar to recent signing Tim Nixon, is another player who has Mousehole roots. Indeed, the defender played for the Seagulls in 2017, and has a sister playing for Mousehole Women.
“I’m quite vocal on the pitch – I keep people motivated on and off the pitch, at training as well. I can get people going when they’re down in the mud a bit.
Josh Storey, speaking to Pablo Woolls-Blanco
We spoke to Josh about becoming a new Mousehole player:
“I’m buzzing to be fair. I’m looking forward to the new challenge, obviously Step Four football. Also looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces so it’s an exciting time!”
On leaving Helston as club captain:
“It was a really hard decision. It took a lot of thought and talking to a lot of people close to me about what was best for me going forward. It was a tough decision for me to make, but I think I’ve made the right one.”
On his qualities as a leader and defender:
“I’m quite vocal on the pitch – I keep people motivated on and off the pitch, at training as well. I can get people going when they’re down in the mud a bit.
I’m a fairly aggressive defender. I’ve got that ball-playing instinct as well, which I think will suit Mousehole with the way Jake Ash wants to play. I’m good in the air and in the tackle, but also got that composure with the ball at my feet.”
When you speak to him you can hear the genuine affinity he has for the club.
Jake Ash, First Team manager
On his excitement at facing the likes of Exeter City and Dorking Wanderers in pre-season:
“I think those games are massive for the club. There will be a good crowd down at Trungle and it will be a really good test for us in pre-season, against even higher-level opposition.”
Mousehole manager Jake Ash did not hide his excitement at Storey’s addition to the Seagulls’ back line:
“It’s probably no secret that we’ve been long-term admirers of Josh. He ticks so many boxes of what we could want in a player; it’s the club he played his first senior football at, he has a real feel and family bond with the club (his sister plays for the women’s team) and he lives on our doorstep. When you speak to him you can hear the genuine affinity he has for the club.
At 21 he is a brilliant age to still improve in so many aspects and has said how keen he is to develop aspects of his game here. We love that – that hunger in a player is such a bit of me.”
Ash continued:
“With his teacher training next year based in West Cornwall and now his football closer to home – especially the training bit which is so important to him – it works for him and we are obviously really pleased with that.”
Head of Football Adam Fletcher shares similar optimism about Storey’s arrival:
“Josh is a player I personally remember from my Ludgvan days, and it will always stick with me when he came and trained as a 15-year-old how much of an impact he had on the session. He showed leadership qualities at such a young age around an older group – a characteristic that he has taken into his senior football.
He’s someone we have admired as a player for some time now and it’s really pleasing to add another local talent to the squad.
Josh has defensive qualities we look for and I know the coaching team are really looking forward to working with him and pushing him on to new levels this season.”
