EFL legend turned prolific goalscorer in non league, joins 7th tier club with promotion hopes

Brett Pitman, an EFL legend turned prolific goalscorer in non league these day, joins 7th tier club Dorchester Town with promotion hopes.

Dorchester Town, a Southern League Premier Division South side, announced the 37 year old as they push for promotion with just seven games left in the season.

They sit 5th (playoff place) with 61 points from 36 games, following Saturday’s game against bottom of the league Marlow, with Pitman scoring a ha-trick in the 6-0 win.

Pitman’s move to Dorchester follows a remarkable run in the lower tiers. After stepping away from professional football in 2022, he joined AFC Portchester in the 9th-tier Wessex League Premier Division, where he scored an astonishing 50 goals in 47 appearances during the 2022-23 season.

He then moved to Shaftesbury, another Wessex League outfit, netting 56 goals in 38 league games in the 2023-24 season – setting a new league record for a single season.

This season, he’s played for the likes of Baffins Milton Rovers, Shaftesbury, and AFC Portchester, continuing to rack up goals with ease. Another season over 20+ goals and counting.

Manager Tom Killick has hailed the signing as a no-brainer, saying that Pitman’s proven scoring ability and the winning mentality he brings at this critical time.

🚨 | 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

Brett Pitman signs for The Magpies ✍️

Welcome Brett!

🔗 https://t.co/htZOaQZUbt#WeAreDorch ⚫️⚪ pic.twitter.com/SzwZZGw7XN

— Dorchester Town FC (@DorchTownFC) March 21, 2025

⭐️ | 𝙈𝘼𝙉 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃

Hat-trick hero Brett Pitman was chosen by our match sponsors Pengillys as the Magpies Man of the Match on his debut against Marlow today 🍾

A big thanks again to our match sponsors Pengillys for their support of today’s game 🤝

Man of the… pic.twitter.com/tWjuU6DYrh

— Dorchester Town FC (@DorchTownFC) March 22, 2025

CLUB STATEMENT:

Dorchester Town Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of striker Brett Pitman.

The Jersey-born forward is a prolific goalscorer with a wealth of experience in the Football League, scoring over 180 goals across the Championship, League One and League Two for clubs including AFC Bournemouth, Bristol City, Ipswich and Portsmouth, before making the move into non-league football in recent seasons, having scored over 50 goals in consecutive seasons for AFC Portchester and then Shaftesbury.

Boss Tom Killick said: “I’m really excited to be able to bring Brett to the club.

“Everyone knows that our promotion hopes rest on these last few games of the season, so as far as I’m concerned it makes perfect sense to bring someone of his calibre in, in terms of what I believe he’s still got to offer on the pitch as well as the mentality that he brings with it.

“I think overall he’s just going to be a significant help to us, and as I’ve said I’m really excited to bring him to the club.”

Brett is available for selection this weekend as we head into the exciting final weeks of the season and could make his Magpies debut as we host Marlow at The Avenue tomorrow.

Welcome Brett!

HIS CAREER:

Youth career
First Tower United
1999–2004 – St. Paul’s
2004–2005 – AFC Bournemouth

Senior career
2005–2010 – AFC Bournemouth – 197 games (62 goals)
2010–2013 – Bristol City – 81 games (20 goals)
2012-2015 → AFC Bournemouth (loan) – 104 games (40 goals)
2015–2017 – Ipswich Town – 70 games (15 goals)
2017–2020 – Portsmouth – 99 games (42 goals)
2020–2021 – Swindon Town – 42 games (12 goals)
2021–2022 – Bristol Rovers – 18 games (4 goals)
2022 → Eastleigh (loan) – 17 games (1 goal)
2022–2023 – AFC Portchester – 46 games (50 goals)
2023–2024 – Shaftesbury – 47 games (61 goals)
2024 – Baffins Milton Rovers – 20 games (18 goals)
2024 → Shaftesbury (loan) – 3 games (4 goals)
2024–2024 – AFC Portchester (Dual Registration)
2025– Dorchester Town

Brett Pitman scored 62 goals for Shaftesbury last season, he deserves a shot at England. https://t.co/Fgl7k8zVm0 pic.twitter.com/SRFMJ8iSGP

— Dr Dyks 🇺🇦 (@LukeDyks) March 2, 2025

Fans reacted as the EFL legend turned prolific goalscorer in non league, joins 7th tier club Dorchester Town with promotion hopes…

@stevehill89: Looking forward to teaming up again for a 4th promotion! This time with Dorchester. He scores goals and I stand on terraces he has no clue who I am but will know in May when I soak him in Champagne after our play off final victory, getting back to the National League South.

@kcb49: #afcb Disappointed not to see Brett appear for Portchester at Brock tomorrow, but I wish him well at Dorch. I will not be following him, as the Bakery in Brockenhurst and burgers at the ground cannot possibly be ignored. Come on you Badgers!

@Tonga170191: As much as people slate him he scores goals, Not a bad signing at all to get to the next line. Poole Towns Mess up Dorchester’s gain with Tommy. Hes shown how good a manager he is, Sadly the changes at Poole Town messed up and are where they are today.

@JoshElliss18: Wessex league safe for the rest of the season 🙏 🤲

@CallumHallett6: What a signing this is! 👏 Should score a lot of goals for Dorch in their push for promotion via the playoffs. Think they definitely have a strong chance of it.

@CRainger1998: Been from Shaftesbury to Baffin Milton to dual reg with Shaftesbury and Portchester to Dorch, all within a year. Either he’s falling out with people big time or clubs don’t have the money they thought they had 🤷‍♂️

@NLAnalysis04: Was getting worried we’d miss out on the playoffs. This definitely doesn’t weaken our chances. Will definitely be going more often than to Huish Park.

@thatseriphosi: One of those players who seemed to score against us every single time he played.

@karl72465: That is blast from the past

@LouisBurdeen7: More clubs than my golf bag

@HancockAnalysis: Can never deny this man’s hustle 😭

@mattitude_29: Considering he’s been playing step 5/6 I’m surprised to see this announcement! Awesome player at Bournemouth and Pompey!

@footballlad997: Do these clubs run out of money to pay this guy ? wonder how much he’s on yes he scores goals but doesn’t seem very loyal !!

@SheridanSparkes: This is a low-key‚ I beg your pardon?‘

@MichaelCalv: Plays off inbound for Shagpies