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Ex-EFL turned non league ‘prolific goalscorer’ signs for ambitious 9th tier club

Ex-EFL turned non league ‘prolific goalscorer’ Brett Pitman signs for ambitious 9th tier club Midhurst and Easbourne.

The 38 year old has already played his first game for them according to their pre-season opponents Fareham, said to have featured in the game as a ‘Trialist’ on the 4th of July.

His new club posted via social media on Sunday night (12th July): “Brett Pitman signs for the 26/27 season! 💙✍️

“Midhurst & Easebourne FC are delighted to announce the signing of former Portsmouth FC, AFC Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman for the 2026/27 season.

“A prolific goalscorer with EFL experience 🔥 #MidhurstFC #COYS #NewSigning”

He had also recently been a player-coach at fellow Wessex League Premier Division club Downton, ending the 2025/26 season as their top scorer with 31 goals according to the league website.

PITMAN’S PLAYING CAREER:

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

Senior
2005–2010 – AFC Bournemouth – 197 games (62 goals)
2010–2013 – Bristol City – 81 games (20 goals)
2012–2015 – AFC Bournemouth – 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 – 47 games (61 goals)
2023–2024 – Shaftesbury – 38 games (56 goals)
2024 – Baffins Milton Rovers – 20 games (18 goals)
2024–2025 → Shaftesbury (dual-registration) – 18 games (8 goals)
2024–2025 → AFC Portchester (dual-registration) – 7 games (4 goals)
2025 – Dorchester Town – 10 games (4 goals)
2025 → AFC Portchester (dual-registration) – 5 games (3 goals)
2025–2026 – Downton (top scorer, 31 goals according to Wessex League)
2026- Midhurst and Easbourne

DugOut Diaries said on the IBB10 Show: “Well, lads, There there was a lot of rumours about Pitman coming. What have we got to say for that? Because this SCFL Prem, the box office league has just added a box office player and for Midhurst who thought they were going under the radar. Not anymore, boys.”

Billy Wood: “They’ve got a striker mate. They got a striker who has won League Two. League one and Championship legend. Then I went obviously went on to Pompey, banged a load of goals in there. I know he’s been playing long n long non league for a bit now and he’s you know he’s been in around the Wessex League and Southern Premier and what have you. And I think I don’t know if this is correct. I can get pulled up on this but I think is he dual registered with Portchester last year. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not getting prime Pitman. They’re not. But his experience and his knowhow. The value he’s going to add, not just on the pitch, but around the club is going to be phenomenal. So, so big, big big big coupe for them.

DugOut Diaries: I think Can I say my bit before we get on to the boys? I think that’s a statement. Okay, that is one hell of a statement. Now, I spoke to the chairman a few days ago about this signing. Blew me away. It absolutely blew me away. I know there’s some rumbles about it, but it now shines a light on the club now that are they making moves? Is there a long-term plan in place bringing someone of this calibre to our league, which is fantastic, absolutely fantastic, after hearing Tom’s plan, now clubs gonna start looking at them because I also know that they’ve just announced another one haven’t they another player as well as Pitman, but that club have got a clear sustainable plan of action moving forward I know that and um I think it’s going to be exciting to see. I’m going to be down there for one of the for the FA Cup game as well, but they’ve got the extra preliminary, so I’m going to go and see him then.

Paul Wise: It’s huge, isn’t it? It’s massive for the league first and foremost. Yeah, it’s not, it depends on I don’t know anything about how often he’s going to be there. Is he going to train? Because it ain’t just going to be on the Saturday or the Tuesday night game. If if he’s there training every week, he’s going to raise the standards of training. Like it could be huge. Like what is he? 38.

DugOut Diaries: I reckon he get 40 goals in there.

Paul Wise: He should do. He should do. Like, you know, there’s a couple of players over the years that have that have played County Prem that have been in their late 30s, early 40s that have only ever played at that level. So, and they still look good. Do you know what I mean? Brett Pitman he should get 30-40 goals minimum. So, that that’s huge. that that means that the standards he’s going to raise in training. Uh and also the numbers in training are going to be high because you’re going to want to one time with him. You want to speak to him. You’re going to want to learn from him. That’s massive. Midhurst of a sudden now are in that they got to be in the title picture, aren’t they?

DugOut Diaries: They have to be. I tell that they have to be in around there. We all know that this is going to be the toughest league to win I think in the last decade.

See more on the video below…

Here’s how fans reacted after the ex-EFL turned non league ‘prolific goalscorer’ signs for ambitious 9th tier club Midhurst and Easbourne…

@northy1962: Fine wine

@G3tTheBadgeIn: Remember him at Ipswich. Player 👌

@trevk37: Might just put them in the mix 🤔

@chris_shutler: Hhahahah what the fuck!! 🤯

@_ChrisPrior: @Midhurst_FC picked up at the start of 2026, and this signing points to them carrying that momentum forward into what looks set to be a really exciting @TheSCFL season in 2026/27. A real statement signing, from the Stags!

@NaldrettJack: If anyone predicts the top 5 right in the SCFL they are a genius. Seems to be an absolute peak in quality this season.

@TobyRitzema: Welcome Brett Pitman ! What a signing !

@reece_mcquade: The wage rumours are ridiculous

@s_twenty17049: Fair play to him, if clubs at this level are stupid enough to pay it

@stevebone1: Not a bad signing for the Stags. Expect Brett will get a goal or two…

@brandonwright5: Crazy ✍️ well done @MidhurstFCNews

Ryan Walsh: That’s a hell of a signing 😳😳😳

Justin Thatcher: Super brett pup

Simon Foote: Guaranteed brace on debut!! ⚽️⚽️

Peter Powell: Wow didn’t see that coming

Robin Greenfield: Wow that’s an amazing signing

Karl Gelder: This is class 👏

Sean Macleod: I’ve been following some of the summer signings that non-league clubs are making, and I’ve just seen that SCFL side Midhurst and Easebourne have signed Brett Pitman, it’s insane some of the money being thrown around even at SCFL level.

charliew9160: Last time I saw him he was a Dorch, proper man for the job he is

danforster_pt: More clubs than tiger woods

Michael Neat: Unbelievable signing

@yellows4life: always like seeing a footballer still playing for the love of the game, even at this level of football, would love to see more do it if they still fit enough to do so

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