Paget hopeful he can put promotion-winning experience to good use after becoming a Crusader

Versatile defender Louie Paget has said he wants to help Hungerford Town win promotion back to the National League South after he signed for the club last month.

Comfortable at right and left-back as well as in midfield, the 25-year-old was promoted from the Southern Premier League South with Farnborough, alongside new teammate Michael Fernandes.

And Paget, whose drive and commitment are clear when he speaks, felt the chance to come and have another crack at the division was too good to turn down.

“I’m really pleased to have signed for Hungerford,” he said.

“They’re a big club.

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“I’ve known Robbo (Danny Robinson) for a little while now.

“He said I’d been on his radar for some time and he gave me a call in May

“He said he wanted me to come and help get the club back to where it belongs.

“To get a phone call that early on, right after the season had finished, meant a lot.

“It showed how keen he was to sign me and, although I didn’t give him an answer there and then, it pretty much made my mind up.

“I had a couple of weeks to have a think about things but from our chat, I was already swayed.

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“I’m already looking forward to the season ahead.”

Boss Danny Robinson has worked tirelessly to build a squad to challenge for promotion next season, bringing in Football League experience in the form of Oxford United stalwart Ryan Clarke and proven goalscorers in Conor McDonagh and David Bremang, while also keeping hold of outstanding centre-back Matt Berry-Hargreaves.

Following a long and hard season and Hungerford’s first relegation in some time, there’s a tangible excitement amongst Crusaders fans at the prospect of looking up rather than down ahead of the coming campaign.

Paget, who came through the ranks at Hartley Wintney, pulls no punches about the fact that he’s arrived at Bulpit Lane in order to challenge for promotion.

He said: “The aim is definitely promotion.

“I’ve always wanted to test myself.

“I’ve won promotion out of this league with Farnborough and I want to do it again.

“I want to push on and play in the National League South and from what Danny’s said to me, it’s promising.

“Looking at some of the signings he’s made, I’ve played with a few of them and I’ve played against a few of them, and I think we’ve got some really exciting players.

“I think we could be a force to be reckoned with.”

Like teammate Michael Fernandes, Paget is keen to put his promotion-winning experience to good use when he links up with the squad at the end of the month.

“I definitely want to use that experience,” he said.

“I’ve been in this league a long time and so I think I can help out in the dressing room.

“Some of the boys have played higher and so we can learn from them while some of the lads haven’t played in the league and that’s where I think I can help out getting us back up.”

Paget, who signed for Farnborough towards the end of the 2019/20 season and became a regular fixture in the side that won promotion the following year, was no stranger to silverware while at the Boro.

An expert from the spot, he scored 13 of his 14 penalties at Cherrywood Road while also scoring the winner in the Hampshire Senior Cup final shoot-out against Eastleigh.

He said: “I haven’t had the conversation with Robbo, but if we get a penalty I’ll absolutely be putting my name forward to take it.

“I want to score goals, I’d actually like to score more goals from open play.

“I just want to help the team out however I can.”

Paget is evidently held in high regard by fans of his former clubs, to the point where a Louie Paget Fan Account keeps social media users up to date with his every move on Twitter.

“Oh no!” he laughs.

“That’s actually the Farnborough media man, his name’s Dom.

“I’m good mates with him and he did it for a laugh, but when I scored the winner in the Hampshire Senior Cup it took off a bit.

“He follows me on Instagram, so everywhere I go he finds out and turns it into a tweet.”

Although Hungerford don’t return to pre-season training until the end of the month and their first warm-up match is still a way off, on July 8, Paget is wasting no time in getting prepared for the new season.

“I’m already doing my own thing,” he said.

“I’m in the gym and I’ve got a personal trainer.

“I’m so excited to have signed for Hungerford and I want to do really well.

“I haven’t been this excited for a season for a long time, so I want to make sure I’m ready.

“Come Saturday, August 5, I’ll be ready and raring to go.”

Hungerford made a slow start last season, winning just one of their first 13 games, and thereafter were always playing catch-up – which piled on the pressure, particularly when taking on the sides around them.

Paget’s confident he can help his new side reverse their fortunes this time around and that the Crusaders can hit the ground running when the season starts in a little under two months time.

He said: “We’ve got to start well.

“Even if we have to grind out a few wins, as long as we get them then we’ll put ourselves in a good position.”

Paget’s parting message is simple – “Up the Crusaders!”