PORTLAND United have secured the services of goalkeepers Mike Edgar and Brad Smith for the 2022/23 Wessex League Premier Division season.

Edgar and Smith both have experience with Dorchester Town and formed the goalkeeping unit at Portland last season.

Edgar was able to cement the number one spot, which he tied down for 40 matches, while Smith made three appearances.

Between them, the duo helped keep six clean sheets in all competitions in 2021/22.

They join midfielder Marcus Smith, centre-back George Stuttle and full-back Harry Thomas in committing for next season.

Marcus Smith was voted manager’s player of the season, making 33 appearances and scoring once.

He also won a league and cup double with Dorchester Town Under-23s, scoring in the 5-1 victory over Gosport in the Hampshire Combination & Development Challenge Cup final.

Stuttle has ties to Weymouth Under-23s and was a big success story after coming to the Blues midway through last season.

He made 14 appearances in total, scoring once, but impressed with a seamless transition into senior football, stabilising what had been an often porous Portland defence.

Teenager Thomas, meanwhile, recovered from a nasty concussion in pre-season to make 31 appearances for the Blues last season.

When he returned to fitness, he was a near ever-present fixture for Portland and is one of the most highly-rated young full-backs in the county.

Altogether, the Blues have announced ten signings for the 2022/23 campaign, with strikers Joel Hewitt, Troy Walbridge, and Greg Borthwick plus midfielders Ryan McKechnie and Ben Morris agreeing to another season.