Boro boss Spencer Day has added more National League experience to the squad with the capture of 33-year-old defender or midfielder Joe Partington.

Portsmouth born Partington initially began his Youth career with Pompey, but signed for AFC Bournemouth in Summer 2006. He went on to make his First Team debut nearly two years later and made history on 5 April 2008 by becoming AFC Bournemouth’s youngest ever goalscorer at 18 years and 4 days old, after heading home a last-gasp winner away at Swansea City.

Joe has also appeared on the International stage for Wales at Under 17, 19 and 21 level, with eight caps to his name from 2009 to 2012. From this experience, Boro’s new man played under Brian Flynn and was handed the armband as Wales U21’s beat Austria U21’s 1-0 back in November 2010.

Throughout an eight-year spell in Dorset, Joe went on to make 52 appearances for The Cherries, playing under the likes of Jimmy Quinn, Lee Bradbury and Eddie Howe.

Loan spells with Aldershot Town and Eastleigh came towards the end of his time on the south coast, but knee injury put his playing career on hold in 2014, before signing for Eastleigh permanently in January 2015.

Partington became Captain of The Spitfires side, but was snapped up by League One Bristol Rovers for a Club record fee in January 2017. He went on to make 53 appearances in three seasons in The Football League, before sealing a return to Eastleigh in June 2019.

After turning down a contract extension in Hampshire, Joe then made the switch to National League Bromley in July 2021.

Along with new team-mate Sid Nelson, Partington has a Wembley win to his name as his Bromley side beat Wrexham 1-0 to win The FA Trophy in May 2022. Joe was a half-time substitute, playing a crucial a part in the winning goal and helping The Ravens to a significant clean sheet.

Joe signed for Aldershot Town last June and regularly Captained The Shots side that finished 18th in Non-League’s top flight last campaign.

Upon signing on the dotted line, Partington said: “I’m super excited! I’ve been given the opportunity to change my life somewhat from full-time professional football and it’s something that I’m incredibly excited about getting into. Farnborough have, luckily, given me the opportunity to do that.

“It looks like we’re putting a good team together, full of good people. The Club is obviously ambitious and it’s something I’m keen to be a part of.”

Manager Spencer Day explained: “A real landmark signing for us, a National League skipper last season with bags of experience and quality.

“We’ve benefitted from Joe’s career circumstances and I’m delighted he’s chosen us over a number of other options. He’s played the last couple of years as defensive midfielder, but is equally as good at centre half and right back, so gives me plenty of options.

“An option of Joe as the number 4 and Ryan Upward as number 8 is a National League pairing with great size, balance and power.

Day added: “Recruitment goes on and the battle to strengthen the goal scoring department has been the hardest I’ve known in decades, but we will get there and plenty of time for additions as it’s not even the last week of June yet!”

Pre-Season Training gets underway for the First Team next week, with Partington due to link up with new team-mates Jack Turner, Alfie Saunders, CJ Fearn, Jack Ball, Ollie Robinson, Sid Nelson, Jordan Norville-Williams, Reggie Young, Ryan Upward, Adam Mekki, Selim Saied and Alfie Pavey.

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