RICHARD Halle hopes his experience can help Thurrock achieve promotion to the Ryman Premier League.

The defender linked up with Fleet last weekend, having left Canvey Island a year after re-joining the club.

The 34-year-old admits he was not expecting to leave the Gulls a fortnight ago, but admits he can’t wait to get going at Ship Lane.

He added the reunion with former Canvey and Billericay team-mate Glenn Poole was one that excited him while the opportunity to learn from manager Mark Stimson, ahead of a potential future in management, was not one he could turn down.

“It was not a move that I thought would happen in all honesty,” he said. “I went back to Canvey and had kept fit over the off season. I went on holiday for 13 days and in that time Luis Morrison came in and the club was looking to add one more.

“I spoke to Healsey (manager Danny Heale) and he said I was two weeks behind and I needed to get games.

“Initially I may have been sent on loan but a number of teams had got in touch by that point and I decided I would speak to them.”

“I spoke to Mark and he said I should be playing and going into management interests me and I can learn a lot from him.

And a reunion with Glenn Poole tickled the taste buds as well so I look forward to get going.”

Halle’s first game for Fleet was a 3-1 win against his old side Canvey, and he said it felt good to get 90 minutes under his belt, adding he had not felt as fit in a long while.

“I am the fittest I have been for a while and it was good to get 90 minutes on Saturday. I have played minutes for Great Wakering and Canvey as well this pre-season so I am in good shape.

“I spoke to Gary Ansell and he wanted me to join the Wakering backroom team but I need to learn a bit more and who knows what will happen in the future. Glenn is over there, things are very professionally run and it will be a good move for me.”