Winger Jack Compton has signed for Southern League Merthyr Town from Newport County.
Cardiff-born Compton, 28, goes straight into the Martyrs squad for their Premier Division clash with Slough Town away on Saturday (3pm).
Manager Gavin Williams said: “I am delighted to be able to add a player of Jack’s quality to the squad at this stage of the season.
“I would like to thank Newport County for agreeing the loan deal with us, and I would also like to thank the Merthyr directors for their continued support.
“He is a great addition as we move into a crucial stage of the season.”
Compton has made more than 150 professional first team appearances during his career, having had spells with Falkirk, Bradford City, St Johnstone, Portsmouth, Hartlepool, Colchester, West Brom and Yeovil Town.
He played for Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth and Tony Mowbray signed him at West Brom, while Warren Feeney was the manager who took him to Newport. Compton, though, has only made five appearances since Graham Westley took charge of the League Two club.
It has been a mixed career for Compton, who worked digging gardens to make ends meet when he was with Weston-super-Mare and found himself serving coffee and ice cream for £50-a-day at Marco’s, the Barry Island cafe which was a favourite in the television comedy series Gavin and Stacey.
“I ended up working in the cafe for my friend and doing gardens,” he says. “A lot of people wouldn’t have done it, but I am not too proud to work.
“The cafe, Marco’s, is on Barry Island and people will know it as the place in Gavin and Stacey. My mate’s dad owns it. Working in the cafe and the gardens helped keep me stay fit. I was earning about £50 a day and it kept me ticking over.”
There have also been football highs and Newcastle United wanted to sign him seven years ago. Chris Hughton, now in charge at title-chasing Championship club Brighton, was keen on Compton.
Newcastle made an offer, but Scottish Premier League club Falkirk were also in for him and he decided to go north of the border because he was guaranteed first team football.
Now he has joined Merthyr Town’s promotion chase in the Southern Premier and will be in their squad at Slough Town on Saturday.
The rials have already played each other three times this season. They drew 1-1 at Penydarren Park and then 2-2 in the FA Trophy, again in Merthyr.
Slough won the replay 2-0 at their Arbour Park stadium.
EvoStik Southern League Premier Division
Top five only (all teams play 46 matches).
Champions eat automatic promotion, while the next four qualify for promotion play-offs
Pl GD Pts
1 Chippenham Town 35 +33 73
2 Merthyr Town 34 +38 68
3 Hitchin Town 32 +28 67
4 Leamington 32 +32 65
5 Slough Town 32 +25 64
