BRACKNELL Town have signed a goalkeeper whose football career looked in severe doubt just 16 months ago, writes Dave Wright.

Mark Scott broke his neck when playing for Slough Town in March last year.

He shattered the C6 vertebrae at the base of his neck in an accidental collision with a Basingstoke player at Arbour Park.

But the 27-year-old former Swindon Town stopper has shown great determination and courage to battle back to fitness.

He played 45 minutes in each of Bracknell’s first two friendlies, the first half in a 3-3 draw with Wealdstone and the second half last Saturday when the Robins lost 2-0 to an impressive Harrow Borough.

Having been out of the game for so long, he still has to regain full match sharpness, but he is a good signing for Bracknell and will offer regular No. 1 Chris Grace plenty of competition.

Player-manager Carl Davies commented: “We now have two good keepers and they have got to battle it out between themselves. Tony Perry (goalkeeper coach) is coaching them and he will liaise with me.

“Mark looks confident, he has trained a lot and does an extra session with Tony each Wednesday, so we are looking good in every position.”

Davies added another four names to his rapidly-growing squad late last week with central defenders Tom Willment and James Tripp joining from Flackwell Heath, striker Mitchell Parker from Highmoor Ibis and midfielder Scott Rees from Hungerford.

Bracknell’s pre-season games continue next Tuesday (July 17, 7.45pm) when Combined Counties League Premier Division side Knaphill are the visitors.

Midfielder Jamie McClurg is set to play, having not been available for the opening two friendlies .

The Robins will be away to Ashford United (Kent) or Haywards Heath – both members of the Bostik League South East – in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy, with the tie scheduled for October 13.