IT IS not unusual to cross paths with players across the span of a footballing career, but Poole Town midfielder Josh Carmichael admitted it was “weird” to share a dressing room with former Cherries teammate Wes Fogden over a decade on from their spell at the Vitality Stadium.

Fogden arrives at the BlackGold Stadium as somewhat of a marquee signing for the Dolphins, the hometown club of Carmichael, who began his career as a 10-year-old at Cherries.

Handed his first senior game as a 17-year-old away at Exeter City by then Cherries boss Lee Bradbury, Carmichael made his debut for Cherries just 19 days before Fogden joined the club on an initial loan from non-league Havant & Waterlooville in October 2011.

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Coincidentally, Bradbury would go on to sign both players for Havant & Waterlooville, with Carmichael spending time on loan at the Hampshire outfit in 2015, whilst Fogden returned to Westleigh Park permanently in 2016.

The pair would go on to share a pitch twice during their mutual involvement in the first-team, and now both players are central to Poole manager Tommy Killick’s plans for achieving promotion this season.

When asked how it felt to be sharing a dressing room with Fogden again, Carmichael told the Daily Echo: “Yeah, it is weird, but at the same time, I've always bumped into Wes here and there, played against him a few times and we've always got on.

“He's come into the group, getting on with everyone, he's cracking on with it.

“He's looked good in pre-season so far. I think the ground has taken its toll on his blisters a little bit!

“But he looks sharp, he just brings another level of professionalism as well. He's one of the best pros I've seen.”

The arrival of Fogden, alongside prolific goalscorer Toby Holmes, has seen the Dolphins convert to a different system over the summer. Used to being in a midfield two with Corby Moore, Carmichael now has more creative license with Fogden adding horsepower in the middle of the park.

In theory, that should allow Carmichael further freedom to get on the ball and switch play with his trademark diagonal through balls.

“Yes and no,” mused Carmichael when asked if the above would be the case.

“I know if anything, I probably try that diag too much because I enjoy it too much! That's the problem with it sometimes.

“But I spoke to Tommy (Killick) over summer a little bit and we did discuss that a little bit, to try and maybe pick and choose the times when I do that.

“In terms of having another body in there, it definitely helps, especially if someone like Wes is in there, because he won't stop running.

“Him and Corby (Moore), both of them are incredible, all the running and stuff like that.

“We record all our stats now as well and we’ve had it through pre-season, and some of their numbers are ridiculous. So it definitely helps. I'm looking forward to it.”