Steve Claridge debut strike gives Gosport Borough win

Claridge last played in the Football League in 2006

BBC pundit Steve Claridge scored the winner on his Gosport Borough debut to help his new side beat Sholing 1-0 in the FA Trophy.

The 45-year-old, who played over 1,000 professional matches in a career spanning more than two decades, stepped out of retirement on Friday.

"It took a little while for me to get into the game if I'm perfectly honest," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"There's room for improvement both for myself and the team but I'm pleased."

The move came about after the former Portsmouth striker had arranged to go and train with a couple of Football League sides but was unable to do so because of his work on the BBC's Football League Show.

He added: "I've had 10 days notice and I've been doing double sessions everyday, working really hard, so I was pleased with how I came through it.

"It was a good day, the club's made a bit of money, the chairman's happy and now we can hopefully take this into the league and start climbing the table."

Claridge began his professional career at Bournemouth in 1984, and also went on to have spells at Aldershot, Cambridge United, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Wolves and Millwall.

He will continue with his media commitments for the BBC, which include appearing as a pundit on the Football League show and Football Focus.