PORTHLEVEN have added three new faces to their squad ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Forward Dan Quirke, central defender Isaac Dryburgh and full-back Max Roberts arrive at Gala Parc as Port aim to build on their debut season in the South West Peninsula League Premier West in 2019/20.

Quirke, who also plays for RNAS Culdrose in the Combination League, has previous SWPL experience with Wendron United, scoring twice in a handful of appearances for Jack Greenwood’s side last season.

Quirke had agreed to join Porthleven earlier this year, but never managed to pull on the shirt due to the coronavirus outbreak in March, to the disappointment of both him and manager Graham Blake.

"I feel a bit for him because he's really, really keen and to be fair to him he is constantly on the phone to me and Thommo [head coach Jamie Thomson] asking when we're training, and he's really enthusiastic," Blake said.

"I know it's not a match but he does look the real deal in training. He's smashing the ball in the net I think when you've got experienced players in there but you bring these youthful players in and you can see their enthusiasm I think it fuels everyone else and gets everyone else going."

Quirke initially came in to act as a replacement for the injured Joe Wright, who is still in the middle of a lengthy spell on the sidelines after limping out of Port's 5-2 defeat to Mousehole at the end of February.

With a return to action for the striker not expected any time soon, Blake believes that Quirke will be the club's main forward along with Wade Brown, who mainly featured for the reserves last season after recovering from a long-term injury of his own.

Blake signs his 'protégé

Centre-back Dryburgh is the latest member of Blake’s Helston Athletic reserves side to make the short move down the road, joining the likes of ex-Blues Hugh Howlett, Dan Stidwell and Charlie Young at Gala Parc.

The young defender captained the side last season, making 11 appearances in the Blues’ debut season in the St Piran League West.

"I call him my young protégé," Blake said. "I've had him for four years at Helston where I've watched him progress and he was my captain when I left.

"He's got great attributes, wants to listen, wants to learn. I tried to take him with me last year but he showed loyalty to Helston and I loved that even more about the kid. He's a young boy but with quite a mature head on his shoulders."

Dryburgh resisted Blake's approach last season in order to stay loyal to Helston and to try and force his way into first-team contention, but after being unable to do so he has opted to join his former boss at Gala Parc.

Blake said: "I said to him, 'If it doesn't happen then you can come with me this year', and that's what's happened, and he will get opportunities with us to play and develop and hopefully become a good player at that level."

Max is back

Young defender Roberts, who has played for Cardiff Metropolitan University's side, makes his return to the club after a couple of seasons away.

As a recent former Cornwall Under-18s squad member, the ex-RNAS Culdrose man, who can play anywhere across the back four, fits Blake’s desire for more youthful players perfectly.

"He's a great talent," Blake said. "I haven't seen him play yet but you can just see in training how comfortable he is on the ball. He looks like a real player, which is great for us.

"He can play anywhere across the back four. He's young and he's what we need with the experience we've got.

"I'm not saying the other guys aren't fit but when you've got a few youngsters in there they give you the legs and the energy."

Ross set to stay on

Blake also confirmed that striker Ross Duncan, who had agreed to join the club at the same time as Quirke back in February, will be with the club next season.

The forward's main club is St Piran League club St Ives Town, with Porthleven holding his registration in the SWPL, but Blake is hoping to lure him over for the full campaign.

"Ross is still signed for us, we kept him on a retainer list," he said. "He was supposed to train last night [Wednesday] but he's been poorly but he said he's going to promise me that he's down at training next week.

"Ross is still our player at SWPL level and hopefully we can prise him over for the full season."