Yahoo Sport 
Former Gloucester City striker James Harding ready to help drive Bishop’s Cleeve towards promotion
James Harding says he has joined a club moving in the right direction after committing himself to Bishop's Cleeve.
The former Gloucester City, Slimbridge and Cinderford Town forward will be in the Mitres' squad to face Willand Rovers at home in Southern League Division One South on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
He put pen to paper on Friday morning, a few days after confirming his departure from Hungerford Town, where he had been on a contract.
"The move to Cleeve came out of the blue really," Harding said. "After I made the decision to leave Hungerford, which wasn't an easy one, more and more people started to hear about it and I had a call with Colly (Paul Collicutt).
"I also spoke to Lidds (Mat Liddiard), who I am quite close with and I got a good feel about the place, so I was really happy to get it all agreed."
As well as the impressive facilities at Kayte Lane and knowing several members of the squad already assembled, Harding said that location played a major part in his latest move.
"It's close to where I live and that, the training schedule and the locality of the other clubs in the league made it appealing too," he said.
"The club is going in the right direction and they've had a really good start to the season. I want to be part of a successful team and help by adding goals and assists in a team challenging for promotion."
Harding, 27, started out at Flackwell Heath before moving to Gloucestershire to study at Hartpury.
He signed for Gloucester and played under Paul Michael at both Cinderford and Yate Town, scoring the winner for Yate against Dover Athletic to set up an FA Cup first round tie against Yeovil Town three seasons ago, which he describes as one of his career highlights.
He enjoyed his two spells at Hungerford, playing under manager Danny Robinson, with whom he remains on good terms.
Harding has also played for Salisbury, where he started last season before joining Chesham United in January.
"Chesham is probably the move I've enjoyed my football, playing under James Duncan and Michael Murray," he said.
"To be part of a promotion-winning side is my best memory in non-league football and it's no surprise to see them going so well in step two now because they have a top group of staff and players and I have so much admiration for the club as well."
Another key element in Harding's decision to join Cleeve, along with Collicutt's persuasiveness, was his own business interests.
"I run two businesses, both within the property space, one helps investors buy properties in the north east and I also have a letting agency.
"Both are going from strength to strength and I am excited about the future of the businesses, but they take a lot of my time hence dropping down a league to ease the travel commitments.
"I have come up against Colly's teams a few times and their desire to win has always stood out to me. It's always a tough game and that appeals to me because I am a winner myself and I want to be part of a winning team."
