After undergoing knee surgery last year, Ciardini, at 33, assumed his playing career was over and it wasn’t long before he was getting his football fix in front of the telly with fast food and beer can in hand.
Midfielder Jordan Young celebrated his 22nd birthday in style by reminding Coventry City what they are missing by scoring two first half goals in a convincing 4-1 friendly victory.
Lewes forward Cosgrave, 21, impressed in training with the Dons and has now been handed a deal by boss Mark Robinson, while goalkeeper Oualah, 26, has arrived from Leatherhead
Fans returned to Cheriton Road for the first time in eight months for the fixture which is played in memory of Invicta’s legendary gateman, who passed away in 2000.
Relegation from the Football League in 2017 had seen the club bottom out. Beset by off-field issues, their first two seasons in Non-League resulted in 15th and 17th placed finishes, respectively.
The 32-year-old came through the club’s academy and broke into the first team, spending seven seasons there before moving to Lewes in 2011, but then returning.
Clubs will now have at least three months to get everything in place and ready for when the turnstiles can turn again in pre-season, assuming that the Government roadmap is followed.
Malins began working on the idea last April after he was furloughed by Virgin Atlantic Holidays and has already seen over 100 players add their profiles to starting-eleven.co.uk.