NEW signing Steve Winter is hoping to avoid the curse of the dreaded number two shirt tomorrow as he prepares to bolster the Chippenham defence ahead of the vital league clash with Hitchin Town.

The 32-year-old former Forest Green Rovers utility man joined Chippenham from rivals Tiverton Town this week and is desperate to win Southern League silverware with his new club.

Winter played a full 90 minutes in Tuesday night's Errea Cup defeat to Bromsgrove Rovers and is now looking forward to a lengthy run in the side following injuries to regular starters Ross Adams and Simon Charity.

He said: "When I got the call from Darren I knew it was a move I just couldn't turn down. It's an exciting time to come into the side and couldn't have asked for anything better really.

"I always want to win every time I step out onto the field. I did not come here just to stay in the Southern Premier League.

"Chippenham Town have always been a successful club and it would be good to win trophies with them. I think the last time I won something was at bingo."

Speaking after the Tuesday night's defeat, Winter said it was disappointing to begin his Bluebirds career with a loss to a side from a lower division.

"We could have done with a win tonight but it doesn't always work out like that," he said.

"Bromsgrove played well. They battled hard and we couldn't break them down."

Winter has been reunited with boss Darren Perrin. The pair were together at Forest Green Rovers in 1998 when the Nationwide Conference club lost in the final of the FA Trophy at Wembley.

The fiery defender said he was looking forward to working alongside Perrin in the weeks to come.

"I have known Darren and Adie Mings for years and I know what they are all about," he said.

"The move came about in a couple of days. I felt I needed a change after five years at Tiverton. I already knew quite a few of the players so that should help me settle in here. Football at this level is like one big family.

"Chippenham play a different style of football to Tiverton. At Tiverton we passed it around a lot more but here they try to get the ball forward quickly. That is something I will have to adapt to.

"Whenever I played against Chippenham in the past they were always a very tough side to beat. They close the space down very well and give you no time to pass the football."

Perrin said he was delighted to have added the versatile Winter to his squad for the season run-in, adding: "Steve can play at right back, sweeper or in midfield and is one of the best technical players you will see at this level," he said.