Last updated 21:24, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

NEW Carlisle United signing Josh Gowling today pleaded with fans: “Please don’t call me Rio!”

2nd August 2006

The big defender bears an uncanny resemblance to Manchester United and England ace Rio Ferdinand, but he revealed: “I’ve been called Rio after him since I was 13 and I hated it then and I still hate it now.”

Gowling has joined the Brunton Park outfit from Bournemouth and he observed: “Relegation last season was the worst day of my career. Isn’t it ironic how Carlisle sent us down and then I’ll be playing for them? “I just got back off holiday from the Maldives and had an answerphone message from John Ward.

“I was offered more money to stay at Bournemouth but for me it wasn’t about money, it was about football.

“It is a bit of a trek from Bournemouth. We came up at the end of the season and it wasn’t a good day for us.

But there was something about the atmosphere at Carlisle and the team itself.

“I spoke to Scott Dobie last week about the team and about what they wanted to do and it’s just a great place. I've come in last week and there is just a buzz about the place.”

Midlands-born Gowling added: “It’s a weird one obviously signing for Carlisle because I did say that maybe I would be looking for a move closer to home because I have been away for so long.

“But when a club like Carlisle comes in for you then you have got to go. At the end of the day I am a footballer and the distance shouldn’t make a difference.

“If you are a footballer then you just want to do your best and I’ll hopefully do my best at Carlisle.”