margatepreview170705

Thursday 01st September 2005

Angels mean business with Haughton under their wings

Tuesday 19th July 2005	Pre-Season Friendly	at Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge
Tonbridge Angels
Margate

Tonbridge Angels are delighted to announce the capture of highly-rated striker Warren Haughton, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 31-year-old, Birmingham born player joins the Ryman League division one club from Barking & East Ham United.

Helping the Essex side reach the Southern League division one east play-offs last season, he scored 16 goals despite joining around Christmas.

Starting his playing career at Leicester City, he moved into the non-league game with Stourbridge, VS Rugby and Stafford Rangers, before joining Tamworth from Sutton Coldfield in November 1997.

During three and a half seasons at The Lamb (Tamworth) he scored 68 goals in around 150 appearances, and scored in the FA Cup first round against Bury, including the replay.

However, work commitments took him down to London and he signed for Woking, playing one season in the Conference during the 2001-02 campaign.

He then moved onto Havant & Waterlooville, scoring 16 goals in 39 games, helping the Hawks to a third placed finish in the Dr Martens premier division 2002-03 campaign.

He then moved into the Ryman League with Dulwich Hamlet before signing for Lewes, where he scored 11 goals in the second half of the season, helping the Sussex side gain promotion into the Nationwide Conference South, bypassing the Ryman Premier League in the process.

He was released late in 2004 due to budget cuts and joined Barking for the remainder of the season.

Angels' player-manager Tony Dolby is delighted to have signed a proven goalscorer, whose scored goals at every level of the game.

"I feel this shows we mean business and aim to go straight back up this season," he told the club's revamped official website:
www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

Haughton is expected to make his debut in Tuesday night's friendly with Ryman Premier League side Margate at the Betterview Longmead Stadium.

This will be Margate's first match of the season.

Meanwhile, Gareth Street has signed for Essex side, and Margate's rivals in the Ryman Premier, Heybridge Swifts.

He leaves the Kent side after spending much of last season in the reserves.

His former coach at Chelmsford City, Barry Lakin, is assistant manager at Scraley Road.

Meanwhile, the Angels have confirmed their admission prices for this season.

It will cost adults £8 to watch them at home, and OAP's will be charged £4 and children £2.

The match day programme will cost £1.50.

Ian Parkes - who played in the Angels' 1-0 win over Sutton United last Tuesday - and his youth team colleagues, Matt Hollyoak and Adam O'Neill have been handed trials for the England under 18s.

And club chairman, Nick Sullivan, who has worked tirelessly during the summer improving the club's ground, and former manager, Colin Blewden, who is still involved behind the scenes, have decided to play for the club's under 35 side in the Tonbridge Fiesta.

They will be joined by Tony Booth, Gary Allders, Brain Frampton and others.

And Fleet Town are the visitors on the opening day of the Ryman League campaign on Saturday 20th August.