Erith & Belvedere sign striker Marcus Cassius on free-transfer from Bromley

Wednesday 20th October 2010

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Micky Collins has confirmed striker Marcus Cassius has signed a contract for the club, having signed him on a free-transfer from Blue Square Bet South side Bromley, writes Stephen McCartney.

Collins persuaded Bromley to loan out the prolific 20-year-old striker to the Kent League club in July, and he has scored 6 goals in 7 appearances for the Park View Road outfit.

Cassius banged in a total of 45 goals in the Kent League for Erith Town two years ago, which prompted Bromley to sign him for an undisclosed fee. But his chances in Blue Square Bet South were limited last season and Cassius was restricted to just four starts (and spending 24 games sitting on the bench).

However, Cassius has shone back in the Kent League for the Deres, scoring 6 goals in 7 appearances for the Deres, and the contract went through at The Football Association last Friday afternoon.

Collins is delighted to have secured the services of the popular striker for the remainder of the season.

“It was a busy time on Friday making sure that all the paperwork was received by the FA during Friday afternoon,” Collins told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk.

“But we managed to secure a deal with Bromley and Marcus and I’m thrilled that Marcus is an Erith & Belvedere player.

“I have to thank everybody at Bromley Football Club for their help during the negotiations and now we can concentrate on getting the best out of Marcus for the rest of the season.”

Also joining the Deres last week was Ross Cable.

Cable needs no introduction to Deres supporters having already played over 30 games and scoring 21 goals in his previous stint with the club.

He got off to scoring start in his second spell at Park View Road on Saturday and manager Collins is again happy to have secured the signing of the much travelled striker from East Grinstead United, who are managed by former Holmesdale and Croydon man Tony Beckingham.

“Everyone knows what Ross is capable off,” said Collins following the 4 – 2 defeat of Deal Town.

“We have now got a strike force that is capable of scoring lots of goals and we need to keep making chances for Ross and Marcus to make sure we finish as high as possible in the League.”

Also returning to the squad on Saturday was centre half Paul Gross. “Paul is a very experienced defender at this level and we will be looking to him to strengthen us in that department”, said Collins.

“I’m sure all three will do very well for us.”

Erith & Belvedere travel to Combined Counties League side Croydon for a place in the last sixteen of the London Senior Cup at stake tonight.

The Trams, still managed by chairman Dickson Gill, are struggling in the bottom four, with three wins and two draws from 12 league games, and their points tally was reduced to 8 after fielding an ineligible player at an away game at Bookham in August.

Both sides will have a massive incentive to win the game as the winners will travel to Ryman Premier League crisis-club Croydon Athletic in the last sixteen.

“It’s a match we’re all looking forward to and we’ll be going there in a positive frame of mind after Saturday’s win but we know Croydon will be looking to advance in this competition with the winners travelling to Croydon Athletic in the next round,” said Collins.

Meanwhile, the Deres have confirmed that under 14 star Alex Arif has recently signed schoolboy forms with Crystal Palace.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Visit Erith & Belvedere's website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Croydon v Erith & Belvedere
London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding (London) Ltd) Second Round
Wednesday 20th October 2010
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, London SE25 4QL