Herne Bay boss Ben Smith makes Jack Parter his first summer signing

HERNE BAY manager Ben Smith has made Jack Parter his first summer signing.

The 27-year-old left-back hails from Faversham and was with Gillingham for six years as a scholar, signing a professional contract for the 2013-14 season and playing in several first-team pre-season games but was never given a shot in the Football League.

Parter then played for Ramsgate, Whitstable Town, Tonbridge Angels, Welling United and Kingstonian.

Parter’s last club was Tonbridge Angels and he made 274 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.

“Parts is a fantastic signing and once again shows our ambition as a club,” Smith told the club website.

“He’s a player that has experienced success and shown great consistency at a higher level.

“It’s been in the background since he decided to leave Tonbridge Angels in order to play closer to home and with quality players you have to be patient as, quite rightly, there is a lot of competition for their signature so we are really pleased that he has bought into the plans here and feels that this is the right environment for his next challenge.”

Parter has decided to drop two levels from the National League South to play in the Isthmian League South East Division for Herne Bay.

Parter added: “I’m looking forward to this new challenge and excited to join a club that is going in the right direction and wants to continue to progress.

“I can’t wait to get started now and I’m looking forward to the season ahead with the boys and having the fans behind us pushing us on.”

Meanwhile, versatile defender Ryan Johnson, who played for Maidstone United and Ramsgate during the 2020-21 campaign, has put pen to paper to sign for Isthmian League Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfootballclub.co.uk