I want to do well at the Fleet, insists DeBolla

Former Grays Athletic striker Mark DeBolla has become the latest player to Liam Daish’s new look Gravesend & Northfleet, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 23-year-old was born in London and started his career as a trainee with Aston Villa at the age of fourteen before joining Charlton Athletic.

Towards the end of his spell with Charlton, he had a loan period with Chesterfield before joining the Spireites on a full-time basis.

Scoring five times in 45 appearances for the Derbyshire club, before joining Notts County in 2005, he then moved into the Nationwide Conference with Grays Athletic, and wants to settle down at Stonebridge Road.

DeBolla, however, is delighted to be at the Kent club - and will play anywhere to get a red shirt.

He scored his first goal for the Fleet during their 2-0 win at Nationwide Conference South outfit Eastbourne Borough seven days ago.

DeBolla, who revealed he’s “part Italian and part French,” was picked up by Aston Villa at the age of 14 before moving back to London to play youth and reserve team football with Charlton Athletic.

“I had there seasons there (Charlton Athletic), more youth team and reserves and it was time to move on because I weren’t getting into the first team,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following their undeserved 2-0 defeat to MK Dons in the week.

“I wanted first team football and I went to Chesterfield.”

Describing his time in Derbyshire, he admitted life was different to what he was used to in the capital.

“It was ok, a bit different to London, it’s a bit more quieter -it wasn’t bad,” he recalled.

“But I didn’t have the best time there so I thought I’d better come back home and see what happens.”

However, early impressions at Stonebridge Road are good, and DeBolla is getting on well with Daish and his assistant Alan Kimble.

“The lads are great, the manager’s quality and so is the assistant,” he said.

“It’s a good bunch of lads and I just want to play football and we want to do well this year.”

But DeBolla doesn’t mind where he plays for the Fleet, now a full-time club.

“I like playing in midfield but I just like playing football at the end of the day,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m upfront of in midfield, as long as I’m on the pitch I’m happy with that.”

The Fleet, meanwhile, are without a game today, but travel to AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday night and then Ryman Premier League side Chelmsford City on Friday.

They travel to Aldershot Town on 12^th August for their first Nationwide Conference game of the new season, and return to Stonebridge Road on Tuesday, 15^th August when Tamworth visit. York City are the visitors on Saturday, 19^th August.

Visit the Gravesend & Northfleet website: www.gnfc.co.uk

 DeBolla was talking to Charles Webster from BBC Radio Kent 96.7FM