McMahon hails Dimmock capture as replacement for Darts bound Cable - EXCLUSIVE

Back in March 1996, as a sixteen-year-old, Dimmock became the youngest player at the time to score in what was the GM Vauxhall Conference, when his 25-yard strike helped Welling United to a 1-0 win over Morecambe at Park View Road - his second game for the Wings.

Since then, however, Dimmock has played for Gravesend & Northfleet, VCD Athletic and Cray Wanderers, and McMahon is delighted that he’s managed to secure his services from their rivals.

“I’ve known Richard for a long time,” McMahon said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.  “He’s a player I’ve been chasing for a long time.

“With Rikki departing, we are looking for a big name. He’s the first person I’ve targeted.

“He’s a target man, he’s a presence. Every time we’ve played against him, he’s always caused us problems. He can finish, he’s got two great feet, and brings players into the game and he’s a great character as well.”

Dimmock has been signed as a replacement for former Faversham Town striker, Rikki Cable.

The 20-year-old, Orpington-based striker, has told McMahon that he wants to play at a higher level of football.

And after rejecting moves to Ryman Premier League sides Folkestone Invicta and Ramsgate, Cable has opted to start pre-season training at Ryman League Division One South outfit Dartford.

“I don’t want to make a big issue for him,” McMahon said. “Rikki’s asked to play higher, he’s going to start pre-season at Dartford.

“There was a few managers who rang me, I passed his number on and told them what a good player he was.

“Dartford are a big club, I don’t want to make a big issue for Rikki going.

“I wish the lad all the best but the football club has to move on and I think I’ve made a massive signing for the club.

“I’ve sold the club to Richard, he knows me and the players and he’s happy to sign - he doesn’t normally sign this early.”

McMahon fought off competition from one higher league club and two “top clubs challenging for honours in the Kent League," to sign Dimmock.

After clinching the Kent League Cup and finishing in fourth place in the Kent League during his first season as first-team manager, McMahon has already spoken to last season’s squad.

“I’ve signed all my players back from last year, except one, which will be completed very soon,” he revealed.

“I’ve had conversations with a player, I was glad he spoke to me. He’s played at a couple of levels above. He’s been released by a club but we had a meeting on Friday and hopefully someway along the line we will sign him.

“I won’t name him, it’s not for money but he wants to sign for me. He’s very interested with the way the club’s going.

“I had a great side last year and a lot of youth on our side. I’ve met my players personally to talk through last year and they’re happy with the way the club’s going.

“It’s always good to show the players that the club’s got ambition and looking to sign players.

“I’ve signed Richard (Dimmock) and the players were over the moon, and said “what a good signing it was.””

The future of goalkeeper Steve Northwood, however, remains uncertain.

“To be fair, he wants to play higher,” McMahon said of the former Cray Wanderers stopper.

“I’ve left him alone. Steve wanted to sort things out and there’s only one Kent League club he’ll play for.

“Hopefully he’ll stay, I’ll give him another week. He knows when pre-season starts and I leave it to him.”

McMahon explained why he’s only looking to bring in “one or two” more new faces to Bayliss Avenue.

He said: “You always need a strong squad and we’re just looking to progress as a club with a lot of continuity this year - with Richard we will have a nice, stable side.

And he said that Ryman Premier League side, Tonbridge Angels will be very impressed with the playing surface at Bayliss Avenue when the two sides meet in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 14^th July.

“The pitch is unbelievable - we could play on it now,” said McMahon. “Tonbridge come to us on the 14^th and will be happy with the playing surface.

He added: “Another signing in the week and we start pre-season training a week tomorrow - we always start early.”

But McMahon is delighted that Kent County League champions Holmesdale, a side that’s based in Bromley, have been promoted into the Kent League.

“I’m a little surprised to be fair,” he said. “I spoke to Dave Joy, our secretary, before the (Kent League) meeting.

“I think it’s good that it’s another club in the league - they deserve it.

“I am going to look at their ground but I’m a little surprised with the lights situation.

“I do think it’s good for the league, it would have been different if they didn’t have planning permission.

“All the clubs voted them in so it will be nice to see a fresh team. The top six this year all have the grounds ready to go up.

“If we didn’t have a side come up (from the Kent County League) we would be struggling - it’s very good for the Kent League.

“We wish them well, a club with ambition. A few years there didn’t seem to be anyone from the County League that wanted to come up.

“Rusthall are looking to come up and one or two others - at least there are a few clubs looking to come up, which is good.”

But he warned: “They know it’s going to be tough. I don’t think they will come in and walk it but every Kent League manager won’t want to play them first - they will be up for it.

“I hope to think I know quite a lot about our league and players but I don’t know much about them.

“Every team that’s played a County League side, they’ve always held their own. I’m sure they will adapt but at the beginning it’s an unknown.”

Meanwhile, Thamesmead Town's supporters will lock horns with their counterparts at Greenwich Borough for a charity match in aid of the Childrens Heart Foundation.

The match, which takes place at Bayliss Avenue, will kick off at 3pm on SUNDAY 29th July, which follows a pre-season friendly against Needham Market, which has a high noon kick-off.

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk