Seager signs experienced pair ahead of their Ryman adventure

Whitstable Town kick-off their first ever Ryman League campaign with a home game against another promoted side, Eastbourne Town on Saturday 18^th August, and manager Marc Seager has signed up two players with experience of this level of football.

Seager, who signed Sam Denly and Danny Tipple from their former Kent League rivals, Herne Bay and Greenwich Borough respectively earlier in the week, has now added former Sittingbourne pair, Clint Gooding and Jon Neal.

“Both players, who have a lot of experience at Ryman level, will be great additions to the squad and are players that I tried to sign during last season,” Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk last night.

“Clint Gooding is a quality midfielder who I actually tried to sign three times last season, so now I am so pleased that, after a long time, I have actually got his name on paper and he is now a Whitstable player.

“Clint has spent most of his career playing Southern League football, and was part of the Gravesend & Northfleet side that played Aston Villa at Villa Park in the third round of the FA Cup a few years back.

“I know that his experience and quality will be a massive boost for my young squad, as they enter their new adventure.”

Striker Jon Neal will probably be best remembered by Whitstable supporters for lobbing goalkeeper Kevin Fewell during the pre-season friendly against Sittingbourne last summer.

Seager said: “Although a few supporters faulted Fewelly at the time, I have no doubt that it was just a quality goal scored by a quality player, who will be another great addition to the squad and I look forward to seeing Jon scoring goals in the Ryman League for Whitstable Town.

“Not only is Jon a goalscorer, but he’s also a hard worker, who always gives everything for the cause.”

Seager is hoping to sign central defender Steve Lloyd (Herne Bay) and full-back Theo Kennedy (Ebbsfleet United) by the end of tomorrow’s training session.

He said: “I don’t foresee too many more signings taking place. If I can add the latter two to the four already signed, and by adding all of those to an already strong squad, than from a manager’s point of view it will make competition for places very strong, which is exactly what you want as a manager and very healthy for the players.

“As I’ve already said before, last season’s success was fantastic, but its now in the past and for the memory banks.

“Now we look forward to new adventures and new challenges, not only as a club, but for all the players too because although many of them have championship medals, and rightly so, they now have to prove themselves all over again.

“Come August 18^th, when we start our Ryman campaign at home to Eastbourne Town, I will pick what I believe to be my strongest sixteen on the day, and I think I proved last summer and throughout the season, that I’m not afraid to make big decisions, so it’s up to the players and a case of who wants their shirt most.”

Article courtesy of www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk