Shearer signs for Faversham Town

THE NEW season came a step closer this weekend at Salters Lane with three players signing on the dotted line and committing themselves to Kent League side Faversham Town for the forthcoming season, writes Tony Gray.

COUP:  Faversham Town have signed defender Lee Shearer, 30, who was playing Ryman Premier League football for Maidstone United last season.
Photograph courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

Roy Guiver came to Salters Lane in February and soon established himself as a regular for the Lilywhites rounding off the season by scoring Faversham Town's opening goal against Deal Town in the last game of the season.

The former Herne Bay skipper was the first to put pen to paper for next season which is a clear indication of how much he is enjoying his football with Faversham Town.

Co-Manager Justin Luchford was also able to unveil two new additions to the squad with goalkeeper Kevin Readings along with central defender Lee Shearer.

Readings, 29, joins the Faversham squad having previously kept goal for Dover Athletic; Margate; Hythe Town and Devon side Tiverton Town, whilst Shearer, 30, joins the Lilywhites from Maidstone United having previously played for a variety of clubs including Leyton Orient, Southend United and Northampton Town.

Shearer has also enjoyed two spells of football on the continent having played for Dutch side SBV Exlelsior and FF Jaro who ply their trade in Finland's Premier League - the Veikkausliiga.

The Salters Lane faithful will get their first chance to see Shearer and Readings in action when Faversham Town play host to Andy Hessenthaler's Dover Athletic on Saturday 12th July.

The Ryman League Division One South Champions Dover provide the opposition in the Lilywhites opening pre-season fixture allowing Luchford and Jimmy Strouts to gauge the strength of their squad against a Dover side which won 30 of their 42 matches on their way to the championship last season.

The Lilywhites face a further test in the second friendly fixture when Gillingham's Mark Stimson brings his First team squad to Salters Lane on Thursday 17th July with Stimpson pledging 45 minutes of action to every member of the Gills squad.

The remainder of Faversham Town's pre-season fixtures will see Folkestone Invicta (July 22nd) and Chatham Town (July 31st) visit Salters Lane The final home game, prior to the start of the season on August 9th, against Canterbury City (August 2nd) is still to be confirmed whilst the only away match of the campaign sees Faversham Town travel to Sittingbourne to contest the Annual Bob Amor Trophy on Saturday July 31st.

Manager Luchford was understandably pleased with the events of Saturday morning.

He told www.favershamtownfc.co.uk  : "Both Kevin and Lee are quality players, to have them here at Salters Lane is quite a coup for Faversham Town and I'm sure that all the club's supporters will join me in wishing them all the best for the season ahead.

“It's also great news that Roy Guiver has committed himself to the club, Roy would be an asset to any side in the Kent Premier and Ryman League so the fact that he's happy to remain at Salters Lane is a great boost for everyone connected to the club."

Luchford believes that the playing surface at Salters Lane is a key factor in attracting new players to the club and was keen to highlight the commitment and hard work behind the scenes that makes the Salters Lane pitch one of the best around.

Looking out over the ground Luchford enthused: "At our level of the game I doubt that there is another pitch of this quality, it looks in mint condition and I'd like to thank the Committee for their efforts regarding the pitch and in particular Ray Mills and Dave Payne for their hard work during the close season."

Article and photograph courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk