Soccer Shorts: To score my first goal for England was amazing, says Bromley defender Jack Holland

BROMLEY defender Jack Holland says he was a proud man after scoring for England C on Sunday.

The 24-year-old won his second cap for England’s non-league side and headed home The Three Lions equaliser in their 4-3 home defeat to Slovakia’s under 21’s at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane.

Holland was forced off through a tight hamstring after scoring the equaliser as Paul Fairclough’s side lost their International Challenge Trophy tie.

“It was an honour to represent my country again and it has been a great four days with the team,” Holland told www.bromleyfc.tv.

“To score my first goal for England was amazing and to do it in front of the home fans and my family was a very special feeling.

“Also a big thank you to the Bromley fans that came and showed their support for not only myself but the team and those that have messaged me over social media, it really means a lot.”

Holland is a fans’ favourite at Hayes Lane since he broke into the first team in 2013 after initially progressing through the youth ranks  before being snapped up by Crystal Palace.

Holland featured at centre back, right-back and even as an emergency striker during the club’s debut National League campaign which saw his home-town club finish in fourteenth-place last season.

Holland scooped the supporters’ player-of-the-year award last season and remains under contract next season.

DOVER ATHLETIC can confirm that Nicky Deverdics – who was offered a new deal by the club – has completed a move to League Two side Hartlepool United.

The midfielder scored 14 goals and made 18 assists in the National League last season and spent two years on the Kent coast.

Hartlepool United manager Craig Hignett fought off competition from other League clubs to land the signature of the highly-rated 28-year-old.

Hignett told www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk: “Every time we’ve seen him play he’s been excellent and so have all the reports we have had on him.

“He’s the best player in the National League in a lot of people’s eyes; he’s got a great left foot, is very creative and he can make goals as well as score them.

“There were a few clubs in for him but we met him very early and tried to sell the Club to him and we managed to convince him that this is the place for him.

“Nicky is very ambitious and he wants to join a club who are pushing and hopefully we can give him that platform here.”

GILLINGHAM goalkeeper Tom Hadler, meanwhile, has today signed a new two-year deal, keeping him at the League One club until the summer of 2018.

The 19-year-old, who has had loan spells at Folkestone Invicta, Tonbridge Angels, Grays Athletic and Gloucester City, initially joined the Gills as part of the club’s schoolboy programme.

Hadler left aged 15 to concentrate on his studies and completed his A-Levels in 2014. He re-joined Gillingham’s Academy – initially on a part-time basis – and signed a one-year professional contract last summer.

Hadler told www.gillinghamfootballclub.com: “I stayed at school to finish my A-Levels, so I feel the last two years were my time to really push on and develop.  Hopefully I’ve done that and I can put into practice everything I’ve learnt next season.

“Justin Edinburgh has been fantastic since he came in; he’s looked after me and kept on encouraging me to improve. He’s been really supportive and hopefully I can repay his faith in me in the forthcoming years.”

Hadler is the third Gillingham player to agree a new deal at the club this summer, following Darren Oldaker and Emmanuel Osadebe.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC have today unveiled Russell Slade as their new manager.

The 55-year-old joins the relegated Addicks from his role as head of football at Cardiff City and has signed a three-year contract at The Valley.

Slade told www.cafc.co.uk: “I am very pleased to be appointed manager of Charlton, a club with a fantastic tradition and history.

“I was attracted to Charlton as it has great facilities, passionate fans and a very successful academy.  This is a hugely exciting opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”

Chief executive Katrien Meire insists Slade is the man to guide the club out of League One next season after previously managing in the third tier of English football.

“We don’t underestimate the challenge of getting Charlton back into the Championship.  We believe Russell is the man to help us achieve this and with the help of everyone involved in the club, ensure that Charlton have a successful 2016-17 campaign.

“Russell has vast experience in the division and is a two-time League One manager-of-the-year. He joins us as manager on a long-term contract and his appointment represents the start of an exciting new era at the club under his guidance.”

TUNBRIDGE WELLS have completed the signing of attacking winger Ollie Bankole, who has dropped down a division after playing for Sittingbourne last season.

ORPINGTON begin the search for a new first team coach and physio ahead of next season’s Southern Counties East First Division campaign.

CROCKENHILL have appointed Christopher Sundborg as their new assistant-manager.