Soccer Shorts: Dover star Cloke pens new two-year deal

www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you the latest news stories coming from Beckenham Town, Maidstone United, Tunbridge Wells, Slade Green, Ebbsfleet United, Welling United, Folkestone Invicta and Dover Athletic.   The Football Association have also confirmed that FIVE Kent League clubs have applied for promotion into the Ryman League.

THE KENT League’s fixture list does not figure very highly on Beckenham Town’s list of favourite reading matter at present.

Somehow the fixtures have conspired to leave Becks without a single home fixture in February - they don’t play at Eden Park Avenue until Greenwich Borough’s visit Eden Park Avenue in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Trophy on the first day of March.

Secretary Peter Palmer told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk : “It’s not a situation that financially the club would want and I cannot remember an occasion like this occurring before.”

He added: “Our cup success this season have from a fixture point of view filled the gaps left by our not competing in the FA competitions and for that reason one could have hoped that a run of six consecutive away matches could have been avoided.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED’S joint-manager Alan Walker had a very frustrating afternoon today as his attempts to bring in some fresh attacking options to the Ryman Premier League club were thwarted.

“I’ve been trying to sign two specific players this week and have suffered a knock back on both counts this afternoon,” he told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“Both of the players play at clubs higher in the Pyramid than us but that hasn’t been the issue.

“The first player was very close to coming to us today but a few minor terms and conditions couldn’t be sorted to the satisfaction of all parties and he will stay with his current club for this weekend. The deal isn’t dead though and I’ll be back to talk to the player and his club again after Saturday.”

“The second player has resumed training with his club this week following a spell of injury and I was hoping to have him available this weekend.

“However, his manager wasn’t certain that he had got enough work under his belt in training to be fit enough to play a competitive match this weekend.

“Therefore, I’ll find out in the middle of next week as to whether he’ll be coming over to us in time for next week’s game against Ramsgate. I am pretty hopeful that he’ll be with us though.”

The team news for the trip to East London to play basement boys Leyton is generally good though. Midfielder Conor Hagan returns to the starting line up following the one match suspension that kept him out of the Billericay game. Nathan Paul has overcome a bout of flu this week and he will also be good to start the game.

Missing from action will be Chris Smalling who (together with Butch Ulph) is away on England Schoolboys duty against Australia on Sunday at Shrewsbury.

Also absent will be Craig Roser who misses out due to a family illness. Rob Owen will again miss a game due to his hamstring injury which was picked up in the final minutes of the game at Boreham Wood.

However, Owen was able to train this week and despite the initial fears that he would be out for three weeks or more, it is now hoped that he will return to action a little sooner.

Walker will be in sole control of team matters at Leyton owing to Lloyd Hume being away on a personal business meeting.

Walker added: “Lloyd has an unavoidable business meeting that is crucial to his company over this weekend and so I will work in tandem with Tim Warden on Saturday. It’ll be business as usual for us, just a little quieter!”

TUNBRIDGE WELLS have signed goalkeeper Adam Harris, 19, on loan from Maidstone United.

Harris is highly rated by Stones joint-manager Alan Walker, and kept a clean sheet on his debut for the reserves in their 1-0 win at Sittingbourne.

Meantime, Mike Robbins has announced the departure of Richard Boorman to Ryman League Division One South side Sittingbourne.

“It’s a shame to see Richard leave so soon, but I will never stand in the way of a player moving up the leagues,” Robbins explained to www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“Richard felt it was a good move for him, and I respect his decision.”

In addition, Gary Croxton and Anthony Pace have been released, while Tommy Fuller has joined near-neighbours Rusthall.

“All three players were only going to have very limited chances of first team football, and it was in the best interests of all three to be allowed to move on.

“We thank them for their efforts and commitment over the past months, and wish them the best for the future.”

The Kent League’s bottom side are without a game tomorrow, as scheduled opponents VCD Athletic entertain Needham Market in the FA Carlsberg Vase fourth round at Oakwood.

But Robbins has called the players’ in for extra training.

He said: “Although we haven’t played, we have had a couple of fantastic training sessions that should give everybody at the club cause for optimism.

“Last Saturday, every single player at this club involved in the first and reserve teams attended training - were doing well at what they should have been doing, and everything looked great. I don’t think there’s another non-league club in Kent who have what we have on that showing.”

Particularly heartening for Robbins is that recent activity on the training field backs up a previous statement he’s made; that only if his players can battle together will they win the war.

The immediate skirmish that he is looking to win is to turn the mentality around of some of the players - something he believes he is starting to see progress on.

“Firstly, we’ve got some players in the side, whether already here when I took over, or some that I’ve brought in who although they’re good individual footballers, are used to losing,” he explained.

“We’re working to turn around their mentalities to enable them to play as a team, and win in the way players of their abilities should be winning. Others - particularly in the defensive department in recent weeks - while again being good individually, need to learn lessons from recent weeks.

They’ll be far better footballers if they can learn when they can play the ball, and when they just need to clear their lines. Based on what I’ve been watching in training, I’m confident this will be achieved. The lads are all enthusiastic and are clearly prepared to work hard together.”

And looking forward to this coming Saturday’s training, Robbins revealed that three trialists - all with first team potential would be linking up with his squad to be looked at.

He said: “We’ve got a couple of positions where we’re looking to strengthen having released a few who were only going to have limited chances in the first team.

“Obviously I can’t name names, but two of the lads have Kent League experience, and the other has played higher up the leagues.

“In addition to this, (reserve team manager) Vince Shell has introduced a couple of very promising 17-18 year olds to the Reserves, meaning that the average age of the reserves side had dropped.

“And speaking of the reserve team, I believe we have about seven or eight players ready, or almost ready for first team football.

“At the moment, though, you can put one in at a time, and it won’t be a problem - but if you try to put them all in at once, you might struggle. These players [Robbins lists Matt Clarke, Jason Reynolds, James Russell, Danny Jones, Gavin Venamore, Ross Campbell, Elliot Everson and Aaron Southard] have come along nicely over this season and I believe they are physically and technically more or less there individually.

“We’re also looking at toning the reserve side,” he continued. “Ideally (and I don’t think we’re a million miles away from our goals), we’d have a reserve side containing half a dozen fringe players with potential, six promising youngsters, with room for another six or more first teamers regaining or keeping match fitness.

“But ultimately, they’d be a young, physical side, built around a core group already in place now.”

It isn’t only the playing side of things that are undergoing transformation at the club, either, as the management are looking to make the entire running of the side more professional and thorough.

Robbins has installed a scouting network, with three new additions to the backroom staff focussing on scouting different areas of the game. One scout has been appointed to report on upcoming opponents, while another is keeping tabs on leagues at Kent League level and above. The other will focus on leagues at Kent County League level and below.

“While this club isn’t one of the league’s big spenders, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t look to become a club that’s advanced for its level,” says Robbins.

“We have, and still will face some big challenges on and off the pitch this season, but we’re laying a platform, a launch pad for next season where we can be a well run club breaking in on the top 3-4 places.”

Robbins, meanwhile, is looking to climb the Kent League table for the rest of the campaign.

He said: “We’re not far off giving one of the league’s better sides a good game.

“If we can get another 12 points from our final 16 matches, we’ve matched last season tally. The boys are up for the challenge - none of us believe we’re a bottom three side anyway. But while we’re plugging away at our immediate targets, we will always keep a focus on next season as the year we really start to make the hard work show.”

SLADE GREEN manager Matt Longhurst has held his hands up and accepts the blame for last Saturday’s 7-1 defeat at Hythe Town.

“I have to accept the blame for Saturday’s result as it’s my job to get the players to do their jobs properly and play the way I ask them to,” he told the club’s website.

“However, the mistakes that we made defensively, including the poor goalkeeping, was not enough for the Sunday League let alone the Kent League and I have to address this before the next game against Faversham (at home tomorrow).

“After a great month in December we have gone backwards in terms of performance but the squad I feel is actually better.

“But we are in a transitional period still and I put some of our defending down to this.

“The fact we are only playing Saturday’s game with only two of the back four that players the previous month didn’t help and also losing Paul Springett through injury hasn’t helped as we are already missing several experienced players including John Paul McKey and Lee Barber.

“But still there can be no excuses for the last two performances . One thing I will say that we will benefit from the experiences of Saturday next season the players will know what to expect when we go there and it’ll be a different outcome I can assure you .

“We will train twice from now on as at this level we need to have people to a better fitness level and it will also allow us to work on more things in terms of pattern play with and without the ball , one thing I can say is that we are working hard to turn things around and quickly and I m confident we will , we have as a good a starting 11 as anyone in this division and I really do believe this and its my job to get us playing as a unit.

“I m happy for the Kent League doubters to carry on doubting us and trying to knock what we are doing here at the Small Glen , but what I will say is watch this space as VCD , Thamesmead , Hythe Town , Beckenham Town didn’t get where they are in 5 minutes and neither will we but we will strive to be up there with those clubs this time next season and if we don’t it will not be for the want of trying to do it the right way with good young players trying to pass the ball.”

EBBSFLEET UNITED and Arriva Buses have teamed up to offer Fleet season-ticket holders the opportunity to travel to Stonebridge Road for less.

The deal commences at 5.45pm on Tuesday 29th January, and will be in place two hours ahead of the eagerly anticipated Kent Senior Cup tie with Dartford.

On production of an Ebbsfleet United season ticket, supporters will be able to purchase a 75p single journey anywhere in the Kent Thameside Urban area to attend matches at Stonebridge Road. This will allow supporters to make a return journey anywhere on a direct service to Stonebridge Road for just £1.50.

Supporters attending matches at the Fleet's ground from other locations in the Kent Thameside Urban area that would require a change of bus will be able to make each single journey for 75p (i.e. £3.00 return).

The deal is only available on a matchday which means season-ticket holders will be able to purchase the reduced rate up to two hours before kick-off time. There will not be a time restriction on travel after the match until the end of service on that day.

The Fleet and Arriva hope the partnership will persuade more Fleet fans to leave the car at home and take the bus to a home game.

Meanwhile, Ebbsfleet United, who welcome Burton Albion to Stonebridge Road tomorrow, are looking to supplement their medical cover on matchdays to support the regular club doctor.

If you are a doctor who would be willing to give up a few hours on match day to act as occasional medical cover at Stonebridge Road please contact the club on 01474 533 796.

Please mention that you read this on www.kentishfootball.co.uk wen contacting the club.

WELLING UNITED have today signed two players on a months loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. Striker Sam Gargan and defender Sonny Cobbs will both be available for selection tomorrow’s game against Blue Square South leaders Lewes at Park View Road.

Gargan scored 13 goals in 19 games during a three-month loan at Worthing before joining Bognor Regis on loan. Cobbs also had a spell at Worthing but more recently was on loan at Dorchester Town.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA welcome Chelsea to the Buzzlines Stadium in Cheriton Road on Sunday (2pm).

Invicta’s Disability team welcome the Chelsea Community side in the Abilities Counts Cup.

CRAIG CLOKE is staying at Dover Athletic until 2010 after signing a new two-year contract.

The Whites star is a big fans' favourite and a Dover Athletic fan himself.

Boss Andy Hessenthaler insists he is delighted that Cloke has put pen to paper and praised the player for his energetic performances.

He told www.doverathletic.com : "Clokey has been brilliant. He's been a good servant to his club and his performances have been first class. He can play in a number of positions and we're delighted that he is staying beyond this summer.

"His current deal was expiring in the summer but now he doesn't have to worry about that - and can just concentrate on playing his football.

"Clokey loves the club, being a local boy, and his commitment is there for all to see."

Meanwhile, The Football Association have confirmed which Kent League clubs have applied for promotion into the Ryman League.

VCD Athletic (leaders), Thamesmead Town (3^rd place), Hythe Town (4^th), Erith & Belvedere (6^th) and seventh placed side Herne Bay all have intentions of climbing the pyramid.

Visit club websites:

www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.wellingunited.com

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.doverathletic.com

www.thefa.com