Soccer Shorts: Greenwich Borough approach Dutch superstar Edgar Davids to sign for club

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CHATHAM TOWN have confirmed that midfielder Lee Hales has put pen to paper to remain at Maidstone Road.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC have confirmed that second of their under 16 Capital Girls League Cup winning squad hae been offered senior forms for next season.

Daisy Monaghan, Saliha Topcu, Charlie Spice, Kiera Jenkings, Leisha Wyatt-Smith, Ellie-Mae Brown-Araque and Ti-Ya Gilham-Law have been given their chance to impress next season.

Coached by first team midfielder Kim Dixson and goalkeeper coach Jeremy Parsons, some of the team, who are now 16 move into senior football with the aspirations of following in the footsteps of previous junior players like Dixson, Kit Graham, Rosie Paye, Megen Lynch and Gemma Hyland to name a few.

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC chairman Tony Bowen has unveiled that Joe Croker – who was the chairman at Tunbridge Wells when Martin Larkin guided the club to The FA Vase Final in May 2013 – has joined the club’s committee ahead of their inaugural Southern Counties East Football League campaign.

DARTFORD have lost midfielder Alan Woodyard, 21, who has signed for Conference South side Concord Rangers. The former Southend United player was invited back for pre-season training by Darts boss Tony Burman but has opted to return to Essex.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says his staff and players deserve massive credit for the three awards that the club picked up at the recent Ryman Presentation night held at The Wembley Hilton last weekend.

Along with the Ryman League Division One South runners-up trophy, Invicta also collected the divisional fairplay award for a remarkable third year running and also won the league’s Respect trophy for the attitude and behaviour towards match officials.

Folkestone received only two red cards last season and a relatively small number of yellow cards meaning the club was rarely hit by suspensions - something that obviously makes life so much easier for manager Cugley.

Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk: “It’s the players who deserve so much credit for their behavior on the pitch which saw us again win the Fairplay Trophy, and their attitude, plus that of my staff on the bench and in the dugout has earned us the Respect award which is an added honour for the club.

“As well as the three trophies, we collected £1,500 for finishing second and £1,000 each for the other two awards.

“We can all take a lot of pride in these achievements.”.

The Invicta boss hopes to complete the signing this weekend of one more player to complete his squad.

Cugley said: “He’s an experienced player, though still relatively young, who can play right across midfield or in defence.”

The remainder of last season’s squad remain with the club apart from Simon Austin who has taken the manager’s job at Erith Town, and Johan Ter Horst, who is now a full-time young professional with Premiership Hull City.

Former Leatherhead duo Darren Smith and Ian Draycott have also signed for the club.

GREENWICH BOROUGH manager Ian Jenkins confirms the club has approached Dutch super-star Edgar Davids, 41, to play for the Southern Counties East Football League club next season.

The Dartford-based club issued a press release at 10:40 on Wednesday saying, “Greenwich Borough FC are in advanced talks with Edgar Davids with a view to him joining the club in a playing and ambassadorial role.”

However, the article on the club’s website was taken down only 37 minutes later.

“Edgar Davids to Greenwich Borough? Really?” was the text sent to Jenkins on Wednesday.

Jenkins replied today, “Yes mate. Ring chairman.”

KENNINGTON have unveiled former Ashford United defender Dan Scorer, 23, as their new player-manager.

The Ashford-based club finished in fourth-place in the Haart of Kent County League Division One East with 30 points from 20 games, finishing 19 points behind champions Guru Nanak.

A club statement said: “Dan is no stranger to the club having played as a Kennington Junior and for our Sunday side under Graham Jordan.

“Continuity and stability in the first team will be maintained with last season’s manager Jon Lancaster assisting Dan along with long standing first team assistants Sean Foord and Graham Prior.

“We are certain that Dan’s appointment will herald an exciting new era for the club as we strive to move forward.”

LYDD TOWN have appointed Ross Ketley as one of their first team coaches next season, to work alongside Dave and Liam Smith.

MAIDSTONE UNITED Academy manager Jack Parkinson says he wants to retain the Ryman Youth League title next season.

“We’re defending the title and will be going all out to make sure the trophy stays in Maidstone at the end of the season,” Parkinson told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“The Ryman under 21 League has been a great addition and is the best around for bridging the gap between youth and men’s football.

“There’s a couple of extra teams entering this time and the possibility of a League Cup too. It’ll be good for our Academy lads to test themselves against teams from Kent and surrounding areas.”

Parkinson’s side clinched the treble last season.

SEVENOAKS TOWN manger Micky Collins has unveiled the signings of midfielder Russell Bedford and striker Luke Coleman from Erith Town and Holmesdale respectively.

Collins has already brought in defender Ben Judge, 37, from Ryman League Division One South Hastings United and winger Kieron McCann (Chatham Town) and strikers Ashley Baverstock and Andy Constable.

McCann and Constable played under Collins when Erith & Belvedere completed the Kent League double thirteen months ago.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS have appointed former Ramsgate manager Justin Luchford, 37, as their new coach, working alongside new manager Steve McKimm and Barry Moore.

McKimm told www.tonbridgeangelsonline.com: “I’m delighted Justin is coming on board to join myself and Barry Moore which will allow us to get the best out of our new look squad.”

Luchford was scout under Neil Cugley at Folkestone Invicta before he took charge of Ramsgate for the last eight games of last season.

Meanwhile, former Bristol City, Bromley and Tonbridge Angels goalkeeper Lewis Carey, 21, has signed for Conference South side Eastbourne Borough.

VCD ATHLETIC manager Tony Russell has unveiled the signing of former Maidstone United defender Elliott Cox, 21.

Meanwhile, Conference fixtures are scheduled to be published on Monday 7 July, with the Ryman League expected to publish theirs week commencing 14 July.