Soccer Shorts: Guy Eldridge quits Sutton Athletic after seven years in charge

ASHFORD UNITED have secured their first big coup ahead of the new season - a pre-season visit of League Two champions Gillingham.

Martin Allen guided the Gills to the title last season in just his first year in charge at Priestfield.

There they will take on the likes of Wolves and Sheffield United - but on Saturday, June 29, the league-winning squad will be in action at Homelands (3pm).

Ashford United chairman Ernie Warren told www.ashfordunited.co.uk: "It's brilliant news for the club and the town.

"It's a chance for everyone to come and see a massively successful league club, who won the title last season, appear on their door-steps.

"We feel hugely privileged to welcome Martin Allen and his players to Homelands and we can only thank chairman Paul Scally and the club for their help in getting the game on."

Ashford United took on Gillingham in their first game since being reborn back in 2011 and welcomed more than 1,100 fans to Homelands.

It's hoped that number can be eclipsed next month as fans supporters come out in force to see a Gills side punching their weight in the third tier of English football.

"We don't know what players they'll have out but one thing is for sure - it'll be a very, very tough game," Mr Warren said.

"Last time Gillingham put out a really strong side but it was a great day for everyone who came in.

"It's not often our players will get a chance to take on full-time, professional footballers."

Club owner Tony Betteridge echoed Warren's sentiments and admitted he cannot wait to see the Gills in action at Homelands.

Mr Betteridge said: "It was a brilliant day back in 2011 and now, thanks to Paul Scally and Martin Allen, Gillingham are coming back again.

"They did brilliantly last season to win the League Two championship so to be able to host them is a real honour."

BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley says the Kent League club have attracted interest from players who have played at a higher level of football.

"This coming season we intend adopting a completely new approach towards new players," Huntley told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk.

"We have already been contacted by several players with excellent footballing CV's.  Players who have had plenty of Ryman League experience.  We have been in touch with players concerned and I'm determined not to allow them to slip through the net."

BROMLEY have confirmed that striker Louie Theophanous has returned to his former club Staines Town.  The Conference South club have been linked with striker Jay May, who has been released by Billericay Town following the Essex club's relegation from that division.

May, who has previously played for Tonbridge Angels and Dartford, played for the Hayes Lane club back in 2008.

CANTERBURY CITY have appointed Simon Pettit as their new player-manager and Luke Farmer arrives as assistant manager/coach.

A club statement issued on www.canterburycityfc.com: said: "Simon is joining us from Sittingbourne where last season he was first team captain.

"He has 14 years senior first-team experience playing at Kent League/Kent League Premier and Division One South levels, having made his debut for Ramsgate's first team aged 17.

"He went on to achieve the role of vice-chairman between 2010-12 as well as collecting back-to-back Kent League and Ryman League Division One South championships (for Ramsgate) as well as the Ryman League Cup during this spell.

"He also represented the England Universities Team in 2005.06."

CHATHAM TOWN chairman Jeff Talbot could not hide his disappointment after The Football Association decided to keep the club in the Ryman League Division One North next season.

"It's disappointing news as we had been looking forward to returning to the Southern Division, but that isn’t the case – it looks as though we’re stuck in the North,” Mr Talbot told www.chathamtownfc.net.

"So we have to now sit back and reflect on that and we must try and take the positives one of which is the fact that we've now been joined by Sittingbourne in the North along with Erith & Belvedere and VCD, so it looks like the county of Kent is being reformed on the North, so it's not all bad news!"

The chairman continued: "If you look at it and study where teams are it seems to have been a logical decision by the Football Association and indeed to some extent for the Leagues.  There are still some oddities that we're still scratching our heads about.  Sittingbourne will undoubtedly be disappointed but never the less they are local to us and one of our nearest clubs and we must look forward to playing them again and having two good derbies against them."

Mr Talbot painted a potentially bleak future for the Maidstone Road club.

He said: "It's a very serious position that we find ourselves in and we have our board meeting after the Bank Holiday at the end of May and we will have to consider how we go forward with this news.

"Obviously there will be differing views on things and we as a board need to look at that.  The options undoubtedly are to go forth in the North or there could be other options - we could take a "sabbatical" if you like; we could step back and we could even discontinue!  So we are a live business and have that power in our hands.  So we just need to think about what we're doing and think about how our sponsors will take this disappointment and how our supporters will take this, and we'll come up with a sensible response once the heat of the initial upset has died down!"

One option that clearly faces the board is to resign from the Ryman League and drop a division to the Kent League, which is a move that Whyteleafe took a couple of seasons ago.

The chairman though, whilst not ruling it out, reiterated that any decision would be for the good of the club and no one else.

He said: "I don't believe that a backward step would be unprecedented and whether there's a precedent isn't the question for us.

"It;s whether or not it would be right for us and we need to understand what's right for us and whether the positives of having Sittingbourne, Erith & Belvedere and VCD there and whether that still offers us a way forward.

"But until the board has been around the table and we're all satisfied, then we'll come out and explain what we're doing going forward!  And that will be by the end of the month - some of the board spoke about it at the Clubs Community Day at the weekend, but we need to know everyone in the club - the key stakeholders in the club are fully informed and have had their opportunity to say where they think we need to be - and that's what we'll do and we'll take a steady step forward by the end of May!"

CRAY WANDERERS' unbeaten run in European matches came to an end in a pleasant Rhineland location as they went down to the strongest side from Bromley's twin town, Neuwied on 19 May.

Ian Jenkins' side went down to a 5-2 defeat to FV Engers 07, who had just completed an excellent season, having finished as champions of their league and gaining promotion to the sixth tier of German football.

Chris Saunders and Michael Power scored the goals for the Ryman Premier League side, who included some guest players.

A club statement said: "The result was not of great importance, of course, as the event was about cementing friendships between Bromley and Neuwied.

"An invitation has been extended for Engers to visit the Wands for a game in Bromley, perhaps during pre-season 2014-15."

DEAL TOWN chairman Dayle Melody says it has been a roller-coaster season at the Charles Sports Ground.

Mr Melody issued a statement on the club’s official website to reflect on the past season.

He said: “Another year passes at the roller coaster called Deal Town FC. This year sees lots of positive changes and progression within the club. This change will put Deal's Premier Football Team in good stead for a prosperous 2013 and beyond.

“Neville Southall (Consultant) has been a rock and a real positive advantage to have on board, having such a figure head within Deal Town FC shows we mean business and that this is no dress rehearsal.

“Club stability is high on our agenda and something that has damaged progression in the past. The Past will stay in the Past as this is something that no one can or will change!

“No doubt people will come and go but all that matters is the Premier Football Club. A club that celebrated 75 years of football at The Charles Ground this year. Of course, I too will leave but I promise like my fellow board members we will leave the club in a better state than we found it.

“Having said that I plan on going nowhere. I have started so I will finish. My/Our aim will be a club for the community of Deal to be proud of.

“For the record, I blame no one for the past and I have no opinion on previous administration. It's the present and the future that I am interested in.”

The chairman added: “The new vision with Albie Barker and Mick Santer is to home grow the youth of 16-21 and prepare them for first team football, Kent Premier League and beyond. The balance between winning, developing and progression will take time.
 
“2013 will see the grand opening of our long over due Community Club House and coupled with a 99 year lease, The Charles Ground will be home for the people of Deal to use on a daily basis for the foreseeable future. A long term plan for our facilities is being designed, but budgetary constraints will see delays in phase 2 and 3, until appropriate funding channels down to us.

"A thousand mile journey starts with one step" and I can confirm we have started our journey and have made many huge strides.”


DOVER ATHLETIC manager Chris Kinnear says he is keeping his options open when it comes to building a squad for next season’s Conference South campaign.

The Whites’ boss came agonisingly close to masterminding a sensational return to the Conference Premier, after returning to the club at the beginning of the year.

Dover Athletic suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to runners-up Salisbury City in the play-off final.  The Wiltshire side were promoted along with champions Welling United.

“I really thought we might do it but it was twice as difficult in extra time and being the away team made a massive difference.   Everyone is still disappointed and why wouldn’t they be?” Kinnear told www.doverathletic.com.

“It was a great experience and I have learnt a lot about the league.  We were out of both cups and had lost nine league games when I first started and since then we have only lost one.”

Kinnear explained why he hasn’t started dealing in the summer transfer market.

“I needed to let the dust settle first,” said the former Margate boss. “Though I want to keep fans updated, I need to be fair to the players and look after them too.  Some will stay and some will go, but I will not panic about anything as I have until mid-August to get the squad ready.

“I like to keep an open mind and don’t like to sign players early. There are a lot of players release from Football League clubs from 1 June.  I already have had quite a few ringing me up wanting to play for Dover!  Plus other players become available as trials don’t work out.

“Whoever comes in, I want them to want to play for Dover and why would you not want to?  It’s a great club, where players get looked after in first class style.

“I like players that are young, ambitious, hungry and have a willingness to improve – like in my first spell here with the likes of Jason Bartlett, Mark Harrop, Russell Milton and Lennie Lee, who all cared about the club.  I will also need some players with experience to help the younger players.”

Kinnear revealed he has a smaller budget at his disposal next season.

He said: “It is a little less than last season but it is still decent and I have no complaints.  Though our players will be on good pay, I don’t want anyone that just follows the money.

“When I first started managing, some players would just go between clubs like Dover, Folkestone and Margate because that’s where the money was.  I want to get out of that and I still do it differently. I’m a good judge of character and used to talking to young people.”

Kinnear added: “It’s going to be a lot tougher next season, a few players have already gone for big money and some clubs are going full-time. We might not be the richest but we have to be positive and go for it.

“We all care about the club and want to see it do well, in particular for the fans who have been magnificent.  What other supporters would clap the team off after losing 5-0?  That was the main reason we bounced back and went unbeaten again in the league.  Players really appreciate it when fans are behind them.”

DULWICH HAMLET manager Gavin Rose has confirmed that he will lead the club next season in the Ryman Premier League after securing a player budget that his team thinks will be competitive.

The management trio of Rose, Junior Kadi and Kevin James oversaw Hamlet's first Championship success in 35 years in the season just past but now they want to carry on their good work at Champion Hill.

Rose told Southwark News: "We have agreed a budget and whilst we are not going to be the biggest payers, what we have we feel will be competitive. We don't want the work we have done in recent years to be lost and for us just to be relegated, that would be a nightmare."

He added: "There was no doubt whatsoever we were going to stay. We all worked so hard at the club to achieve promotion to the Ryman Premier and there has been many managers and players, including myself, who have be trying to do just this for years. Everybody pulled together last year and Junior, Kevin and myself want to try to establish us at this level now.

"The season just gone we had an average budget and the players put in something special to achieve what they did. If we can get one or two bodies in who can add to that, and repeat what we did last year we will be able to compete in the Ryman Premier."

Dulwich Hamlet will welcome back former striker Danny Carr, who returns with his new side Huddersfield Town for a pre-season friendly at Champion Hill on Tuesday 23 July.  The Yorkshire outfit have announced a trio of pre-season matches for their under 21 development side, one of them being the Ryman League Division One South champions.

EBBSFLEET UNITED are delighted to announce that - notwithstanding the fact that the legal completion of the takeover by KEH Sports will take a few more days to allow an offer to be made to all shareholders.

KEH Sports have provided funding (on a non-refundable basis) in order to meet outstanding players and staff wages for April and to meet this month's payroll of the relegated club, who will be playing Conference South football in August.

In addition, KEH Sports are funding much-needed improvements to the pitch at Stonebridge Road.

A club statement, posted on the club's website www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk said: "As directors we acknowledge and appreciate the importance of this gesture and the fact that the club could not continue or be financially viable without this support."

The club are expected to announce former Dover Athletic assistant-manager Steve Brown as Liam Daish’s replacement soon.

ERITH TOWN are looking for a kit manager for next season.

The role is on a voluntary basis and you will be treated as an important part of the team and fed and watered on matchday and included in team events.

Age and experience are no barrier, but you need to be reliable, enthusiastic, organised and someone who enjoys the banter associated with being part of a non-league football club.

This is a perfect opportunity for someone who is looking to get involved with football and applications should be made by phone to manager Mark Tompkins on 07854 569 916.

HOLMESDALE are staging a Charity Game at Oakley Road on Sunday 2 June (gates open at 1:30pm) between a Holmesdale Legends XI and a Showbiz XI in aid of St Christopher’s Hospice.  Former footballers Paul Merson, Les Ferdinand and Des Walker have put their names forward, as has pop star Olly Murs.

LYDD TOWN manager Dave Smith says he wants to finish in the top-three of the Kent Invicta League next season. 

Champions Phoenix Sports and third-placed Ashford United are expected to take their place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League next season.

Smith told www.lyddtownfc.co.uk: “I thank all the players for a truly superb effort all season especially in the second half.  To finish sixth was a great effort, the squad is very strong and I will be working on keeping everyone together for next season, but I will add.  I see this as just the beginning as I now expect us to move on and be challenging for at least the top three next season.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED Academy striker Alife Pavey has signed a two-year scholarship with NPower Championship side Millwall.

Pavey, 17, who scored 124 goals in 54 games for the Stones in youth and Academy football this season, initially trialled with the Lions earlier in the year and clearly did enough to earn a deal with the south London club.

Pavey made one appearance for the Stones first team, coming on as a 62nd minute substitute against Whitehawk in the Ryman League Cup.

Academy manager Jack Parkinson told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: "A massive congratulations goes to Alfie Pavey on his two-year scholarship at Millwall.

"Alfie has been with me now for three years and has scored over 300 goals including 124 so far this season. His attitude and leadership has been different class in the time we have had him.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for him and while we at Maidstone are sad to see him go he has got a fantastic future ahead of him.

"On a personal note his has been a fantastic help to me and the team and will still be a huge part of what we do. We all at Maidstone wish a real genuine nice lad and a top player all the very best with his exciting future."

As a first year player at the Maidstone United Academy, based at the Gallagher Stadium, Pavey has spent the last academic year studying, training and playing football full time. He is a shining example of someone who has made the most of his time as a Maidstone United player.

The Academy has won a number of trophies this season, including the Conference Youth Alliance, and has also seen a number of players have a taste of first team action in the 2012/13 season.

First-team manager Jay Saunders has signed midfielder Fabio Saraiva, 19, on a one-year contract from Ryman League Division One South side Merstham.

Saraiva scored 18 league goals for the Surrey club during the 2012-13 season and impressed Saunders when the Stones played Hayden Bird's side.  He scored in three of the four recent matches between the two sides.

The former Lewisham college student also had trails with Championship sides Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.

Eight-members of the promotion-winning Maidstone United squad have agreed to re-sign for next season.

Paul Booth, Ian Draycott, Rory Hill, Danny Lye, Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Michael Phillips and Jerrome Sobers all return to the club.

Saunders said: "It's great to be this advanced with preparations for next season.  We've got the nucleus of the squad now and the other players have had offers and I am waiting to hear from them.

"I've organised a trial day next month to have a look at all those who've emailed the club about playing for us - the interest has been phenomenal."

PHOENIX SPORTS begin pre-season training on Thursday 27 June at 7:30pm, then it will be every Tuesday/Thursday until the start of the Kent Hurlimann Football League season on 10 August.  The promoted club will train at St Columba’s School, Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath DA6 7QB.

RUSTHALL have appointed Gary Sharman as their new manager. 

The Jockey Farm outfit finished in the bottom five in the Kent Invicta League and have decided to make a change going into the summer.

A club statement said: “Gary brings a wealth of coaching and managing experience and is relishing the chance of developing young players at the club.”

SITTINGBOURNE are hopeful of returning to Ryman League Division One South after Thurrock were deducted three points at a FA hearing and will be relegated from the Ryman Premier League into Ryman League Division One North.

SUTTON ATHLETIC manager Guy Eldridge has stepped down after seven successful seasons in charge of the club.

The Hextable based club finished in eighth-place in the Kent Invicta League last season, but Eldridge was instrumental in bringing the club up through the football pyramid in recent years.

“After seven years in charge at the club including numerous cup successes and three promotions (which has taken the team from Kent County League Division Two up to the Kent Invicta League), first team manager Guy Eldridge has decided to step down as first team manager.

“Guy will still be very much involved with the running of the club, in the push to bring Kent League football to Sutton in the next few years.

“A big thank you to Guy for all of his time, effort and success managing the club over the past seven years!””

THAMESMEAD TOWN have announced that Ray Bagnall is joining the coaching staff for next season.

THE KENT LEAGUE Premier Division looks set to have a constitution of 19 clubs for the 2013/14 season.

The decisions were made by the Football Association's step 5/6 review group, acting with the authority of the FA's Leagues Committee, but are subject to any appeal and confirmation at the league's AGM.

Champions Erith & Belvedere and runners-up VCD Athletic have both been promoted to Ryman League Division One North.

A joint-proposal by the Kent League, Kent Invicta League and Kent County League to promote two clubs from the Kent Invicta League this season as a one-off move to compensate for the additional clubs being moved to step 4 has also been approved by the FA, but needs to be finalised between the leagues. Further announcements to be made shortly.

In addition, the FA have also agreed that Crowborough Athletic and Rye United be transferred from the Sussex County League to the Kent League. Both clubs have the right of appeal as per National League System regulations.

Thanks to the hard work of many clubs across the county, all Premier Division clubs reached the required ground grading in time.

The only exception to this was Rochester United who experienced lengthy delays in obtaining grants. The FA have stated that they can remain at step 5, subject to a rigorous works programme being put in place.

In a statement on www.kentleague.com Kent League chairman Denise Richmond said: "Hopefully this announcement will put an end to the speculation that has dominated many conversations for recent months.

"While some clubs may be surprised at the lateral movement of clubs from Sussex to Kent, it was one of the many options discussed at various stages in the past few years.

"We will look forward to welcoming Crowborough Athletic and Rye United at our AGM in June and the increase in clubs, I am sure, will mean another competitive season of football."

Reflecting on the season just past, Richmond added: "The title race was certainly excellent entertainment, going down to the final round of matches, while we are all still recalling fondly Tunbridge Wells' magnificent achievement in reaching Wembley and then coming so close to causing an upset against Spennymoor."