Soccer Shorts: Kent club's pleased with pre-season preparations

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SLADE GREEN, who are tipped by many to be a surprise package in the Kent League this season, got their pre-season campaign off to a great start with a 2-1 win over a Bromley side on Wednesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Manager Matt Longhurst has completely transformed his squad during the summer months and he was pleased that he defeated a Bromley side made up of trialists and PASE scheme players.

And he was delighted with his side’s opening warm-up game.

“Being our first competitive game together it was always going to be a tough start, especially against higher League opposition,” Longhurst told www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc.

"Albeit we didn’t play their first team, Bromley had trialists playing that will either end up in their squad or someone else’s above the Kent League.

“A couple of players had played the previous night against Charlton.

“It was a good work out for both teams, who tried to pass the ball and I felt that we kept our shape with and without the ball really well, no matter which players were on show.”

The opening goal was scored by Lee Barnett after Paul Springett won the ball deep in Bromley’s half and released Barnett who gently guided the ball past the Bromley keeper Ashley Jones, a previous team mate at Queen’s Park Rangers.

Longhurst said: “We then get on top and dictated the play for long periods with Sam Biggs only really having to deal with long range efforts the back four looked comfortable and skipper on the night, Sam Groombridge looked very comfortable with Ben Payne alongside him.”

However, the Kent League side’s second goal came from a free-kick from former Dartford reserve Daniel Westerman and this was met by Ralph Akala, whose shot was turned in by Barnett.

Debutant Green goalkeeper, Dean James, saved a hotly debatable penalty, diving low to his right and Bromley went on to pull a goal back late on with a stunning 30-yard strike.

“Fitness levels looked good which is important this season we get off to a good start as we were not fit enough last year,“ admitted Longhurst, who is preparing for his first full season in charge at The Small Glen.

“There are plenty of things that we need to improve on but that is what we will do in training we have played lots of 11 v 11 s already in training as well as the running side of pre season as I want to get the pattern of our play in place so its not a big rush come August.

“All in all a good start some good performances but the result all though a great one is immaterial as that is not the idea of pre season games so we wont be getting carried away.

Longhurst takes his squad to Vandanel Kent County League outfit Rusthall tomorrow.

And he said : “We will play two teams, which on paper look as strong as each other so all the lads will get 45 minutes.”

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish made his third new signing of the close season last Wednesday with the capture of right-winger Ricky Shakes.

The Trinidad & Tobago international, 23, has played under Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers and Dennis Wise at Swindon Town.

He spent last season with Brentford and has amassed more than 120 appearances in the Football League.

Shakes, who looked set to join the Fleet’s Blue Square Premier rivals Wrexham last month, after being shown around the Racecourse Ground, is the third ex-Brentford man to join the Fleet this season, hot on the heels of Darius Charles and Craig Stone.

Daish, whose FA Trophy winners welcome Charlton Athletic to Stonebridge Road tomorrow, revealed that he has been tracking the winger for a while and was excited by the prospect of Shakes’ attacking ability.

“We missed someone with pace on the flanks a little bit last season,” Daish told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

“Ricky has genuine pace and can also tuck in as a striker if required.”

WHITSTABLE TOWN’S first pre-season friendly, against Redhill, may be switched to a home game due to problems with the Surrey club’s pitch.

A statement issued by the Ryman League Division One South club on their website www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk , said: “We are trying to arrange officials and hope to have confirmation by Monday when arrangements between the two clubs are settled.

“The switch of venue has arisen after problems with Redhill’s pitch.”

Meanwhile, Redhill boss Tommy Sampson is relishing his reunion with Herne Bay in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on Saturday, 16^th August.

Kent based Sampson won three Kent League titles, a Kent League Cup and a Kent Senior Trophy whilst with the Winch’s Field outfit and is already looking forward to the clash at Kiln Brow.

“I have very fond memories of my time at Herne Bay,” Sampson told www.redhillfc-online.co.uk.

“We won everything possible. But at the end, my chairman resigned on me, and told me to find a new club (and) I left for Deal Town, taking eleven players with me.”

Sampson’s club will also face Kent opposition in the form of Ebbsfleet United in the FA Youth Cup at Stonebridge Road.

And he added: “They are a full-time club, and the youth side probably train every day as well”.

HERNE BAY manager Barry Morgan, who unveiled five new signings earlier in the week, has named Luke Harvey as the new club captain.

“He really leads by example,” said Morgan, speaking to www.hernebayfc.net.

“There is no-one who puts in more effort on and off the pitch. I think Luke will make a first class team captain.”

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Mike Robbins has made a batch of new signings ahead of their Kent League campaign.

Alex Rich, 22, and Aaron Shade, 22, return to Culverden Stadium.

Rich was a popular player in the Tunbridge Wells side before picking up a long-term injury that kept him out of the game for several months.

Since the start of the New Year, Rich has featured for Tonbridge Angels, but re-joins The Wells to offer Robbins more left-footed options.

"He's a quick and skillful player, and Alex's hard work epitomises this team," Robbins told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

Shade initially joined the club at the start of last season, but was released by the previous management.

Nevertheless, Robbins emphasises how keen Shade is to get back into playing football at this level.

He said: "Aaron is a 6-foot striker who will add some serious competition to the front line. He can play next to the front-man, off him, behind him or down the wings. I can't outline strongly enough how keen Aaron is to start the new season."

Danny Powell, 21, also joins Tunbridge Wells from Tonbridge Angels, where he scored 13 goals in 16 starts for the reserve side at Longmead Stadium last season.

Currently nursing a wrist injury, the striker will begin to feature in the pre-season programme in around two weeks time.

Former Sittingbourne and Herne Bay-man Stephen Devereux impressed during pre-season and has consequently signed.

The 26-year-old the Irishman can play on the flank and in midfield - and is a tenacious player with plenty of pace.

And adding competition to the goalkeeping position is Barry Andrews, 23, who joins from their Kent League rivals, Croydon.

"Like Stephen Devereux, Barry brings a bullish, tenacious approach to the game - and will pressure Chris Arnold and Stewart Copeland all the way for the goalkeeper's gloves," Robbins remarked.

Finally, Robbins has teamed up with 22-year old centre-half Luke Robbinson.

Robbinson has not been signed for the immediate future, but will look to regain full fitness having spent a few months out of the game.

The former Gravesend & Northfleet and Watford schoolboy was in the Ashford Town reserves side at the time Robbins was manager there.

"Luke is an amazing talent," he explained. "He'll be an asset to this club once he's back to full fitness.

"A team is judged by the strength of its bench," Robbins added. "There are plenty of very skilled players competing for first team spots all over the park now.

“If you get any of these players on the bench, you're going to look very strong. You'll also notice that we've got a good blend of local talent running through the side now - the likes of Sam Phillips, Mike Lord, Brad Sandeman and Jason Bourne, among others - and you can now add to that list Alex Rich and Danny Powell."

Meantime, two players have been released by the club. Richard Vidler and Danny Jones have left Culverden Stadium due to work and travelling commitments respectively.

"We have one or two more irons in the fire," Robbins, who takes his side to Bly Spartans tomorrow, confirmed. "But we have also pulled out of the race for one player. It was best for him to move up a level in this particular case."

CROYDON chief Dickson Gill is pleased with the way pre-season training is going, ahead of their opening pre-season friendly at Banstead Athletic next Saturday.

“Things are great, the players are working hard in training and things are coming together nicely,” Gill told www.croydon-fc.co.uk.

Training is being held at a private ground and the team are bonding well.

PRE-SEASON training continued apace this week for Ryman Premier League side Maidstone United.

All of this season’s squad have now put in an appearance following their holidays and the general atmosphere and feeling amongst the group is very positive.

Managers Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume have, together with the assistance of reserve team manager Peter Nott, whittled down the large number of trialists and hopefuls to barely a handful and this has made the first team training sessions far more intense, with those players remaining putting in strong efforts to try and earn a place with the club.

There is just one further training session before the first fixture of the new season at Ryman League Division One North club Great Wakering Rovers and the Stones will take a maximum 20 players to Essex for that game, reports www.maidstoneunited.co.uk. 

THE RYMAN LEAGUE have split their Youth League into two for it’s second season in existence.

Both Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels are still the only Kent representatives and find themselves in the South East Division.

That division consists of Burgess Hill Town, Croydon Athletic, Eastbourne Town, Horsham, Horsham YMCA, Lewes, Maidstone United, Whyteleafe, Worthing and Tonbridge Angels.

To cut down on travelling, a North East Division consists of AFC Wimbledon, Carshalton Athletic, Corinthian Casuals, Godalming Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Kingstonian, Staines Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, Walton & Hersham and Woking.

Both Lewes and Woking play their first team football in the Blue Square Premier, Hampton & Richmond Borough are a Blue Square South club and Horsham YMCA will be playing Sussex County League football after they were relegated after just two season’s in the Ryman League.

ERITH TOWN have commenced their pre-season training and will do so during the period leading up to their opening Kent League match on Saturday, 9^th August.

Manager Mark Tompkins, who guided the club to Kent League Cup glory last season, is on the look out for new players, despite the north Kent club scrapping their reserve side.

Training takes place at the Erith Sports Centre in Avenue Road, Erith on Saturday’s at 12 noon and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm.

Any player who thinks he can hack it in the Kent League should contact Mark Tompkins on 07805 599 869.



WINNERS:  Erith Town celebrate winning the Kent League Cup at the end of last season.
Photograph courtesy of www.erithtownfc.co.uk

Visit club websites:

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.hernebayfc.net

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.croydon-fc.co.uk

www.erithtownfc.co.uk