Soccer Shorts: Tonbridge Angels unveil John Maggs as general manager

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CHELMSFORD CITY have confirmed that they have signed winger Sam Long, 23, from their Conference South rivals Dover Athletic.  Long’s previous clubs include Histon, Tonbridge Angels, Croydon Athletic, Margate and Cray Wanderers.

EBBSFLEET UNITED club secretary Peter Danzey has been honoured by the Football Association with a special award to recognise his 50 years service to football.

He was presented with the award by FA Council Member Philip Smith at the Kent Football Association AGM. In announcing the award FA Board Vice Chairman Barry Bright referred to it as the most prestigious award that the association gives out.

Mr Danzey had played more than 800 games for the highly successful Empire Paper Mills in the Gravesend League and Kent County League and had been in football administration since 1966 – together with his position as Fleet club secretary, which he has held since 2009. Smith also wished the club and Peter all the best for the future under its new ownership.

Mr Danzey told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: “I am very proud of the award as they are not given out lightly.  Of course Ebbsfleet United are very much part of what I have achieved and hopefully it will carry on for a long time in what is a very bright future for the club.”

ELTHAM PALACE have confirmed their new management team for next season’s second Kent Invicta League campaign.

The ambitious incoming management team include Neil Proctor (manager) and Walt Noriega (head coach).

A club statement said: “With a new season fast approaching and a new coaching set-up in place, Eltham Palace are planning to build on the tremendous efforts of former manager Terry Naden, his staff and players.

“Neil and Walt have worked in various coaching capacities, including club management roles and various football development projects over the past few years.

“Both Neil and Walt would like to express their delight in their new appointments and would like to highlight an ambition to take the club to new heights.”

ERITH TOWN’S reserve side will be playing in a new league next season, namely The Suburban League having been unanimously voted in at the league AGM by its member clubs.

The Suburban League was formed in 1971, has 4 divisions, south, north, central and premier and a membership of 46 clubs.

The Dockers have been placed in the south division and will play against Chichester City, Corinthian, Crowborough Athletic, Dorking Wanderers, East Grinstead Town, Horley Town, Horsham YMCA, Lingfield, Phoenix Sports, Redhill and South Park.

The season commences on August 17th and along with the above league games the reserves will be taking part in the Suburban League Cup drawn from all 4 divisions, the London Intermediate Cup and the Kent Intermediate Trophy.

Erith Town are also pleased to announce the appointment of a new reserve team management of Julian Smith (manager), Mike Lewin (assistant manager), Grant Duff (coach) and Alex Pricehouse (assistant coach).

A club statement, which was posted on www.erithtown.co.uk said: “Erith Town of course thank the outgoing reserve team management of Jamie Todd, Wayne Balddachino and Mike Jones for all of their efforts, time and commitment to the club during their stay with us and wish them all every success on their chosen football paths.”

FISHER stage their AGM at Canada Water Library at 6pm tonight and the Kent League club will provide members old and new an important update relating to their campaign to bring the club home.

HERNE BAY boss Sam Denly has agreed terms and has signed midfielder Sam Taylor and central defender Connor Sanders.

But Marvin Okundalaiye has decided to leave Winch’s Field and has signed for their Ryman League Division One South rivals Ramsgate.

LEWISHAM BOROUGH (Community) will mark their tenth anniversary with a game at the Ladywell Arena against their Conference South neighbours Bromley on Friday 2 August (7.30pm).

MAIDSTONE UNITED have announced that midfielder Alex Brown has signed a new one-year deal with the newly-promoted Ryman Premier League club.

Brown, 20, joined on a month’s loan from League Two champions Gillingham last December before making a permanent switch to the Stones in January.

Brown joined the Gills Centre of Excellence at the age of 13, having previously been on the books of Charlton Athletic. He also had a loan spell with Whitstable Town before making the move to the Gallagher Stadium.

Stones boss Jay Saunders told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: “I am pleased to have Alex on board. He’s a good age and if he can stay fit and have a good pre-season, he’ll kick on once the season proper gets underway. This signing adds to the nice blend of youth and experience within the club at the moment.

“I know it’s taken some time for him to sign but I am delighted he’s committed to us and fully understand that he wanted to have a look at some other options before agreeing terms.”

MARGATE have signed forward Phil Walsh, 29, who was released by relegated Ebbsfleet United at the end of last season.

PHOENIX SPORTS will have ten training sessions and eight warm-up games ahead of their inaugural Kent League campaign. The club complete their pre-season campaign with a home game against Hollands & Blair on Friday 2 August, to contest the Kent Invicta League Challenge Shield.

Chairman Andy Mortlake told www.phoenixsportsclub.org: “All at Phoenix are very excited about this new season and the start of a new era for senior football at Phoenix Sports Club.”

RAMSGATE boss Tim Dixon has unveiled the signings of James Everitt and Marvin Okundalaiye, having signed the pair from Whitstable Town and Herne Bay respectively.

Dixon has brought in former Folkestone Invicta and Hythe Town player Everitt to work in partnership with front man Ian Pulman.

Dixon told www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk:  “I wanted to speak to him last season when he became available, but he was snapped up too quickly.

“I am very pleased to secure him now and to hear his thoughts on the season ahead, and that he wants to win the Golden Boot. He is a proven goal scorer at Ryman Premier, so am excited to bring him in.”

Talking about joining the Rams, "Ratty" (a nickname given to him by his dad Paul at a youth tournament many years ago) said:  “Ramsgate are an ambitious club with good plans going forward, which the gaffer and Darren (Beale) sold me on.”

Dixon added to his squad earlier in the week, when he signed right-sided defender/midfielder Okundalaiye from Herne Bay, who was previously with Whitstable Town and Faversham Town.

Dixon, who brought central defender Ollie Schulz back to the club after five years’ away at Dover Athletic and Tonbridge Angels, added: “Ratty and Marvin have not been settled in their clubs for the last year or so. Marvin came down to our recent trails at the Bay Point Club and did very well and wants to play to a higher standard.  We’ll give him every opportunity to do that!

“I am convinced that both signings will give us more attacking options.”

RUSTHALL newly-appointed manager Gary Sharman was impressed with the players’ attitude when the Kent Invicta League club reported back to pre-season training.

“We have the making of a great squad and would hope that everyone continues to attend the sessions,” he told the club’s website.

“We are very impressed with everyone’s attitude and hope it continues to grow.”

SEVEN ACRE & SIDCUP have confirmed that Charlton Athletic’s ladies’ reserve team will play their home games at the club’s Oxford Road ground in Sidcup.

The Kent Invicta League club said in a brief statement: “This partnership shows that both clubs are forward thinking and eager to continue developing.”

TONBRIDGE ANGELS have appointed former Crawley Down Gatwick manager John Maggs as their new general manager.

Maggs brings with him a lifetime of knowledge and experience which will prove invaluable to the club as they establish themselves in Conference South and the local community.

Maggs was the manager of Horsham when Angels boss Tommy Warrilow was his assistant manager.

Tonbridge Angels chairman Steve Churcher told www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk: “"I am extremely pleased that we have somebody of John's calibre coming on board.  John has been involved at all levels of the game, from player and manager to director and chairman and I am sure we can all learn from somebody who has devoted so much of himself to non-league Football."

Maggs has accepted an ambassadorial role at the club which will include responsibility for the day to day pitch maintenance as well as local commercial activities.

Darren Apps will continue in his role as Events manager following the successful introduction of the West Kent Garden & Leisure show, Angelfest and the Fireworks display at Longmead over the past three seasons.   

WELLING UNITED will be fielding a reserve team next season after the Conference Premier club were admitted to the Suburban League at their recent AGM.

First team manager Jamie Day told www.pitchero.com/clubs/wellingutd: “We felt we needed to get that structure back in the club.  It gives players a path back into the first team and will enable us to develop players through the youth teams.

“It also allows us to give players in the first team squad matches if they need them.”

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Nicky Southall says he is taking his professional background into pre-season training at the Ryman League Division One South club this summer.

The Oystermen have already had a couple of training sessions, ahead of their opening game against League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge at Belmont Road on Saturday 29 June (3pm).

“I’m really pleased with the players’ level of fitness as they come back from their end of season break,” Southall, 41, told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.  

“We had a fantastic turn out with fifty players on Saturday and I’m still getting calls to come and train with us this week.

“We really need to have a look at various different players from all sorts of backgrounds. These players will get whittled down to a more manageable number over the next week.

“I have told the players that this pre-season will be as close to a professional one that they are likely to get and I’ve told them to embrace it and buy in.  

“I’m trying, with my new coaching staff, to educate my players’ beliefs in how to conduct yourself throughout pre-season.  I have had them training with Barry Royden who is an athletics coach and who was pacemaker and elite runner in the London marathon. He is showing the players techniques that they never knew they had, in terms of using fast twitch muscles to run faster and longer.

“Also the players’ have had a fantastic boxing session that Jav Mughal, ex first team physio at Watford and Gillingham and a real coup for us. If nothing else they will be able to fight for Whitstable Town this season.”

Southall has already snapped up two strikers in the shape of Carl Rook and Mo Takaloo, who have arrived from Margate and Ashford United.  

And Southall added: “On the player front we have signed two real gems from Maidstone United. Young striker Charlie Smith, top scorer for their reserves and played in the first team last season is a real exciting talented player.

“The other player is a very tricky winger in Josh Smith (unrelated to Charlie), and also been on fringes of Maidstone’s first team last season.

“We need to supply Carl Rook and Mo Takaloo with good quality from wide areas as that is their bread and butter.”

Looking ahead to their opening game against the Daggers, Southall added: “My players are really looking forward when we entertain Dagenham & Redbridge at the Belmont. Let’s have a very decent crowd for this game and hopefully new-look Whitstable Town can show a league team that yes we are non-league but we’re acting professional.”