Soccer Shorts: We will not go out and spend big money on players, says Herne Bay boss Sam Denly

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CRAY WANDERERS manager Keith Bird has unveiled the signing of pacy Portuguese attacking player Andre Marquez, 23.

Marquez started his career at Benfica’s Academy, before securing a two-year professional deal at Portuguese Division Two club Nazare G.D.N. 

Most recently he played for Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town whilst at University in England.

He becomes the 20^th player to be signed by Bird, as he prepares for life in Ryman League Division One North after suffering relegation last season.

The Wands’ squad for next season is: Adrian Stone; Alex Stavrinou; Andre Marquez; Carlos Talbot; Danny Lye; Darren Behcet; Dmitri Larin; Gary Beckett; Ian Daly; Ismael Welsh; Jordan Bird; Louis Sprosen; Max Fitzgerald; Nathan Simpson; Nic Taylor; Pat O'Connor; Peter Smith; Richard Monan; Shaun Welford and Steve Springett.

HERNE BAY manager Sam Denly has tied three young players to contracts.

Kane Butler broke into the first team squad last season, capping off an impressing season by scoring the winning goal for Kent Schools in the National Cup Final in Coventry.

Ben Kitcherside is a promising young goalkeeper, who also played for Kent Schools and Harry Brown also put pen to paper on a contract after impressing Denly during last season.

Denly told the club website: “These lads have earned their contracts, they are the future of the club and this shows all the youngsters in the local area that this is a football club that will give them a chance.

“I know that other clubs in the area have been chasing Herne Bay’s youngsters and my first team players and management team too, but everyone here is committed to the football club and all apart from one (Joe Kennett, who has signed for Whitstable Town) have decided to stay for next season.

“This is a great club to be at.  We will not be going out and spending big money on players from outside. We are committed to growing the club from within and if you work hard you will get opportunities to play at the higher level.

“I’m looking forward to it already and can’t wait to get started. “

HOLLANDS & BLAIR’S appeal against the Football Association’s decision not to promote the club from the Kent Invicta League to the Southern Counties East Football League will be heard on 26 June.

The Gillingham-based club – managed by Paul Piggott - finished ten points clear of Lydd Town at the top of the Kent Invicta League last season.

THAMESMEAD TOWN have lost goalkeeper Sam Mott, 25, who has opted to sign for AFC Hornchurch today.

The Essex side finished in fifth-place in the Ryman Premier League but were denied promotion after losing the play-off final to Lowestoft Town.

The Mead were relegated out of the division after finishing third-from-bottom in the table.

“Really pleased to have signed for AFC Hornchurch,” the former Welling United goalkeeper tweeted.

“Can’t wait to get the season started. Promotion pending.

“Obviously a really hard decision to leave Thamesmead.  Top club with top people but need to play at the highest level possible.”

TONBRIDGE ANGELS have confirmed that UEFA B coach Simon Balsdon has left the club. 

Meanwhile, Henry Muggeridge, Gary Elphick and Luke Blewden, who couldn’t prevent the club suffering relegation after a three-year spell in Conference South, have signed for their Ryman Premier League rivals Lewes.

VCD ATHLETIC manager Tony Russell scooped the Ryman League Division One North manager-of-the-year at the Ryman League AGM at Wembley last night.

Russell, 35, guided the Crayford-based club to the title on a dramatic final day of the season at the end of April.

Nick Blue, Lee Craig, Barney Williams, Karl Dent and Michael Power were all named in the divisional team-of-the-year.

Dulwich Hamlet midfielder Erhun Oztumer, 23, - who is now a Peterborough United player - Folkestone Invicta defender Liam Friend and Leatherhead now Dartford goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim, 23, also received accolades.