Tozer contracts swine flu in Ibiza

Thursday 16th July 2009

LEWIS TOZER’S debut for Thamesmead Town has been put on hold as the 24-year-old defender has contracted swine flu whilst on his summer holiday in Ibiza, writes Stephen McCartney.

The former Leicester City trainee, who has also played for the likes of Erith & Belvedere, Fisher Athletic and Dulwich Hamlet, has been forced to stay at home and misses the trip to Folkestone Invicta on Saturday.

His manager, Keith McMahon, who brought him to Bayliss Avenue last month, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that Tozer and returning goalkeeper Steve Northwood (wedding) will miss their friendly trip to Cheriton Road.

“All the new signings, apart from one will be playing,” said McMahon.

“Lewis Tozer has come back from holiday with swine flu - it’s a bit of a blow.

“I’ve just come back from Cyprus and there’s quite a few people with it there as well.

“It happens, I bet we’re not the only club, he will be missing for about a week and will have his antibiotics or whatever and he will be ok.”

McMahon, meanwhile, is looking forward to their opening pre-season match against Neil Cugley’s Ryman League Division One South side.

“I hate the summer break, even though it’s not much of a break for me because you’re busy trying to sign players and keep your old ones and sort things out for (the new season).

“It would be good to get a competitive match under our belt.”

And McMahon is looking forward to a competitive match against a Folkestone Invicta side that opened their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 home defeat to League One side Gillingham last weekend.

“I always make sure we have a very hard competitive team,” said McMahon. “We want the same sort of standard to put the lads through their paces.

“It the level that we’re in now so straight from day one you’re playing against quality players, which Folkestone have got as well, so that’s what I look for.”

McMahon spoke about which players he will be taking down to the Kent coast.

“I’ve got a couple of lads,” he said. “Tony Russell, the coach, has brought a young lad down called Liam Burgess. He’s only 19, looks very good, technical and a couple of others I’m looking at.

“I think he’s come from a YTS or academy from West Ham. He’s someone that Tony Russell knows. I’m not too sure of his background. I’ve seen him in training and he looks very comfortable. He plays in midfield and we’re going to have a little look at him.

“I’m not really looking to sign anyone else unless someone turns up into my team.

“I’ve done everything before hand and it’s about getting the lads match fit. I’m taking a squad of 16-17 (to Folkestone) and the reserves have got a game, they’ve got a squad of 17 and we’re still leaving players behind.”

Thamesmead Town can look forward to attracting their largest attendance at Bayliss Avenue as a Ryman League Division One North club when Lowestoft Town visit on the opening day of the season.

“We wanted Lowestoft at home and we got them,” McMahon said. “I’m over the moon because they get big crowds. It’s their first game in the Ryman League and they will travel down to us (in big numbers).

“We need a start, there’s a lot of work being done at the ground. We need finances especially with the economy the way it is due to sponsorship. We need as many people through the door as possible.”

Fans flocking through the turnstiles on Saturday, 15th August, will be impressed with the playing surface at Bayliss Avenue, especially as the club have spent over £8,000 on it during the close season.

“The pitch is absolutely immaculate, we’ve spent more on it this year,” said McMahon.

“Erith Town (who have moved back to the Erith Sports Arena) have left us down and left. The pitch is a picture at the moment.

“We’ve spent a lot, I’d say eight-thousand plus. We’ve spent a lot of money on it this year because we’d thought we’d have Erith Town here.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Thamesmead Town

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 18th July 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU