Vickers give home grown talent a chance

VCD Athletic are delighted to announce the appointment of Ricky Bennett as their new reserve team manager following three years managing the highly promising Under 15s through to Under 18 side.

Bennett replaces Steve Webb, who tendered his resignation with two games of the 2008/09 season to play.

Webb goes with the club’s best wishes and is thanked for his four years work at the Crayford based club, culminating in his role as reserve team manager.

Despite being urged to take up an alternative role at the club, Webb tendered his resignation to pursue his management career elsewhere.

Bennett is a well known face at VCD having played many games for the club in an illustrious career at various clubs, including Beckenham Town, Greenwich Borough, Welling United, Dartford, Erith & Belvedere, Deal Town, Cray Wanderers and Slade Green.

During this time he picked up three Kent League titles at Deal Town and back-to-back titles whilst with Cray Wanderers and was part of the FA Vase winning Deal side that beat Chippenham Town at the old Wembley in May 2000.

Bennett’s under 18 side has produced a number of players that have forced their way into the Kent League winning first team squad this season with Tom Bradshaw, Uche Ibemere, George Mitchell and Ryan Ball all making appearances for the double winning side.



CHAMPIONS: VCD Athletic celebrate winning the Kent League double and bid to give youth a chance to impress in the Ryman League next season.
Photograph courtesy of www.vcd-athletic.co.uk.

In a club statement sent to www.kentishfootball.co.uk , first team manager Paul Foley thanked Webb for his efforts.

'We would like to wish Steve all the best for the future and thank him for all of his hard work in the past four seasons whilst at the same time welcome Ricky into the senior set up with his promising team stepping up from under 18s to join up with last year's reserve team squad.

"The intention is that the reserve team is run as an under-21 side as far as possible with an emphasis on youth players coming through the ranks as they did to good effect this season.

"Having known and played with/against Ricky for many years I know he is as passionate as I am about youth development and having worked with Ricky's side for a season at Under 15s I know the team personally.

"There are potentially more to come through to join Tom, Uche and George who featured in a number of games this year putting in very good performances. These lads, in addition to the reserve team players of last year who are staying on, will look to compete in the Kent League second division next season but more importantly continue to develop as players with close links to our first team squad.

"The club is gradually making changes to the structure that should see a progressive set up which bodes very well for the future, as this is something very important to me, Dean Frost , Terry Groom (Youth Development Manager) and Ricky from a footballing point of view.

"For junior sides right up to the reserves, player progression is the key rather than league position, although it is always a bonus for the side to be successful too!'



FIVE STAR: Andy Silk, Terry Groon, Gary Rump (chairman), Dean Frost and Paul Foley toast their double winning success
Photographs courtesy of www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

Visit VCD Athletic's website: www.vcd-athletic.co.uk