Cray Wanderers sign international star

CRAY WANDERERS have pulled off a massing coup by signing Guyanese International captain Shawn Beveney, 26, to aid their Ryman League Division One South promotion bid, writes Stephen McCartney.

Beveney, who played for Dulwich Hamlet and Kingstonian in the same division last season, scored on his debut - a 3-2 win over Godalming Town - at Hayes Lane on Saturday.

Beveney, who has interested Hereford United, Gillingham and Leeds United this year, has played 41 times for his country, scoring 22 goals.

He was recently voted man-of-the-match in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago who included Premier League stars Carlos Edwards and Kenwyn Jones.

Beveney also featured last month on Sky Sports 1 TV programme FIFA Futbol Mundial, all about Guyana’s rise of 96 places up the FIFA rankings.

Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that signing a player of this quality is a massive boost and proud moment for the Hayes Lane club.

“What I have seen him of him the boys looks absolutely awesome,” he said.

“It’s going to be very hard for us to hang on to him this season as he should obviously be playing in the Football League and we have already turned down an offer for him.”

Mr Hillman was delighted to get their Ryman League Division One South campaign off to winning ways against a side that were transferred from the British Gas Business Southern League.

And he said: “Shawn wants to get noticed and improve his game. I know he spoke to various people in football and they advised him that we had the right set-up and coaching team for him to further his career.

“His advisors have seen how players in the past have prospered after playing for Cray and Shawn feels that we are most suited to put him on the right path to improve his game.”

Two former Cray Wanderers players are now playing at a higher level.

Sam Wood, who played for the club's first team at the age of 17, now plays for Coca-Cola League Two side Brenford, via a spell with landlords Bromley.

Striker Jon Main, who played for the Wands in 2006, proved to be a goalscoring hit for Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels, who sold him to AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee last November.

Mr Hillman added: “It’s a measure of how far the club has come and a credit to everyone involved when a class player like Shawn Beveney wants to play for us.”

Meanwhile, www.kentishfootball.co.uk has learnt that a major national TV company will be filming a forthcoming FA Cup match at Hayes Lane.

Visit Cray Wanderers' website: www.craywands.co.uk

Metropolitan Police v Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 19^th August 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Metropolitan Police (Imber Court) Sports Club, Ember Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BT