Faversham boss Copley unveils eight new signings

Paul Copley has made his first moves in the transfer market signing EIGHT new players after training on Tuesday night, writes James Brown.

New Faversham Town boss Copley, 36, is determined to transform the under-performing Lilywhites into a genuine force in the Kent League Premier Division next season.

And he has kicked off his Salters Lane revolution by striking deals with a string of new faces headed by former Greenwich Borough midfielder Richie Radbourne.

The appointment of former Lordswood manager Paul Piggott as Copley's coach has had a huge bearing on the first wave of summer signings.

Striker Ricky Freeman, 22, follows his old boss from North Dane Way along with 24-year-old winger Sean Hetterley, sweeper Neil Crust, 31, and 20-year-old centre-half Warren Phillips.

Teenage winger Jamie Stellion, 19, has also put pen to paper after earning rave reviews from former Faversham Town reserve team boss Brett Harrison playing for Margate's second string last season.

Goalkeeper Rob Lindley, 22, is a former Ashford Town player making his return to football after taking a year off to go travelling and the list of new recruits is completed by 21-year-old left-sided midfielder Michael Cook who joins from Sevenoaks.

Copley is particularly pleased to have boosted his ranks by signing 27-year-old former Gilingham trainee Radbourne.

Speaking to www.favershamtownfc.co.uk, he revealed: "I’m delighted that so many of the players we invited down for pre-season have decided to sign.

"I thought it was important we added players with Kent League experience and in Richie Radbourne, Neil Crust and Rob Lindley we have just that.

"Richie looks to be a good signing. I'm told that Erith & Belvedere were interested in him and it's great news that he has decided to make us his first choice.

"I'm sure he won't be the last player to pitch up at Faversham Town after hearing about all the good work that is going on here both on and off the field.

"We have also managed to capture the signatures of some really exciting youngsters.

"Jamie Stellion played last year at Margate reserves and was rated very highly by Brett Harrison.

"Ricky Freeman impressed Paul Piggott in his short time working with him at Lordswood and Sean and Warren are also players that Piggy has worked with and rates.

"Michael Cook played for Sevenoaks last season and I know him well because we played them in both the league and League Cup."

The new arrivals come on top of weekend news that highly-rated defender Wes Hammond has agreed to re-sign but Copley is still on the look-out for fresh talent.

He said: "We are continuing to speak to players and I have no doubt the squad will be strengthened even more over the next week or so.

"One of the key areas that needed focus was on the left because we had so few naturally left-sided players.

"However, we now have young Cookie and we should be up to strength very soon with the possible arrival of another couple of new faces."

Article courtesy of James Brown - www.favershamtownfc.co.uk