Former England stars invest in OUR beautiful game

Monday 12th March 2007

Two former England stars have in the past five days invested in two Kent football clubs, writes Stephen McCartney.

Earlier today Ryman League Division One South strugglers Ashford Town, a sleeping giant, unveiled that former Crystal Palace and Arsenal Legend Ian Wright, who started on his road to fame with Kent League side Greenwich Borough, has been appointed the “Director of Football Strategy” at the club.

And last Thursday night, former Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Gary Stevens has taken control of his home-town club, Tunbridge Wells, themselves struggling at the wrong end of the Kent League table.

Mr Stevens issued the following statement on www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk about his plans for the Culverden Stadium club.

He said: “Firstly I was delighted with the attendance at the EGM of Tunbridge Wells FC on Thursday 8 March 2007 which allowed a vote to take place in line with the clubs constitution and rules.

“My proposal was voted for at a rate of 8 to 1 in favour and I’m delighted to now have the opportunity to deliver.

“My proposal covers many areas of the club including but not solely the pitch, changing rooms, clubhouse, car park, entrance and of course the status and standing of the first, reserves, youth and ladies teams.

“It will certainly take time and a lot of hard work and resources but when we look back at March 2007 in years to come we will all see the progress made.

“An initial frustration is that certain legal matters must now be completed before my initial investment into the club can commence but this should only be a few weeks.

“I have, however, already started to move certain matters forward and believe good early progress can be made on a number of fronts.

“The exiting Committee/Board have been tireless in their work for the club and have valuable roles to play going forward as have the current members, players, coaches and management.

“Everyone associated with the club will be kept advised as we move onwards and upwards in a controlled and business like manner both on and off the pitch”.

Meanwhile, Ashford Town welcome high-flying Hastings United to The Homelands on Tuesday night (7:45pm) - a game that will surely attract the stay-away fans back to the club - and plenty of interest.

Funnily enough this was a game that www.kentishfootball.co.uk had chosen to cover before today’s news broke.

PROFILES (Courtesy of the BBC and TalkSPORT Radio websites)

Ian Wright

Arsenal’s all-time record goal scorer behind Thierry Henry, Ian Wright turned to professional football relatively late, at the age of 22.

He spent his early days at non-league Greenwich Borough before moving to Crystal Palace in the summer of 1985, where he established a deadly striking partnership with new arrival Mark Bright in the 1989 season, scoring 27 League goals – a Palace record in the higher divisions.

The first of his 33 full international caps came in 1991 before a transfer to Arsenal at a cost of a then club record £2.5m.

Club honours at Highbury included winners’ medals in the League and FA Cups in 1993 and a European Cup Winners’ Cup runners-up medal in 1995, before Arsenal secured the Premiership and FA Cup double in 1997/98.

Two seasons later he joined Nottingham Forest and played in the same side as his son, England international Shaun Wright-Phillips. He moved on to West Ham, Celtic and Burnley before retiring in July 2000 to pursue a broadcasting career.

Ian joined the BBC in January 2001, presenting the hit shows I’d Do Anything, Friends Like These, Ian Wright – Surviving The Kalahari, The National Lottery Show, Wright Around The World, and Wright And Bright on Radio Five Live.

He was awarded the MBE in 2000 for his footballing achievements.

Gary Stevens

Gary Stevens started his career trying to convince Bobby Robson to give him a contract while a schoolboy at Ipswich Town but was told, politely, to seek pastures new.

Unperturbed, Gary knuckled down and caught they eye of then Brighton & Hove Albion boss Alan Mullery and made his debut for The Seagulls in 1979 as a substitute for Mark Lawrenson, who went on to play for Liverpool and is now a pundit on BBC’s Match of the Day programme.

The 1982-83 season saw Gary really make a name for himself and he was named man-of-the-match in the first game of the FA Cup final against Manchester United the same season, scoring the equaliser in the 2-2 draw that ensured a replay. Sadly, Brighton lost the replay by four goals to nil.

A move to Tottenham in the summer of 1983 followed where Gary enjoyed arguably the best period of his career. Wracking up 147 appearances for the North London club and scoring a penalty in Spurs’ UEFA Cup shootout success over Anderlecht in 1984.

Gary got the chance to say ‘I told you so’ in 1986 when he was called up as part of Bobby Robson’s World Cup squad in Mexico, making substitute appearances against Morocco and Paraguay. He would go on to win a total of seven caps for The Three Lions.

Gary’s Spurs career was tragically cut short in 1988 when an over-the-top tackle from Wimbledon’s Vinny Jones resulted in a knee injury that was to ultimately end his career, despite a transfer to Portsmouth in 1990.

Gary is a presenter on TalkSport radio and also runs his own football coaching school in the Tunbridge Wells area - www.theballschool.com

And www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to wish them both every success.