Kentish Football 
Sittingbourne boss Gary Abbott unveils Joe Vines' signing
Wednesday 18th August 2010
SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott has unveiled the signing of defender Joe Vines ahead of the season opener against Dulwich Hamlet, writes Stephen McCartney.
Vines, who arrives from Ryman Premier League side Tooting & Mitcham United, has featured for the likes of Bromley, Tonbridge Angels and Farnborough during pre-season, but will make his Sittingbourne debut against Dulwich Hamlet at Bourne Park on Saturday.
“Nick Reeves’ out - he’s done his ligaments in his knee - so I think he’s going to be out so I’ve got a couple of new boys in,” revealed Abbott, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“I’ve signed Joe Vines from Tooting & Mitcham so he’s going to play Saturday. He’s going to give us experience in there. I don’t know how long I’m going to keep him for but like quite a few of the players if someone comes in for them they go - but he’s going to start for us.”
Abbott has drafted in youngster Joe Bannan from Ebbsfleet United, and the defender looks set to partner Vines at the heart of defence.
Looking ahead to the visit of Dulwich Hamlet, Abbott said: “Obviously it’s going to be a tough game whoever we’re going to play in the league as I’ve always said. They won’t come no tougher than Dulwich but we’ve beaten them the last couple of times we’ve played them so they will want to come down and turn us over but obviously the same time we want to start off with three points.
“It’s going to be a tough game but we haven’t had the best pre-season to be honest with you, results wise. Hopefully in the last week it’s come together and I’ve got the starting eleven for Saturday and hopefully we can go and get three points.”
When asked his aspirations for the season ahead, Abbott replied, “Obviously we’ve got to look at the play-off’s as well, of course we have. I mean, it will be nice to try and win it but every manager says they want to go and win it but if not we want to get into the play-off’s and hopefully it’s going to be third time lucky.
Abbott takes his side to Eastbourne Town next Wednesday - a side that were reprieved from relegation last season.
“We’re expecting to get three points - but then so are they,” said Abbott.
“The start of the season is going to be difficult isn’t it? Every manager wants to get three points on the table early but Eastbourne are going to be tough and we know that. We’ve been down there for the last two seasons and we’ve lost so we owe the one and hopefully we don’t get any injuries Saturday and we go down there Wednesday and get a win.”
Abbott urges the Sittingbourne faithful to flock through the turnstiles to help his side get their Ryman League Division One South campaign off to a successful start.
“I can’t wait to be fair, it’s dragged and dragged and we’ve been back seven weeks now and it just seems like forever,” said Abbott.
“I’m looking forward to the season and hopefully the boys are as well.
“Crows at our ground aren’t the best anyway, so with a couple of hundred in there would be nice, but we’re worried about getting three points to be honest with you.”
Sittingbourne have confirmed their playing squad for the start of the season: Hicham Akhazzan, Ryan Andrews, Joe Bannan, Ian Batten, Jimmy Bottle, Tom Bradbrook, Richard Brady, Nicholas Coles, Joe Dowley, Joe Foster, Ryan Golding, Lee Hockey, Jack Hooper, Joe Horlock, Elie Kayembe, Billy Manners, Steven Marshall, Ross Morley, Jaie Nuttall, Sam Pain, Matt Reed, Nick Reeves, Steve Williams, Liam Panther and Joe Vines.
Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk
Sittingbourne v Dulwich Hamlet
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 21st August 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd