Soccer Shorts: To gain promotion in such a dramatic fashion and find ourselves back in the top tier of non-league football so quickly is just wonderful, says Maidstone United chief executive Bill Williams

Here are tonight’s Soccer Shorts articles

ASHFORD UNITED have confirmed winger Ryan Palmer and goalkeeper George Kamurasi have committed themselves to the club for next season.  The Southern Counties East Football League Premier club have also snapped up talented winger Rory Hill from league rivals Cray Valley, where he scored 18 goals last season.

BRIDON ROPES begin the search for a new reserve team manager after the Charlton-based club promoted Lukasz Nowak to become the club’s new first team head coach to work alongside manager Mark Murison.

Secretary Clive Smith said: “Lukasz Nowak, our reserve team manager for the Kent County League last season, has now been appointed as our new first team head coach.

“Lukasz came to us last year as a replacement for Mark Murison, who was promoted to the first team manager’s position and has now been promoted as Mark’s assistant after creating a really exciting and young reserve outfit.

“Therefore we are now in the hunt to find a successor to become our new reserve team manager.

“This is an exciting opportunity for an energetic and hardworking coach or manager.  There is a very close link with our under 18s, reserve and first teams and we are looking for the right person to help us develop this further.

“We are expecting most of last season’s young reserve players to still be with us for next season, many of these are showing a lot of promise and we need someone of the right calibre to help them realise their full potential.”

The reserve side play and train on the 3G surface at Meridian Sports & Social Club in Charlton.

For more information please contact Club Secretary Clive Smith by email:
cburtonsmith@gmail.com or call him on 07795 966 110.

BROMLEY manager Neil Smith has confirmed that winger Louis Dennis has signed a new contract.

The Ravens finished a respectable fourteenth-place on their Vanarama National League debut.

Smith told www.bromleyfc.net: “It’s fantastic news that Louis Dennis has committed his future to the club.

“Louis was a big loss when he got injured, his form at the start of the season was brilliant and I can’t wait for him to return pre-season.”

Dennis added: “Really pleased to have signed a new contract. I can’t wait to get my head down and get going next season and build on what we’ve achieved this season.”

Smith will need to strengthen his squad to avoid second season syndrome.

He said: “I am really keen for us to improve on this season.  Training three days a week will play a big part in how we can progress and we’ve made it clear to the players’ our requirements for next season.

“This may mean a few personnel changes due to players’ other commitments but this will become clearer in the coming weeks.”

The Hayes Lane faithful will hope supporters’ player-of-the-year Jack Holland stays with the club.

The club staged their presentation night on Friday and left-back Joe Anderson scooped the committee player-of-the-season award as well as players’ player-of-the-year.

Striker Moses Emmanuel collected the Golden Boot Award, scoring 20 goals.

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman has issued his retained list and ten players are under contract for next season.

Deren Ibrahim, Andy Pugh, Tom Wynter, Danny Harris, Ryan Hayes, Elliot Bradbrook and Tom Gardiner have all put pen to paper to stay at the Vanarama National League South club.

Options of a second year have been taken up with Ronnie Vint, Becka-Kah Dembele and Ben Francis.

Unfortunately, Jack Simmons and George Sykes will not be offered new deals by the club.  Former Leatherhead striker, Tom Bradbrook is unable to fully commit his time to Dartford due to work commitments and will also be leaving the club.

GREENWICH BOROUGH have confirmed that central defender Rob Gillman, 32, has agreed to remain at the club next season.

Gillman, who made 25 appearances in their title winning campaign, picked up player of the year, as Gary Alexander’s side finished their campaign on a 20 match unbeaten run in the league, with ten clean sheets, eight consecutively through March to April.

The Southern Counties East Football League champions will be playing Ryman League Division One South football for the first time next season.

HERNE BAY have confirmed that £1,600 has been raised for Lee Browning at his Testimonial match that was staged at Winch’s Field on Sunday.  Herne Bay played Tommy Warrilow’s Select XI and the game finished all-square at 4-4.

Browning could have won the game for Herne Bay but he blasted a last-gasp penalty high and wide after coming back on to the pitch after being replaced within seconds of the kick-off.

MAIDSTONE UNITED chief executive Bill Williams says the club’s promotion into the Vanarama National League feels “just wonderful.”

The Stones finished in third place in the Vanarama National League South behind promoted champions Sutton United and eased past Truro City (3-0 on aggregate) to reach the Promotion Final.

Ebbsfleet United were seconds from promotion – leading The Stones 2-1 in extra-time before striker Dumebi Dumaka scored a dramatic scrambled leveller to force a penalty shoot-out in front of 3,800 fans at Stonebridge Road.

Fleet striker Danny Kedwell – who scored two penalties during the game – had his penalty saved by Lee Worgan as Maidstone United won 4-3 on penalties.

“To gain promotion in such a dramatic fashion and find ourselves back in the top tier of non-league football so quickly is just wonderful,” Mr Williams told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“Words cannot explain how proud it made me feel to be part of this amazing day and to think that we will be entertaining teams like Tranmere Rovers, Lincoln City, Torquay United to mention a few at the Gallagher next season is totally mind boggling.

“Tomorrow we will be sitting down to go through a very involved agenda to discuss the route and the way ahead and once we have a clear picture we will be announcing our new price structure and hopefully offering up some new ways that supporters can help us raise the funds to build the new stand at the Springfield End.

“It is obviously going to be a huge challenge but I am convinced that we have got a first-class team around us here at Maidstone United, both on and off the field, who are more than capable of developing a strategy that will take us in time to the next level.”

There will be three Kent clubs in the National League next season with Bromley, Dover Athletic and Maidstone United just one promotion away from The Football League.

MALDON & TIPTREE have unveiled Kevin Horlock – who managed Chatham Town last season – as their new manager. The 43-year-old had originally left Chatham Town to join Needham Market’s management team, but has been unveiled as manager of the Ryman League Division One North club.

MARGATE have unveiled the signing of midfielder Scott Donnelly, 28, having signed one a one-year deal after being released by Havant & Waterlooville, who suffered relegation from the Vanarama National League South.

Donnelly has played alongside current Margate boss Nikki Bull during spells at Aldershot Town and Wycombe Wanderers and Bull is delighted to secure the services of the attacking midfielder.

“I am delighted to have been able to secure the signing of Scott Donnelly who over the past three seasons has scored over 40 league goals from midfield in this division which is an exceptional return,” Bull told www.margate-fc.co.uk.

“He will also create chances and has outstanding set-piece delivery. As a former team mate of mine at both Aldershot Town and Wycombe Wanderers I know from first-hand experience that Scott possesses all the right qualities that I am looking for the team to show next season.”

Donnelly becomes Bull’s second summer signing, having signed striker Mike Fondop-Talum from Ryman Premier League side Billericay Town. 

Meanwhile, Brett Johnson, Lewis Taylor and Adam Cash all signed one-year contract extensions to stay at Hartsdown Park.

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Micky Collins has unveiled the signing of goalkeeper Rob French from their Southern Counties East Football League Premier rivals Cray Valley.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Steve McKimm has today signed striker Andre McCollin.

The 31-year-old scored 14 goals for Ryman League Division One North side Cray Wanderers last season before signing for Ryman Premier League side Kingstonian, for his second spell, netting 15 goals in 23 appearances for the Surrey outfit.

McKimm is delighted to bring in the former Aldershot Town striker.

He told www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk: “Andre will bolster our strike force along with Nathan Elder and Luke Blewden and means we will have strength in depth in those key areas.”

VCD ATHLETIC manager Keith McMahon has confirmed that former Charlton Community, Erith Town and Thamesmead Town striker Tyrus Gordon-Young has agreed to stay with the relegated club ahead of the club’s Ryman League Division One North return. The Crayford based club finished at the foot of the Ryman Premier League last season.

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