Soccer Shorts: Glebe boss Gary Alexander signs Charlie MacDonald from VCD Athletic

Friday 17th July 2020

Here are today's Soccer Shorts articles.

BROMLEY Academy graduate Mia Lockett has joined Women’s Super League side Tottenham Hotspur, earning a place in their Academy squad.

Lockett has just completed her BTEC Sport two-year scholarship course at Hayes Lane and has played a crucial role being a part of the flagship Girls Academy class of 2018-19.

She captained Bromley to runners-up in the Greater London Women’s Football League Division Two South, as well as featuring as an ambassador within the club’s Saturday Soccer Schools and Holiday Soccer Camps where she coaches the aspiring future footballers from the area.

Lockett will continue to be a coach for Bromley’s Community Scheme and will also take on a new full-time position as a coach for the club’s Girls Academy.

Bromley’s Academy Director Mark Hammond told the club website: “This is an amazing achievement and is the first of our girls’ players to progress onto the big stage.

“The final celebration goes to Bromley Football Club Academy though, as we will now see Mia join our full-time coaching staff.

“Mia will begin the start of her coaching career here with us and pass on her experience and support to the Girls Academy footballing pathways.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, 29, who was sent out on loan to Bromley from Fulham and then Crystal Palace in 2010, has left Scottish Premiership side Rangers and has signed a three-year deal at Premier League Sheffield United.

EBBSFLEET UNITED have unveiled the arrival of former Eastbourne Borough goalkeeper Tom Hadler.

The 6ft 4 in Canterbury-born player is a product of the Gillingham Academy and he spent more than six years at Priestfield, having been handed his League One debut in April 2018 by Fleet’s director of football Steve Lovell.

The 23-year-old has plenty of experience at non-league level too, having had loan spells with Folkestone Invicta, Tonbridge Angels, Gloucester City and Grays Athletic.

Ebbsfleet United have confirmed the departure of 27-year-old midfielder John Goddard - but he is reaplced by attacking midfielder Michael West, who returns to Stonebridge Road for his third-spell, having spent a couple of seasons down on the south coast at Eastbourne Borough.

ERITH TOWN manager Adam Woodward has signed centre-half Tolulope Jonah, midfielder Mehmet Piro and centre-half Ryan Mahal.

FISHER manager Ajay Ashanike has revealed he has lost the services of goalkeeper Tommy Taylor, 20.

“I’m one sad gaffer losing one of the best keepers around,” said Ashanike.

“I really can’t put into words how sad I am but will never stop my boys moving up. We do have some top young players at Fisher. Now time to bring up another young safe-hands.”

GLEBE manager Gary Alexander has signed striker Charlie MacDonald, 39, from Isthmian League South East Division side VCD Athletic, while another striker, Jamie Philpot, 23, has re-signed for the Foxbury Avenue side.

"Good start to the weekend, signing one striker and another signing," said Alexander, the manager of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club.

"Looking forward to working with these two again when the season starts again.

"Absolutely buzzing that Charlie MacDonald has decided to join Glebe, not just a friend and an ex room-mate but a lot of people have seen what he brings to football clubs along with his play."

LORDSWOOD manager Neil Hunter has signed former Kings Hill striker Bailey Pearce, who scored 14 goals for his old side last season and before that scored 18 goals for K Sports during their Southern Counties East Football League First Division promotion-winning campaign.

Left-sided player Luke Snazel has also arrived from another Kent County League side, Larkfield & New Hythe Wanderers.

MAIDSTONE UNITED’s under 23 joint-manager Kane Rice is inviting players to trial for their Suburban League Premier Division side.

The side were champions-elect when the season was cancelled in March and developing more local players for the side will once again be the goal of management duo Simon Austin and Rice, who both used to play for the club.

“We’ve mixed emotions from last season,” Rice told the club website.

“From setting up a new team in a matter of weeks and being 10 points clear, to missing out on the title after the season was cancelled, it was a rollercoaster ride.

“All that has fired us up for this coming season and we are looking for some new players to add to those we’ve retained.

“We will do trials as soon as FA guidance allows, so if you’re looking to make that step from youth to men’s football and put yourself in the frame for the first team, please get in touch.

The squad trains on Thursday evenings and last season six under 23s were dual-registered with the first team.  Bridging the gap between youth and men’s football, more than a dozen of the clubs under 18s and under 16 players were called up for Suburban League fixtures.

The FA Council has ratified both the National League’s proposal on concluding the 2019-20 season at Steps 1 and 2 of the National League System and the required amendments of the National League System Regulations and Standardised Rules for it to become effective.

The ratification follows a recommendation from The FA’s Alliance Leagues Committee and allows the National League to: rank clubs on a points per game basis; apply the automatic promotion and relegation based on the position of clubs on that basis; and proceed with play-off matches in accordance with the Government’s Return to Domestic Competition guidance.

MARGATE manager Jay Saunders has unveiled the signing of former Leyton Orient midfielder Freddie Moncur, 23.

Moncur spent last season out on loan at Concord Rangers and Romford.

He began his career in the youth system at West Ham United before moving to Leyton Orient and earning a professional contract.

Whilst with the O’s, Moncur enjoyed many productive loan spells with Wingate & Finchley, Bishop’s Stortford, East Thurrock United and Ebbsfleet United in the National League in 2018.

“Freddie is a player I’ve been aware of and followed his career for a number of years,” Saunders told Margate’s website.

“I’ve actually tried to sign Freddie a number of times before, so I’m pleased to be able to welcome him to my squad for the new season.

“Freddie has real quality on the ball and from set-pieces, is full of energy and ambitious.

“I think he will fit in really well with the boys in our squad already and be a real asset in our midfield.”

The club can confirm after further discussions, midfielder Jordan Robins has departed the Isthmian Premier Division club by mutual consent.

PECKHAM TOWN chairman Bryan Hall has revealed the club’s training ground has been vandalised again.

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” said the founder of the Kent County League Premier Division club, based on Dulwich Common.

Dug-outs from the junior mini-pitch have been smashed and burnt. Bottles have been smashed on concrete areas, the clubs lock-up broken into and goal parts smashed by vandals and fly-tipping.

SNODLAND TOWN manager Luke Wallond has unveiled the signings of goalkeeper Robin Woodard, defender Shane McNaught (Staplehurst Monarchs United), defender Andy Foster, midfielder Harry Bradford, midfielder Andre Trenton (Kings Hill), winger Joe Sands (Borden Village), as well as Jake Baker, who played for England’s under 17 Independent Schools Football Association team last season.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Richard Styles has appointed Paul Emerson to join his management team.

Emerson is a B Licenced coach previously with a host of clubs but most recently was Neil Smith’s scout at National League side Bromley.

“I am delighted to bring someone with Paul’s knowledge and skill set to the club,” said Styles.

“I’ve known Paul a long time since being with him at Crawley Town in 2004-05.

“He has a wealth of experience both at professional and semi-professional level across a number of different roles that we will look to culminate together and benefit from each attribute, adding another string to our bow.

“He will take no time to settle in having already worked in and around my staff and clubs over the past few years having scouted every upcoming FA Cup and FA Vase opponent.”