Soccer Shorts: Hollands & Blair land Ryan Hayes; goalkeeper Mitch Walker makes Dover Athletic return while Darrell Queeley leaves Forest Hill Park and Matt Barman and Tony Beckingham are the new chairmen at Herne Bay and Holmesdale

Friday 31st May 2024

Here is the summer transfer news…

 

ASHFORD UNITED manager Danny Kedwell has returned to his former club, Chatham Town, to appoint Dean Beckwith as his assistant manager.

The Isthmian League South East Division club have also snapped up central midfielder James Dunne, 34, and former Ramsgate centre-half Craig Stone, 35, has signed for the club.

Lanre Azeez, Noah Carney, Ian Draycott, Tolu Jonah, Manny Nwosu, Tommy Penfold, Adem Ramadan and Max Walsh have all been retained.

BEARSTED manager Kevin Stevens has signed former Tower Hamlets targetman Connor French and has snapped up former Tunbridge Wells attacking midfielder Billy Lewins.

CRAY VALLEY manager Steve McKimm has retained Clem Asiedu, Marcel Barrington, Sonny Black, Lyle Della-Verde, Denzel Gayle, Hassan Ibrahiym, Arthur Lee, Kiki Oshilaja, Max Ovenden, Freddie Parker, Cem Tumkaya, Matthew Vigor, Danny Waldren and Barney Williams ahead of the club’s maiden Isthmian League Premier Division campaign.

CANTERBURY CITY manager Dan Lawrence has appointed Brad Brooker as his new assistant manager, replacing the departed Sam Wilson.  Coaches Sal Usman and Mark Taylor have also joined the Southern Counties East Football League First Division club.

CRAY WANDERERS manager Neil Smith has confirmed the departure of striker Gary Lockyer and midfielder Ellis Brown, while defender Sam Wood, 37, has taken a role coaching the Academy at the Flamingo Park based Isthmian League Premier Division club.

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC manager Sean Muggeridge has retained Tom Boddy, Harry Forster, Marcus Goldsmith, Ollie Hyland, Tom Pearson and Rory Salter – but Jack Mayhew has left the Southern Combination Premier Division outfit.

CROYDON manager Antonio Gonnella has lost the services of goalkeeper George Kamurasi, who has signed for AFC Uckfield Town, who finished bottom of the Southern Combination Premier Division last season.

DARTFORD manager Adrian Pennock has signed three players from Chelmsford City this summer, goalkeeper Jacob Marsden, 27, central midfielder Samir Carruthers, 31 and striker Callum Jones, 24.

The relegated Isthmian League Premier Division club have snapped up former Erith & Belvedere holding midfielder Denzelle Olopade, 22.

Dartford have appointed (former Folkestone Invicta joint-manager) Roland Edge as Pennock’s assistant manager.

Manny Adebowale, Tommy Block, Luke Coulson, Jordan Greenidge, Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Maxwell Statham, Alex Wall and Tom Wray have departed Princes Park this summer, with Luke Allen signing for National League South side Aveley after five seasons at the club.

DEAL TOWN manager Steve King has retained Riley Alford, Ben Chapman, Tom Chapman, Alfie Forster, Alex Green, Jack Hanson, Wes Hennessey, Jamie Kennedy, Aaron Millbank, Ashley Miller, Adam Molloy, Billy Munday, Macauley Murray, Henry Newcombe, Ifeoluwa Oni, Jack Penny, Joe Reeves, Alex Smith, Kane Smith and Rory Smith for the club’s maiden Isthmian League South East Division campaign.

DOVER ATHLETIC manager Jake Leberl has re-signed former Whitehawk goalkeeper Mitch Walker, 32.

The relegated Isthmian League Premier Division club have retained three players that have come out of their Academy, Henry Young, Matty Holness and George Nikaj.


EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Danny Seale has unveiled the signings of former Dagenham & Redbridge defender Lewis Page, 28, and former Woking midfielder Jim Kellermann, 28.

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Tommy Warrilow has retained Billy Bennett, Lewis Briggs, Kieron Campbell, Sam Hasler, Ben Gorham, Matthew Newman, Jacob Russell, Bradley Simms and Dan Thompson.

The Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side have released Darnelle Bailey-King, Rahman Kareem, Jake McIntyre, Finn O’Mara, Warren Mfula, Matthew Parsons and Josh Vincent this summer.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Andy Drury has signed former Margate central midfielder Sam Blackman, 29, former Tonbridge Angels goalkeeper Jonathan Henly, 30, former Dorking Wanderers central midfielder Jack Jebb, 28, former Sheppey United left-back Frankie Morgan, 22 and former Scunthorpe United central midfielder Dean Rance, 32.

Striker David Smith, 25, has departed Cheriton Road this summer and so has centre-half Callum Davies, 31, after spending eight years and making 348 appearances for the Isthmian League Premier Division club.

Goalkeeper Joe Coleman (Hythe Town), midfielder Eddie Allsopp (Lewes, managed by former Glebe manager Craig Nelson) and striker Louis Collins (Ashford United) have also left Cheriton Road and have found new clubs.

Toby Byron, Andre Coker, Michael Kedman, Kai McKenzie-Lyle and Will Moses have all left the club.

FOREST HILL PARK begin the search for a new manager after Darrell Queeley announced his departure from the Southern Counties East Football League First Division club on 26 May.

“It’s been interesting, but it’s time for me to step away from Forest Hill Park.  The toughest challenge by a country mile but ultimately doing the same thing and expecting different results is not good for your sanity,” said Queeley.

GILLINGHAM manager Mark Bonner has unveiled the signing of Crewe Alexandra striker Elliott Nevitt, 27, and former AFC Wimbledon midfielder Armani Little, 27.

Nevitt scored 18 goals in 52 appearances last season, helping Crewe Alexandra to the League Two Play-Off Final, where they lost 2-0 to Scott Lindsey’s Crawley Town at Wembley Stadium.

GLEBE have announced that midfielder Tom Hever has departed Foxbury Avenue after six seasons at the Chislehurst based club. Former manager, Craig Nelson, who is now manager of Isthmian League Premier Division side Lewes, has snapped up midfielder Malachi Morris, 21, from his old club.

HERNE BAY have appointed Matt Barman as their new chairman while Dan Tanner has been appointed director of football at the Isthmian League South East Division club.

Michael Salako – who scored 27 goals for the club last season – has been retained by manager Steve Lovell.

HOLLANDS & BLAIR manager Luke Jessup has signed former Phoenix Sports midfielder Ryan Hayes, 38, and former Whitstable Town left-back George Sheminant.

HOLMESDALE have appointed Tony Beckingham as their new chairman, replacing Simon Kidby in the role at the Bromley-based Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club.

HYTHE TOWN manager Sammy Moore has retained Harry Rowland, Jack Steventon and Oscar Webb.

Aaron Barnes (Ramsgate) and Josh Stirman have both departed Reachfields Stadium this summer, while midfielder Bradley Schafer and striker Jake Embery have both signed for Nicky Southall’s Lordswood in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

KENNINGTON have confirmed the retirement of midfielder Harry Lavender after making 118 appearances for the Ashford-based club.

LORDSWOOD manager Nicky Southall has also signed former Crowborough Athletic striker Elliott Duncan and former Herne Bay midfielder Mobalaji Dawodu.

The club have retained Luke Carey, Matthew Gething, Danny Keyte, Aaron Lee-Wharton and Callum Peck.

LYDD TOWN have appointed Dexter Gondongwe to manage their newly-created under 23 side next season.

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager George Elokobi has unveiled the arrival of former Tonbridge Angels central midfielder Jordan Higgs, 27, and former Slough Town centre-half Temi Eweka, 24.

The Vanarama National League South side released Devonte Aransibia, Jacob Berkley-Agyepong, Sam Bone, Harley Earle, Chi Ezennolim, Conor Kelly, Michael Klass, Lamar Reynolds, Liam Sole and Sol Wanjau-Smith.

Striker Reynolds, 28, meanwhile, has signed a one-year contract with Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton.

MARGATE manager Ben Greenhalgh has re-signed former Folkestone Invicta winger Jordan Ababio, 22.

The relegated Isthmian League South East Division club have retained Fyn Rutherford, 19, and appointed Harry Hudson captain for next season.

Goalkeeper Harry Seaden and left-back Toby Stevenson have both left Hartsdown Park this summer.

PHOENIX SPORTS manager Keith McMahon has signed left-sided player Valentino Alazeni, former Epsom & Ewell striker Ade Batula, former Crowborough Athletic centre-back Harrison Mayhew, winger Alex Gaggin and former Welling Town left-back Veron Nzinga.

PUNJAB UNITED manager Chipie Sian has signed former VCD Athletic striker Reece Deakins and has retained Jack Hopkins and Hudson Scudder.

RAMSGATE manager Ben Smith has retained 53-goal striker Joe Taylor, Alfie Paxman and goalkeeper Tom Hadler.

RUSTHALL manager Jimmy Anderson has promoted under 23 manager Lee Chambers to be his new assistant manager.  Current coach Joe Charlesworth and current goalkeeper coach Matt Blendell stay in their roles, while last season’s under 23 coach Nick Martin will be coaching the first-team squad.

The Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side have retained Ben Branch, Jack Lyons and Jack Kirby.

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Mark Dacey has confirmed the departures of Daniel Bennett, Rian Bray, Corey Holder and Ricardo Thompson this summer.

SHEPPEY UNITED manager Ernie Batten has appointed Darren Blackburn as his assistant manager, with Geoff Record also assisting.

The Isthmian League South East Division club have retained striker Daniel Bradshaw, attacking midfielder Jacob Lambert and winger Danny Leonard.

SITTINGBOURNE manager Ryan Maxwell has signed former Maidstone United goalkeeper Harley Earle, 20, former Hythe Town centre-half and captain Liam Smith, former Billericay Town centre-half Henry Lukombo, 21, former Wingate & Finchley midfielder Alkeo Bani and former Horsham striker Elliott Romain, 32.

Goalkeeper Bobby Mason has departed the Isthmian League South East Division club this summer but Maxwell has retained Chris Arthur, Ayman El-Mogharbel, Jean-Baptiste Fischer, Bagasan Graham, Donvieve Jones, Mitchell May, Danny Parish, Michael Turner and Luke Woodward.

SNODLAND TOWN manager Byron Walker has retained the versatile Taylor Fisher and has signed former Phoenix Sports central midfielder Kieron King and winger Daniel Ashton returns to the club after a season at Staplehurst Monarchs.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Jay Saunders has signed former Dartford pair, midfielder Taylor Maloney, 25, and winger Fumnaya Shomotun, 26, and former Three Bridges striker Noel Leighton, 25, who also played for Saunders at Margate.

The Vanarama National League South club have confirmed the departure of centre-half Jamie Fielding, 24, despite being offered new terms to stay at Longmead Stadium – but fellow centre-back Joe Tyrie, 20, has signed a new deal.

VCD ATHLETIC joint-managers Ross Baker and Danny Joy have retained Lee Bird, Zak Bryon, Tom Cousins, Michael Fenn, Ben Fitchett, Bethel Gboda, Joe Hyde, Richard Jimoh, Harry Lawrence, Josh Leach, Harry Sargent, Emmanuel Shoderu and George Whitelock.

The Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club have snapped up former Phoenix Sports centre-half Lewis Clark and former Sutton Athletic and Chipstead striker Arlie Desanges has put pen to paper to sign for the Crayford-based outfit next season.

Desanges scored 11 goals in the Isthmian League South Central Division for Chipstead last season.

WELLING UNITED manager Rod Stringer has signed former Aldershot Town attacking midfielder Zain Walker, 22.

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Jamie Coyle has signed Zach Dainkeh (Sheppey United) Jake McIntyre (Faversham Town), Karn Miller-Neave (Cray Valley), Finn O’Mara (Faversham Town) Jerson Dos Santos (Sheppey United) and Michael West (Ramsgate).

Last Updated:  21:10 – Friday 31 May 2024