Kentish Football

Soccer Shorts: Beckenham Town "hopeful" of signing legendary striker Teddy Sheringham

Saturday 11th July 2009
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DENISE RICHMOND was elected onto the step 5/6 focus group at a recent League Conference for steps one to six.

The Kent League chairman told www.kentleague.com : “I'm looking forward to learning about, and using, initiatives to continue to drive for the development of step 6 in Kent."

The group is formed of just six representatives from all step 5 and 6 leagues in England, of which there are 18. 

The group meets regularly to facilitate change and development at steps 5 and 6, in order to share experience for both clubs and leagues around the country. 

They also liaise with the alliance committee (Conference, Northern, Southern and Ryman leagues) to ensure smooth promotion and relegation of clubs within the leagues system. 

KENT LEAGUE referees signed up to the Football Association's Respect programme this week.

At a meeting held in Snodland on Thursday night, the league's officials reacted positively to an excellent presentation by Phil Knight. 

Clubs have already signed up to the Respect programme having attended their presentation earlier in the year. 

Among the changes for the new season will be the Respect programme's fair play handshake, which will take place before every league game.

Clubs are already familiar with the handshake as it is already used in the FA Cup and FA Vase. It was also employed before each of this season's Kent League cup finals.

The officials also got the chance to quiz Kent League chairman Denise Richmond while, at the end of the meeting, the referees were also armed with new whistles by one of our sponsors, Molten, so they will again be heard loud and clear across the county this season!

BECKENHAM TOWN look set to pull off the biggest ever transfer in the history of the club.

The club’s new chairman, Chris McCarthy, is confident of securing the services of Champions League winning legend, Teddy Sheringham for the club’s Carlsberg FA Vase games this season.

“I’m having talks with Teddy about the situation, but these things do take a lot of sorting out," Mr McCarthy told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk. 

“I’m really hopeful that between us we can make the situation become a reality.  It’s an enormously exciting prospect.”

Sheringham started his career at Millwall before playing for the likes of Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and England, and one of many highlights during a glittering career was scoring in the 1999 Champions League final when Manchester United dramatically defeated Bayern Munich.

Teddy is no stranger to Kent football clubs, as his son Charlie, who has now signed for Bishop’s Stortford, was leading goalscorer for Blue Square South side Welling United last season.  

Meanwhile, Millwall Lionesses, recently promoted to the FA Women’s National Premier League, will play their home games at Eden Park Avenue, welcoming the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Sunderland.

Beckenham kick-off their pre-season campaign at 12 noon today, welcoming Cray Wanderers to The Fitness Exchange, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham.

CRAY WANDERERS supporters’ can look forward to seeing most of their favourite players again this season.

Manager Ian Jenkins, speaking to www.craywands.co.uk , said that all of the players from last season - with the exception of Danny Chapman and Dean Morris - have signed, or will be signing shortly.

And a big boost is that midfielder Ross Lover has re-signed for the club, having spent the majority of last season playing for Thamesmead Town’s reserve side.

“I’m really pleased that Rossy’s signed,” said Jenkins. "We’ve got a pretty strong team for the new season, and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t at least get into the play-offs again.”

Jenkins is sorry about losing holding midfielder Chapman and full-back Morris, adding, “Obviously I’m gutted about losing them."

Glen Knight is expected to play against Beckenham at noon today and the long-serving Jenkins says that the goalkeeper will be signing on for another Cray term. 

“We’ve also got Pat Brennan from last season, so I’m pleased to have two goalkeepers,” Jenkins added.

The Ryman Premier League new boys, meanwhile, are searching for a new physio, following Katie Cheeseman’s decision to step down.

“At the moment we’re following leads for a new Physio,” Jenkins said, “Katie leaving has given us a bit of a dilemma, but we’ll get over it. I’m gutted that Katie’s decided to leave, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”

The manager added that Callum O’Shea is definitely staying and will be a part of the squad. “Yeah, he’s signed for us again. No problems there,” he said. “We’ve got the new players, everyone’s training, we’re looking good.

“Tyrone (Sterling), Jamie Wood and a few others signed this week. We’re getting ready for action.”

ERITH TOWN boss Steve O’Boyle has been busy in the transfer market this season.

Exciting young striker Bradley Killick was amongst six players to sign for the club this week. 

Also signing were skipper Alan Hanlon, Scott Lewis, Steve Diamond, Matt Parker and Joe Plant.

On acquiring the services of striker Killick, a delighted O'Boyle told www.erithtown.com :  "I have admired, and wanted to sign Bradley for a long time. I think he can make a big impact on the league next season. He is an excellent signing."

Killick previously played at Thamesmead Town, where he progressed from the youths to the first team.

During an extremely productive week for the Dockers, long serving player Hanlon re- signed for the coming season and experienced defender Lewis, formerly with Slade Green and Thamesmead also signed. 

And, wide man Diamond, who has won the Kent League Division One for the last four seasons with Thamesmead Town reserves also put pen to paper for a manager he knows extremely well. Boss O'Boyle commented on his "delight" at these signings and "the experience they have."

Last, but certainly not least, young mid fielders Parker from Crockenhill and Joe Plant, who played Ryman League football with Sittingbourne last season, also signed for the club. 

Both players impressed during pre season and were brought to the club on the recomendation of John Adams, former manager, who has joined the committee at Erith Town.

HERNE BAY have confirmed that their entire squad from last season, with the exceptions of Rhys Lawson (Ramsgate), Martin Chandler and Steven Lloyd, have re-signed.

The Winch’s Field club were also expected to re-sign Steve Hanson and Lewis Taylor this week.

SPORTING BENGAL United look set for yet another miserable campaign, as the east Londoners announced their squad for the season ahead.

The perennial whipping boys lost every single of their 32 Kent League games last season, and year-after-year, prove that their not good enough to play Kent League football and should be demoted to the standard that they’re best suited - playing on parks.

Manager Mamun Chowdhury has signed 59 players for the season ahead, not one includes a recognised Kent League star name.

Yet again, the east London club have signed players from their local community, including the likes off Shadwell, Newark, Stepney, Bromley by Bow, Beaumont Athletic, Mohammedan SC, London Tigers, Arbour Youth, Ponders End, BYM and Shadwell B.

Bengal’s Kent League rivals can look forward to picking up six points and enhancing their goal-difference when they play the east London based no-hopers.

If the Kent League weren’t so desperate for teams, then Sporting Bengal United would have been demoted to back to the park league’s years ago.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Martin Larkin, who has replaced Croydon bound Mark Robbins in the close season, has been busy.

The Wells kick-off their pre-season campaign with a short stroll to neighbouring Kent County League side Rusthall today (2:45pm),

And Larkin has re-signed Mikelle Czanner, Jason Bourne, Jon Lord, Alex Rich, Mike Lord, Sam Phillips, Matt Newman, Clayton Cooper and Bradley Mortimer, ahead of the new season - with more to follow.

“It was crucial that Mikelle re-signed as he is a very important member of the squad,” Larkin said of the goalkeeper, when speaking to www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. 

“There aren’t many better than him at this level and he is an important voice in the dressing room.”

Larkin revealed long-serving skipper Bourne has turned down offers from higher up to stay at Culverden Stadium.

“Jason has decided to return after we outlined exactly where the club is going, and what we want to build here,” said Larkin.

“He has had a couple of offers from Ryman League clubs, so we are delighted that he has returned to captain the club next season.”

Jon Lord has returned to Tunbridge Wells, from neighbouring Sevenoaks Town, their opponents in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup in August.

“It was important he went there to get first team experience,” said Larkin.  “I kept an eye on him while he was there and he has returned a better player.”

Speaking about winger Rich, Larkin added, “Alex has also returned to the club, and epitomises the kind of player were are looking to bring through; young, local and very talented.

“He will have a big part to play this year, giving us obviously balance on the left hand side.”

Larkin, who was Robbins’ assistant last season, was also delighted to secure the futures off Mike Lord, Phillips and Newman.

“Mike has a very good record, considering he didn’t start every game last year,” said Larkin.

“His movement and intelligence will hopefully suit the way we will be playing this year.”

On midfielder Phillips, Larkin added: “We’re very happy Sam has re-signed.  It will be a big year for him as he looks to nail down a starting place each week.

“With his talent and drive, he’s more than capable.”

And last but not least, Newman has turned down offers from higher-league club’s to stay at Culverden.

“Matt was arguably one of the most important players to get signed up,” explained Larkin.

“His range of passing and ability will be crucial for us this year.  He is a very talented player and had offers to train with Ryman Premier and a Conference South side, so we are delighted he wants to commit to us for the coming season.”

Looking ahead to today’s’ trip to Jockey Farm to play Rusthall, Larkin added, “I expect to sign three or four more on Saturday after the game.

“We’ll then complete the 18-man squad possibly a week later, once we have finished looking at the trialists.”








 

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