Soccer Shorts: Hollands & Blair boss Paul Piggott unveils the signing of Marc Seager

Friday 18th March 2011

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BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley says he is using tomorrow’s Kent League clash against leaders Hythe Town as preparation for next Tuesday’s home London Senior Cup Quarter-Final against AFC Wimbledon.

“I rested keeper Nick Blue, Gary Gorman, Nick Curen and Danny Lawson on Tuesday with Saturday’s game in hand,” Huntley, who’s side beat Norton Sports 6-4 on Tuesday night, told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk.

“I’m naturally pleased we won, but had we defended as naively as that against a side like Hythe Town it would have been a cricket score.”

Looking ahead to the Eden Park Avenue clash against Scott Porter’s league leaders, Huntley added, “Hythe will naturally be desperate to claim the points -possibly more than us - but we want to be on top of our game and prove to ourselves that we can still re-capture some of our early season form.

“If we could beat Hythe, what better confidence boost could we ask for?”

CRAY WANDERERS’ coach Paul Blade says injuries have cleared up in time of tomorrow’s clash against Horsham at Hayes Lane.

The Wands have slipped out of the Ryman Premier League play-off’s in recent weeks, but Blade is confident three points against The Hornets will kick-start their push back into the top five.

With the Wands sitting in ninth-place in the table with 52 points - Ian Jenkins’ side are only four points adrift of fifth-place and Blade said: “As we are coming to the last third of the season, we have to treat every game as a Cup Final as we try to keep our play-off chances in place.

“We now have a full squad to pick from and places are up for grabs so hopefully that will make them more determined to keep their shirts as well as putting in performances to make sure we get the points to keep us in the hunt.”

ERITH & BELVEDERE report that winger Kirk Watts made a small piece of history in last weekend’s encounter with local rivals VCD Athletic - a game that finished all square at 1-1.

Watts scored the first Erith & Belvedere goal against the Vickers in a league fixture since the club returned to the Kent League in 2005.

A 0-0 draw and three defeats later, Watts popped up in the 88th minute to grab a deserved equalising goal in a match that promised much but rarely delivered.

FISHER are delighted to announce an agreement with Fair Deal Trading Ltd that will see the club use Fairtrade footballs during matches and training.

Club spokesman Jude Bliss told www.fisherfc.co.uk: “As a supporter owned-and-run football club, Fisher are committed to running a club along sustainable lines – making sure that we spend only what we earn.

“Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for workers in the developing world.

“It is important to Fisher and our fans that not only are we run sustainably, but that the companies we do business with are also run along fair, sustainable lines.

“We are pleased to announce this deal during Fairtrade fortnight, and we hope that it raises awareness in the football world about the conditions in which some footballs and football kits are produced.”

Importantly, neither Fisher nor Fair Deal Trading are sacrificing quality.

Fisher manager Gary Lisney added: “The Fairtrade balls are top quality, easily a match for the leading brands”. The outstanding Ethletic Pro Footballs meet all FIFA standards and are designed for professional use.

Fairtrade balls can be purchased from Fair Deal Trading Ltd via their website at www.fairdealtrading.com.

Fair Deal Trading are a global leader in Fairtrade sports balls, as well as supplying other fashion, sport and leisure products.

Fisher confirm that they will continue to use the official match ball for Kent League competition matches, as required under League rules. The Fairtrade balls will be used in all other competitions, including the FA Cup and FA Vase, as well as for training.

The FairDeal Trading Partnership was founded by Dr. Martin Kunz and James Lloyd. James has a background in Development and mostly deals with the UK and Irish markets and logistics. Martin is in charge of promotion in Germany and surrounding countries as well as product development in South Asia. His most recent work involved sourcing and importing FSC certified rubber for our footwear and sports balls.

HOLLANDS & BLAIR manager Paul Piggott has bolstered his squad, ahead of the run-in to their Vandanel Kent County League campaign.

The Gillingham based club are seven points clear at the top of the table and have three games in hand over their nearest challengers, Canterbury City and the former Lordswood boss has added strength to his squad for their last remaining 13 league games.

Blair face a “tough week,” welcoming Snodland tomorrow before playing under Bly Spartans’ new floodlights next Wednesday before locking horns with Snodland again next weekend.

And Piggott said: “Both clubs are on our doorsteps and have already given us hard games in Cup competitions.

“At training this week, we talked about the week ahead and prepared ourselves for the challenge because we know both clubs will be desperate to beat us - as we are them.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position and put in a lot of hard work so far this season.

“This week will push our squad even more but I’m sure the players will give their all as they have all season.”

Piggott has brought in former Whitstable Town manager, Marc Seager, who lives in Rainham and has been playing for Herne Bay’s reserves this season, James Dodsworth and strong striker Rob Denness, from Lordswood.

“We’ve signed them in the last week, just to help us with our final push to the end of the season as we have quite a few games left to fit in due to the weather that we’ve had this season,” explained Piggott.

“All three have played at a higher level and I’m sure will fit in with the rest of the squad and bring in competition all across the pitch.”

HYTHE TOWN boss Scott Porter takes his side to Beckenham Town tomorrow, one point clear at the top of the Kent League table with ten league games left to play.

Hythe stretched their unbeaten run to fourteen games, following their professional 2-1 win in the fog at Greenwich Borough in midweek, courtesy of Nick Barnes’ first goal for the club and a screamer from the club’s longest serving player, Lee Winfield.

Looking forward to the Eden Park Avenue clash, Porter said: “You never know what you’re going to get with Beckenham. Some weeks they turn up, some weeks they don’t so we’ll just prepare as normal. We had a light training on Thursday, got the boys down the club to keep the togetherness going and we’ll prepare for Saturday the best we can.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED welcome Billericay Town to Homelands tomorrow with skipper Jay Saunders instilled as player-manager, following Andy Ford’s decision to quit the club following their 1-0 home defeat to Croydon Athletic last Thursday.

Saunders, 32, a tiler, who lives locally in Bearsted, says he wants to break the club’s dismal home record, which has seen them go without a win all season, which as a result leaves them rooted to the foot of the Ryman Premier League table.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow’s game,” said Saunders. “It will be a tough one but I am confident we can get something out of the game.

“We had a really good training session last night and the boys were in a positive mood, which is exactly what I want, so hopefully the supporters will get behind the team and we can get our first home win of the season.”

Saunders’ Stones then travel to Lowestoft Town next Tuesday - Cray Wanderers were the first side to win there for over a year when Mark Willy’s header earned Ian Jenkins’ side a 1-0 win last weekend.

“Then we go to Lowestoft and see if we can get a good result there,” added Saunders, who revealed he will be playing tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the club website, www.maidstoneunited.co.uk has confirmed that Alan Pouton will be Saunders’ assistant for the remainder of the season.

The former Oxford United, Grimsby Town, Gillingham, Hartlepool United and Dover Athletic midfielder has been appointed to The Stones back room team.

Pouton was a creative and popular midfielder in his playing days and he briefly played for Maidstone at the beginning of last season before moving onto Sutton United.

Saunders said: "Pouts was on the phone to me as soon as he knew I was in charge at Maidstone and he made it very clear to me that he really wanted to be a part of my management team.

“Alan will help me with putting on sessions at training and in pre-match build up, as well as from the dug out during games. He's a lively character and I'm hoping that he will bring a smile back to the dressing room as I think that that is one area where we need to improve things off the field a little."

Saunders has also confirmed a few squad alterations as well. Central defenders Reis Boyle and Cedric Abraham have been told that they don't figure in the new manager's plans for the remainder of the season, whilst striker Tommy Whitnell, who despite being offered the opportunity to remain with the club, has declined Saunders' offer to stay and is believed to be on the verge of signing for another Kent side in the Ryman League.

Abraham has already found a new club, marking his return to Kent League Fisher last Monday, although the big central defender was on the end of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Tunbridge Wells.

Finally, Danny Hockton has accepted the opportunity to move on loan for the remainder of the season to Conference South side Thurrock.

A club statement said: “Following Tuesday's defeat against Croydon Athletic, Danny made the club aware that he felt that his future lay away from Maidstone United.

“The striker had previously been informed that he would not be part of the club's playing plans for next season and this news had given him the opportunity to arrange a new club for the remainder of this and next season already.

“Everybody at Maidstone United wishes Danny and his family the very best for the future and would like to thank him for his efforts with Maidstone United over the last 15 months with the club.”

SEVENOAKS TOWN player-coach Rob Quinn says he is looking to finish the Kent League season strongly.

The Oaks’ are in seventh place in the table with 30 points from 21 games and travel to Lordswood tomorrow.

“Obviously we will be looking to get back to winning as we want to finish the season strongly,” said Quinn, who also coaches the academy at Blue Square Bet South side Welling United.

“We had back-to-back wins before Herne Bay and we would like to win as many games as possible before the end of the season.

“We have a very young squad and we are awaiting on news of a few players’ fitness but we know we will be in for a very tough game at Lordswood tomorrow.

“They were big and strong and we didn’t compete well enough at home so we need to get the basics right tomorrow.

“We are looking forward to the game and will be looking for the three points.”

SITTINGBOURNE manager Gary Abbott paid tribute to his young-guns, despite losing their grip on the Kent Senior Cup as they were beaten away to Cray Wanderers in midweek.

“Firstly, I just want to say that me and Richard Brady want to thank all the boys that have stuck with us and have put in three great performances,” said Abbott, who has been working without a playing budget since his budget was completely pulled in January.

Sittingbourne play two relegation threatened sides in the next seven days, away to Corinthian-Casuals tomorrow, and at home to basement side Horsham YMCA next weekend.

Abbott said: “We’ll be trying our hardest to win the next two matches and that will put us in a great position - where no-one expected us to be.

“It will be tough, but there’s no reason why we can’t!”

Abbott added: “The boys are working so hard individually and as a team and it’s good to be a part of such a young team.

“Also, a big thanks to the supporters - they have been brilliant!”

TONBRIDGE INVICTA have extended their unbeaten run to six games, thanks to four straight wins and two draws and the tide seems to be turning for the Swanmead club, who have leapfrogged over Fleet Leisure and are now second-from-bottom in the Vandanel Kent County League top-flight.

Manager Dennis Hughes says the “light at the end of the tunnel is getting nearer,” ahead of tomorrow’s home game against tenth-placed Charlton Athletic (Community).

He said: “The lads’ have been working hard on the training pitch and their attitude and commitment is as strong as I could ask for.

“Unfortunately, every time we win so do the teams above us, but we will endeavour to seek three points every week, regardless of other results.”

Meanwhile, manager’s of Kent County League premier division clubs are invited to send in their news by clicking on the CONTACT US button on www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

THAMESMEAD TOWN welcome Potters Bar Town to Bayliss Avenue tomorrow, and according to one club source, who didn’t want to be revealed, said, “The management team and players are doing a sponsored naked penalty shoot-out before the game for Comic Relief. Red noses will be placed - visit Bayliss Avenue to find out where!”

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day takes his side to in-form Eastleigh tomorrow, the side immediately below them in the Blue Square Bet South table.

The Wings travel to Hampshire sitting in sixth place in the table with 57 points from 32 games and Eastleigh took full advantage of Welling’s disappointing home defeat to Dorchester Town last weekend by closing the gap.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game as they are on a good run at the moment,” warned Day.

“We also know they have a game in hand and are level on points, so we need to get something from the match.

“I am looking for a positive reaction after a disappointing result last week, but the boys have trained well this week and hopefully they are ready for action.”

WHITSTABLE TOWN have delved into the transfer market this week with Adam Douglas deciding that he wants to leave the club.

Manager Peter Nott has signed goalkeeper Brandon Hall, currently a Charlton Athletic scholar.

“Brandon lives in the Medway area and provided his registration is accepted by The Ryman League and with clearance by both The FA and The Football League will join the squad for Saturday,” said a club statement issued to www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

YOUR VIEWS - WALES v ENGLAND - Saturday 26th March

This website will be running an article next week over club’s concerns that the above match will be kicking-off at 3pm next Saturday afternoon.

Most club’s have switched their kick-off time - some haven’t - and we would like to hear from club officials over their concerns with the timing of the England match.

Club officials, managers and players are invited to express their views, by clicking on the CONTACT US button. The deadline is 6pm on Monday.