We believe we have signed the best player at this level, says KFU manager Sam MacNeil

KENT FOOTBALL UNITED manager Sam MacNeil has today pulled off the biggest transfer coup in the history of the Kent Invicta League.



The Crayford-based club have agreed terms with striker George King, 19, who was released by Premier League Manchester City in May 2012, at the same time as Owen Hargreaves.

On the 18^th February 2010, King received an offer that is just a dream for most youngsters when he was handed a two-year scholarship with Manchester City.

He joined Aylesford when he was six years’ old and more than held his own playing in the year above most of the time.

He later progressed to Ebbsfleet United, where he started to get noticed by some of the big clubs.

After a trial at Chelsea and six months at Fulham, he was given his golden opportunity at Manchester City.

MacNeil is delighted with the signing, who had trials with clubs in The Sky Bet Championship (Sheffield Wednesday) and Sky Bet League One (Brentford and Bristol City) before dropping down to Step Six of the non-league game.

King’s arrival will autmoatically make Kent Football United one of the favourites to win the Kent Invicta League title this season.

MacNeil said:  “In George, we believe we have signed the best player at this level about.  Lots of clubs were chasing him but we have landed the biggest coup in the Invicta League this pre-season.

“George is a Kent based player who spent a succesfsul spell with Manchester City’s Academy, before not being offered a full-time pro contract.

“George has had trials this pre-season with the first teams at Brentford and Bristol City and did pre-season with Sheffield Wednesday but was again unsuccesful in obtaining a pro.

“Me and James Cole, my assistant, are good friends with him and we made him an offer he couldn’t refuse to link up at Kent Football United and what we are currently building.

“The club is progressing very nicely. We have finished our pre-season now afer eight friendlies and have a strong squad of 22 players.

“George will give us so much in the most important area of the pitch – scoring goals.

“He is a match winner and will be by far the best player in this league in his position. He has amazing pace and his physical attributes are on a different level to others. From open play he can play as a lone forward or a wide man on either wing and will give us a dynamic cutting edge especially on the counter attack.

“He is also a set-piece specialit from dead-ball situations so in terms of productivity he will give us so much and the team even more.

“The fact that a player who was at Manchester City a year ago is fantastic for our football club.  Hopefully it will encourage more of our youngsters and parents to come along as word has soon got round regarding George and the whole club is excited about the season ahead.

“Obviously no one player is bigger than the team and I want it noted the squad I’ve assembled this pre-season with James is superb.  The lads have been a pleasure to work with, attitudes are spot on and everyone knows where we want to go this season.”

Kent Footbal United begin their Kent Invicta League campaign with a home game against a Bearsted side that finished in fourth-place last season.

“You have to aim big but now we have the infrastructure as a club. We believe we can not just aim big but hit big,” said MacNeil.

“First game at home to Bearsted will be tough. They are an established team at this level and will be up there again I’m sure.

“We will have to play well in eveyr game we play but we are confident of doing that.  The pitch at VCD looks imaculate at the moment. Roy (MacNeil) has done an amazing job preparing that over pre-season and the whole committee at Kent Football United as I’ve said before has devoted a lot of time preparing this coming season.”

MacNeil added: “We want people to stand up and take note of us.  We have a buzzing youth set-up with academy, goalkeeper school and girls’ football and now it is time for the senior side to put itself on the map.”

Visit Kent Football United’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/kentelitefootballclub

Kent Football United  v  Bearsted
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 10^th August 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN