Dockers boss O'Boyle offers trialists a fleeting chance

Monday 13th July 2009

ERITH TOWN commence their pre-season campaign at Vandanel Kent County League side Fleet Leisure tomorrow night and Steve O’Boyle will cast his eye on numerous trialists, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dockers boss has made numerous summer signings, most from the club’s ranks, and will blood them against lower league opposition.

O’Boyle, who was speaking to the club’s impressive new-look website www.erithtown.com, revealed some of the players that will take to the field against the Gravesend outfit.

“Pre-season has gone well and we had a good turnout for the sessions,” he said.

“At the first one we had 62 players, which was too many, and we scaled it down a bit. We have seen some really decent players at training.”

Looking forward to his side’s first work-out, O’Boyle said: “Tomorrow night we will unleash some of them, mixed in with some of our first teamers, and see what their like in a competitive game at senior level as they’ve only played in the youth team so far.

“We’ll be using Vinchenzo Wade, Leo Makula, Greg Benbow, Craig Hewitt and Salih Hafix and also Sam O’Keeffe, who has come in from Thamesmead.

“Joe Plant, who was with Sittingbourne last year, would have been in the squad as well as he has really impressed us, but he is on holiday.

"We're also looking at 2 new goalkeepers tomorrow night. "The rest of the first team squad will train back at Erith Stadium.”

Looking further ahead, to Saturday’s trip to Lingfield, O’Boyle added, "On Saturday we're playing a first and a reserve team in the games against Lingfield, so we can see how we're progressing after the sessions we've had".

Dave Batt, meanwhile, who was last seasons top scorer in Kent League Division One, has signed for the club.

He has played for Thamesmead Town reserves for a couple of seasons and was a title winner again last term.

He now rejoins his former boss and his eye for goal will be extremely useful in the coming season.

Quotes courtesy of www.erithtown.com