Dover show interest in striker Dimmock

RICHARD DIMMOCK could be on the verge of a shock move into the Ryman Premier League - if he impresses during a pre-season trial with Dover Athletic, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dimmock became the youngest player to score in the GM Vauxhall Conference (Now Blue Square Premier) in only his second game for Welling United when he scored against Morecambe at Park View Road back in March 1996.

Now 28, the Darenth based striker, who scored 29 goals for Thamesmead Town in their Kent League title winning campaign last term, will start pre-season training with his current side at Bayliss Avenue tomorrow evening before trying to impress Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler next week.

Thamesmead Town manager Keith McMahon, who returned home from a four day golfing holiday in Portugal last night, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight that he is expecting around forty players for their first pre-season training session tomorrow night - their first as a Ryman League Division One North club.

“I’ve signed 99% of the current squad,” said McMahon. “There’s only one, Richard Dimmock, who hasn’t signed, whose doing pre-season at Dover.”

McMahon also revealed that he’s inviting much-sought after striker Peter Smith to training tomorrow night.

Smith starred for Kent League side Greenwich Borough last season and many clubs, including Cray Wanderers, were keen to sign him.

Full-back Marc Merridan, meanwhile, who started his career with Charlton Athletic, has also been invited to training and is expected to return to the club following a stint with local rivals VCD Athletic.

And central defender Jack Roberts, 21, who was with Gravesend & Northfleet on their PASE scheme before suffering from a lengthy injury lay-off, has also been invited to training.

McMahon also said that he’s invited a couple of centre forwards from Kent League clubs but will not unveil their identities - all new faces have not yet signed for the Mead.

McMahon, meanwhile, believes Dimmock, a player that Cray Wanderers manager Ian Jenkins wanted to re-sign last month, could be the player that Hessenthaler needs to link up play up front.

He said: “Richard’s always had the ability to playing a good standard of football and the only thing he’s struggled with, to be fair, was his weight.

“That’s one of his major achievements this year was to lose three and a half stones (in weight) and he wants a crack (of playing at a higher level of football).

“People will say Kent League to Ryman Premier League is a big jump but there’s no doubt in his ability, he’s ability is exceptional.

“He’s great at good link up play and I’ve heard an interview that they’re looking for a centre forward who can link up well and Richard does fall into that category.

“I just don’t know if they’ll take a gamble on that but that’s what’s pre-season is all about I suppose.”

McMahon cannot wait to lead the club into the Ryman League for the very first time and visited the BBC today and revealed that a camera crew will following the club’s fortunes this season.

“The first game of the season will be a proud day,” said McMahon.

“No one knows us and we don’t know anyone either. “It’s going to be a scratch 22 but I’ll do my homework.

“If we think it’s a weaker division (than Ryman One South), we’ll come up short.

“We don’t know most of these sides and we’ll go to a load of new grounds.”

McMahon will put his side through their paces in seven training sessions before they lock horns with Welling United in their first pre-season match on 17^th July.

“If I’m right we’ve got seven (training) sessions, we haven’t got a huge amount,” said McMahon.

“We’ve got eleven friendlies, that’s without any reserve friendlies. We want to get a good pre-season, work hard and get a lot of games to get us match fit to get off to a flyer.

“We’ll work with a big squad like we did last year. Our reserves will be very strong still and our youth team will become senior players, apart from maybe four, so they’ll be bidding for a place in the first team.

“I will have a squad of maybe 30 decent strong players to pick from and at the right age group as well.”

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk