Everybody at the club has been fantastic, hails Deal Town boss Derek Hares

DEAL TOWN manager Derek Hares has paid tribute to the heroic volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure football returns to The Charles Sports Ground on Wednesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Kent Hurlimann Football League club were stunned when fire ripped through their new clubhouse at St Leonard’s Road on 6 October and caused damage to the stand, fencing and floodlights.

The club expect a bumper crowd when the current Deal Town first team side play a Deal Town Legends XI.

Former manager, Tommy Sampson, who guided the club to FA Carlsberg Vase glory over Chippenham Town in the last ever Wembley Final underneath the iconic Twin Towers, has been invited to name the man-of-the-match award and two players who played in the 1-0 win, Marc Seager and Steve Marshall will feature for the Legends XI side.

“We are delighted to announce that the hard work by our amazing volunteers has paid dividends and the Charles Sports Ground will open on Wednesday with a one-off game against a Deal Town Legends team taking on the current first team,” said director Phillip Moore.

“The Deal Town Legends XI will be managed by former Deal manager and player Dave Dadd and Legend Stiggy Meadows.

“It is confirmed that Marc Seager and Steve Marshall from Deal Town’s FA Vase winning side from 2000 will play on the evening along with some of the finest players who have ever donned the black and white of Deal, including record appearance holder Alan Barrow, former captain Colin Gilmore, goalkeeper Spencer Creedon and Andy Bigginton amongst many others.

“Current reserve team manager Gary Miller should also be making an appearance.

“Over 22 former players have confirmed their attendance along with Tommy Sampson, who will choose a man-of-the-match on the night.”
Hares said: “Everyone at the club has been fantastic, we’re very lucky we’ve got loyal volunteers and what they’ve done at the ground over the last couple of weeks has been fantastic really.

“The clubhouse has actually been taken down and removed, the floodlights that have been damaged have been repaired, the stand and all the boarding around the ground has been repaired, the pitch.  It’s quite amazing really, in a couple of weeks.”

Hares added: “It was just a big blow to everybody.  Everything was in place and moving forward and all of a sudden then you get a massive knock like that, it comes to a shock to everybody.

“Hopefully we’ll get a good turnout, which I’m sure we will from the people of Deal.  It will be great to see the ex-players.  Everyone’s looking forward to it.   It’s a good way to reopen the ground and get football back playing there.”

The fire caused the postponement of Deal’s home Kent Senior Trophy clash against Corinthian and their next game ended in a 4-0 defeat away to Fisher, but the side bounced back with a deserved 2-1 win at Sussex County League outfit Horsham YMCA in the FA Carlsberg Vase First Round yesterday, which banked £900 in prize money.

“It was a good win, very pleasing after the last few weeks,” said Hares.

“I think we thoroughly deserved it.  The only time we looked in any danger was in the last ten minutes, obviously they got a goal from a free-kick and they piled a bit of pressure on and we managed to hang on.  Up until that point we dominated the game.

Deal Town return to competitive action when they travel to holders Herne Bay to contest the Kent League Cup at Winch’s Field next Saturday (3pm).

The return leg will be played at The Charles Sports Ground on Saturday, 5 November.

“We’ve got used to playing them already, we’ve played them three times already,” said Hares.

“Obviously it’s over two-legs, so we just have to take Saturday’s performance into that game.  If we do that then I think we’ve got a chance. 

“I was pleased with our performance yesterday, that’s been our downfall really, inconsistency, play well one game and not the next.  You can’t afford to do that.”

Deal Town are presently sitting with only Lordswood, Holmesdale and Greenwich Borough below them in the table with two wins and two draws from 10 league games.

Hares said: “Obviously it’s been a struggle, not where we’ve wanted to be. It’s been disappointing, but I’ve got a couple of extra players now.  Hopefully I’ve got a couple coming back from injury and that should make the difference for us.”

“I’ve signed Ryan Harker from Ramsgate, he played yesterday.  I’ve got Andy Miller from Folkestone.  Both young lads, good players.  Ryan plays on the right side and Andy plays central midfield.

“I’ve also signed Sam Cliff from Margate, a left-sided player.   He’s very young, talented lad, got a bit disillusioned with football.  If you speak to most people around the area he’s got a lot of talent.  It’s just now a case of getting his head right and I think he’ll do well for us.”

The club has confirmed that admission to the Legends’ game will be £5 and there will be raffles, the chance for youngsters to take a penalty against the Deal keepers at half-time and other events.  All monies raised will go to the Fire Fund.

Visit Deal Town’s website: www.dealtownfc.co.uk  

Deal Town  v  Deal Town Legends XI
Friendly Match
Wednesday 26^th October 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
at The Charles Sports Ground, St Leonoard’s Road, Deal, Kent CT14 9BE