Player-coach Marlon Patterson leaves Lordswood and says he is grateful for some great opportunities thrown at him for next season

LORDSWOOD player-coach Marlon Patterson has announced his departure from the club.

The 36-year-old was part of Darren Anslow’s management team, where he worked alongside Owen Price and made 24 starting appearances for the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club during the wasted 2019-20 football season.

Lordswood were sitting in thirteenth-place in the table, having collected 32 points from their 26 league games but couldn’t play their remaining 10 league games due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Patterson was Welling Town’s captain during the Bayliss Avenue based club’s Southern Counties East Football League First Division title-winning campaign a year ago and his experience has rubbed off on Lordswood’s younger players this term before The Football Association controversially declared the campaign null and void.

“Well, since announcing that I have left Lordswood FC, which was a good place to be this season, I worked with some great young talent and the management team in Darren Anslow and Owen Jones was second to none,” said Patterson, a defensive midfielder.

“It was really nice to see that some of the young players I worked with have moved up to the next level like Alexander Brefo, so my knowledge was passed on and made use off.

“The chairman and the board were also good to me and I would like to thank them all and I don’t forget about the ladies in the kitchen, who sometimes had to make me separate food as I was in the shower for so long!”

The Football Association have not yet confirmed the start dates for the 2020-21 football season and Patterson’s plans have been put on hold for the time being.

“I had some great opportunities thrown at me, which I am grateful for since the season came to a close but until we know when we are going back it all means nothing.

“I’ll just make sure that I am ready for the new season."

Visit Lordswood’s website: www.lordswoodfc.club