Kentish Football 
Marlon Patterson shares our ambition, says Bromley assistant Hayden Bird
Monday 04th October 2010
BROMLEY assistant manager Hayden Bird says the club went through all the right channels to persuade left-back Marlon Patterson to leave Chelmsford City to sign for his home-town club, writes Stephen McCartney.
A former Millwall and Chelsea youngster, who originally joined Chelmsford from Bishop’s Stortford last December, he went on to make 21 appearances for the Essex club last year at left-back and wide in midfield and quickly endeared himself to the fans with a series of pacy and energetic performances.
Beginning his non-league career with Crawley Town in 2002, Patterson moved on to Fisher Athletic, Carshalton Athletic and Billericay Town before settling down at Dulwich Hamlet.
He signed for Yeading in 2006/07 and competed in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground whilst with the Ding.
His love affair with the competition would later continue as one of a handful of games for Histon in January 2009 included a debut in the FA Cup Third Round against Swansea City.
Six games in the Football League followed with Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of 2007/08 but that season was a nomadic time for Patterson, who went on loan with Welling United, Grays Athletic and Bishop’s Stortford (twice).
The Histon stay was sandwiched between his spells at Woodside Park and, upon re-joining Stortford in February 2009, he remained for the rest of the 2008/09 campaign and much of 2009/10 despite trialling for Staines Town and the Clarets during pre-season. Marlon also managed to fit in a period playing football on the continent.
Following Bromley’s 2-1 home win over Bishop’s Stortford in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay last Tuesday night, Bird told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that “we always want to improve. We always said that we want to strengthen. We don’t want to rest on our laurels and there’s players who want to come to Bromley and there’s one guy in particular who I think is the best in the league in what he does.”
Bromley, the current unbeaten league leaders of Blue Square Bet South, tied up the deal at 5pm on Wednesday afternoon.
“I am absolutely delighted Marlon Patterson has decided to join us,” Bird told www.bromleyfc.tv.
“He is not only a player with great ability, he has both the character and experience to improve our squad.
“In signing Marlon, I would like to make it clear he has not joined Bromley to replace Harrison Dunk. Although there has been interest in Harrison, we have not received any offers for the player and having spoken to Harrison again today, he is very happy to commit his future to Bromley FC.
“With Harrison and Marlon, we believe Bromley will have an excellent partnership on the left hand side. Add Sam Butler into that equation, who has impressed everyone since his return to injury and Ryan Dolby, and Bromley look very strong in that area.”
Bromley travel to Chelmsford City for a place in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup up for grabs on Saturday, and Bird said: “Having read the comments from Chelmsford Chairman, Mansell Wallace, I would like to stress Bromley Football Club conducted ourselves in the correct manner throughout this process.
“To suggest we opened talks with the player before we were given permission to do so, is incorrect.
“Indeed, out of courtesy the two managers spoke to each other and club owner, Jerry Dolke spoke to Mr Wallace, asking for permission to talk to Marlon last week.
“Having initially been denied permission to approach the player, we made an Official Seven Day Approach which we are entitled to under FA regulations.
“Although Chelmsford manager, Glenn Pennyfather had informed Marlon he was free to talk to Bromley on Monday, negotiations with the player only began at 2pm on Wednesday and were not concluded until 5pm that evening. To suggest otherwise is misleading and as a club we refute any suggestion to the contrary.
“Whilst I am aware Marlon did watch our FA Cup tie on Tuesday night, this is hardly surprising given that a number of his friends play for Bromley.
“A Millwall player was also in attendance to watch a friend and there have been no suggestions that we have approached him illegally or otherwise.
“To suggest Marlon has decided to join Bromley for financial gain is also incorrect and very unfair on the player.
“The fact is he shares our ambition, the team are playing well and most significantly he lives in Bromley. Why would Marlon want a three hour round trip to Chelmsford when he can walk to Hayes Lane?
“The fact is “the big spending Kent outfit” as Mr Wallace describes us, is working on a budget that is considerably smaller than last season and I could comfortably name a dozen bigger budgets in this division, probably more!”
Bird confirmed that the club have not approached Jacob Erskine about a return to Hayes Lane, after the 21-year-old forward left the club to sign for Gillingham, who were managed by Mark Stimson at the time, in August 2009.
He said: “I can also confirm that the speculation surrounding Jacob Erskine rejoining the club is unfounded. We have no further plans to add to the squad in the near future.”
Article courtesy of www.bromleyfc.tv
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