Soccer Shorts: Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley appoints Jason Lillis to his management team

ASHFORD UNITED goalkeeper Joe Mant has signed a new contract to stay at the Southern Counties East Football League club.

BROMLEY manager Mark Goldberg scooped the Conference South manager-of-the-year award at the National League’s AGM in Newport yesterday.  Goldberg guided the Hayes Lane outfit to their first title in 54 years when Weston-super-Mare were comfortably beaten 3-0 on 18 April.

The Ravens also collected the Vanarama Conference South Fair Play Award at the gathering at Celtic Manor.

Bromley celebrated their Greatest Ever Season as Steve Baker’s Academy side won the Conference Youth Alliance East Sussex/Kent Division title.  The club’s under 18 youth team won the Kent Cup.  Steve Payne’s ladies side won the Kent Women’s Plate for the first time while chairman Jerry Dolke guided the Veterans side to London Veterans Cup glory.

Meanwhile, two Bromley players, Rob Swaine and Anthony Cook have been selected for Vanarama Conference South Team of the Year, by the 21 managers in the division last season.

Central defender Swaine, the man to lift the championship winning trophy, tweeted: “I’m delighted to have been voted into the Conference South team of the year.  Tops off a hugely successful season for myself and the club.”

DOVER ATHLETIC scooped the Vanarama Conference Fair Play Award at The National League AGM yesterday.

ERITH TOWN praised joint-managers Martin and Joe Ford for avoiding the wooden spoon, by finishing second-from-bottom in the Southern Counties East Football League last season.

A club statement, which was posted on www.erithtown.co.uk said: “Despite taking charge for only a short amount of time, Joe and Martin Ford have done a great job in bringing in some young, fresh and exciting players with a sprinkling of experience which has proven to be pivotal in our survival bid!

“Despite nobody being relegated from the league in the end the players and management can take great pride in what they managed to achieve against all odds and we now look forward to what we hope will be a much more positive season this year!” 

ERITH 147 SPORTS’ Andy Freeman has stepped down as manager after 15 years in charge and is taking up a new role as the club’s chairman.

The NRG Gym Kent County League Premier Division club have already appointed Ross Baker and Danny Joy as replacements and said: “The club would not be where it is now if it wasn’t for him so on behalf of everyone involved over the years to the current squad we wish him all the best.”

FISHER fans have raised £80 online ahead of their 25-mile walk from St Albans to the club’s new ground in Rotherhithe next Saturday.  To make a donation, visit https://chuffed.org/project/bring-fisher-fc-home

FOLKESTONE INVICTA have strengthened their backroom team with the addition of Jason Lillis, 45, who finished last season with their Ryman League Division One South rivals Ramgsate.

Invicta boss Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk: “He’s always wanted to work with me and we’ve always got on well.

“He’s a bubbly and enthusiastic character who is keen to help us kick on to a higher level.

“Jason’s tacking his coaching A-Licence up at the FA headquarters, St George’s, in a few weeks’ time and will be an excellent addition to our backroom team.”

Roland Edge continues as assistant manager.

Cugley added: “I’m no great believer in titles and I’m sure we can all work together really well.

"Jason has a good knowledge of non-league football in this part of the country and should be a great addition to this football club."

GLEBE chairman Rocky McMillan has heaped pressure on manager Simon Copley ahead of the new Kent Invicta League season.

They will be playing at their new ground in Chislehurst next season and the founder of the 20-year-old club said: “Massive effort to get where we are, now we must deliver on and off the pitch this coming season.”

GURU NANAK’S groundsman Simon West has retired following a fall out with the committee of the Gravesend based NRG Gym Kent County League Premier Division club over a new tractor.

MARGATE have confirmed defenders Charlie Wassmer and Sam Rents have committed their futures to the newly-promoted Vanarama National League South club.

Wassmer, 24, has extended his stay at Hartsdown Park by penning a two-year deal.  The commanding centre half joined the club in February 2014 from Hayes & Yeading United.

The club has confirmed that Rents, 27, has put pen to paper on a new one-year deal.

He was one of Terry Brown’s first signings when he joined the club in January 2014 from Sutton United.

Brown told www.margate-fc.co.uk: “Signing these two for the upcoming season was key to both mine and Stuart’s (Cash) plans.

“Both players were keen to continue their journey on this project with Margate despite interest from other clubs and I think that a lot of credit must go to them for that.

“Building a strong defence is vital to what we want to achieve and having both Charlie and Sam in our squad certainly goes a long way to achieving that.

“They both had excellent seasons this year and I am sure we will see much of the same again from them.”

KENT FOOTBALL UNITED have confirmed that planning permission for floodlights has been granted and they will be installed at their ground in Dartford next season.

PHOENIX SPORTS manager Steve O’Boyle has made his first two signings as a Ryman League club.

Striker Chinedu McKenzie has signed from their Division One North rivals Redbridge, while defender Steve Springett has made the switch from Cray Wanderers.

A club statement said: “Steve O’Boyle said earlier that he was delighted that 95% of last year’s playing squad has decided to stay on at the club and the new players would only add to the quality he already has at his disposal.”

Meanwhile, the club’s reserve side are one of 17 clubs to be playing in the Kent Invicta League next season.

However, the list is still subject to change as both FC Elmstead and Forest Hill Park have submitted appeals to The FA for admittance while Crystal Palace based AC London have also applied for membership.

The constitution for next season is: APM Contrast, Bearsted, Bridon Ropes, Crockenhill, Eltham Palace, Glebe, Gravesham Borough, Kent Football United, Lewisham Borough, Lydd Town, Orpington, Meridian VP, Phoenix Sports Reserves, Rusthall, Seven Acre & Sidcup, Sheppey United and Sutton Athletic

SEVENOAKS TOWN’S end-of-the-season player awards were presented to players by Gillingham midfielder Bradley Dack alongside Chelsea Ladies’ Gilly Flaherty yesterday.

The Southern Counties East Football League club unveiled their new signings Adrian Stone and Austin Gacheru at the event.

SHEPPEY UNITED have invested £100,000 on a new playing surface at Holm  Park.  The Kent Invicta League club installed a new seater stand and floodlights last season and have made significant improvements to their pitch and facilities, including a new boardroom.

Chairman Matthew Smith tweeted: “I am so proud of everything being achieved at Sheppey United and can’t wait to start next season.”

THAMESMEAD TOWN have unveiled the signing of goalkeeper Andy Walker, 33, who helped league rivals Harlow Town finish runners-up in the Ryman League Division One North last season.

Manager Terry Spillane has also enticed Romford skipper Jack Barry, 23, to Bayliss Avenue after he made 228 appearances and scored 33 goals for the Essex outfit.

The Mead have also confirmed that Michael Aziya has returned.

Meanwhile The Mead will become the first Ryman League club to play Jersey FA when they visit Bayliss Avenue for a pre-season friendly on Saturday 1 August.

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE – the new name for the three division Conference - have announced a ten-year ball and kit deal with Jako worth £2.5m.