Sittingbourne snap up Omogbehin - Aplogogy To Sittingbourne FC

Monday 27th July 2009

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott has signed trialist Femi Omogbehin, who has impressed during the club’s pre-season campaign, writes Stephen McCartney.

Right-back Omogbehin signed for the Bourne Park outfit following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Kent League side Hythe Town.

The Ryman League Division One South club have also confirmed that Hicham Akhazzan, Matt Bourne, Richard Brady, Joe Dowley, Joe Horlock, Billy Manners, Jon Neal, Nick Reeves and Colin Richmond have all re-signed.

“Femi’s quality!,” Abbott said of his new signing, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Saturday.

“All I know about him really is he was at Dulwich Hamlet for a little while. He’s come here, he’s settled in.

“He knows a few off the boys and he (wanted) to sign.

“He’s solid, an athlete, strong as an ox and he drops lovely balls in and I can’t fault his play.”

Abbott takes his side to Hastings United (1 August) and Canvey Island (8 August), and Abbott is relishing testing his side against Ryman Premier League opposition.

“We had the Dover game (which we won 1-0) and we all know how strong their side was and I thought let’s get a couple of strong ones before we start, and see what people are about then,” said Abbott.

“I can see how good they are against teams that are one level above us, but the funny thing is I’ll know we’ll go there and give them a game!

“That is us! We go to places where we’ve not got a chance at and we play well. I’m looking forward (to playing) them.”

Meanwhile, www.kentishfootball.co.uk (Stephen McCartney) would like to sincerely apologise concerning my handling of the Sittingbourne v Hythe Town game on Saturday, regarding Ben Yiadom, and my piece above the statement from Erith Town Football Club.

It is not my intention to harm relationships between football clubs and would therefore like to issue an apologise to everyone involved and I will learn this experience and I take on board the comments that I have received from Messrs John and Peter Pitts - and Mike Perfect.

Sittingbourne spokesman, Peter Pitts has today contacted me with the following message, which clears up the situation regarding non-contracted players.

“We certainly did not go out of our way to give a false name and as soon we knew the correct name we used it, evidence being that the entry on the (club) website had the correct name from about 5:30pm.

“A player can of course have two resignations in different league as long as they are not on contract.

“However, we treat these friendlies as nothing but trials and there was no intention to mislead anyone, otherwise we would have called him Smith.”

I (Stephen McCartney) would like to clarify that Sittingbourne Football Club did not attempt to underhand anyone and I apologise for my mistake in the articles that I’ve published and will learn from this.