Soccer Shorts: Striker Alfie Pavey returns to Maidstone United while Blaine Hudson is promoted from within to manage Metrogas

Here are today's Soccer Shorts articles with recent transfer news.

 

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Kevin Watson has retained the services of attacker Francis Babalola, who has made 96 appearances for the Isthmian League South East Division club.

Denzel Gayle, Cem Tumkaya, Matthew Attenborough-Warren and Kalvin Morath-Gibbs have all re-signed for the Eltham based club.

They are joined by summer signings, goalkeeper Chris Lewington, Marcel Barrington, Nathan Green and Ryan James.

CRAY WANDERERS manager Danny Kedwell has named his management team ahead of his first season in charge of the Isthmian League Premier Division outfit.

Andy Drury comes in as player-coach; legendary striker Jon Main has returned to the club, this time as fitness coach and George Howard comes in as goalkeeper coach having left Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Hollands & Blair, the Gillingham based side where Kedwell played at the start of last season.

ERITH & BELVEDERE joint-managers Danny Murphy and Marlon Patterson have signed former Whitstable Town striker Luke Medley, 32.  The Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club have also retained the services of winger Henry Dasfunjo.

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager James Collins has retained the services of long-throw specialist Lewis Chambers, ahead of the coming Isthmian League South East Division campaign.

"Naturally, I am delighted that Lewis has agreed to sign for the coming season," Collins told the club website.

"He is integral to how we play and is a top, top person.

"In my first season, he was my first signing and I think you learn more about people in times of adversity and Lewis was immense for us in a very difficult time.

"Again, as a person absolutely top draw, as a player, he is someone you want on your side.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of his development and I know he is a firm favourite with the supporters."

FISHER manager Ajay Ashanike has signed former Bishop’s Stortford and Aveley forward Lee Weemes and Khadean Campbell ahead of their forthcoming Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign.

HOLMESDALE manager Lee Roots has retained James Teodorescu, James Shield, Nathan Palmer, Jamie Rawsthorne, Tom Austin, Nathan Edwards, And Nwitua, Rory Ward, Jordan Eels, Ola Rabiu, Joe Hart, George Acland, Harry Towner, Ismail Ismail, Gabriel Ntumba, Jack Brown, Samuel Adenola and Shameek Farrell ahead of their return to the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

HYTHE TOWN manager Steve Watt has signed former East Grinstead Town centre-half Cameron Reardon.  Kane Phillip, meanwhile, has left the Isthmian League South East Division club.

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager Hakan Hayrettin has brought striker Alfie Pavey, 25, back to the club.

A decade ago, Pavey scored 300 goals in the youth ranks at Maidstone United, which attracted interest from Premier League and EFL clubs and in 2013 he signed for Millwall.

During a four-year spell at The Den, he went on loan to Barnet – the club he was at last season – as well as Aldershot Town, Bromley and Dartford.

He made a permanent move to Princes Park in 2017 and reignited his career. He scored 22 goals for the Darts and was voted the National League South player-of-the-season.

National League South side Havant & Waterlooville signed him the following summer and after a brief stay he signed for Dover Athletic and made more than 30 appearances before returning to Barnet.

METROGAS appointed Blaine Horne as their new first-team manager yesterday.

Hudson was their first-team assistant manager last season and was first-team coach prior to that and will be assisted by former player-coach Tyrus Gordon-Young, who suffered a knee injury towards the end of last season.

The Kent County League Division One West side have retained the services of their goalkeeper coach Jack Cain, and they will be playing home matches at Bayliss Avenue in Thamesmead this coming season.

Chairman Tim Morgan said in a statement: "Personally, I am delighted with the appointment of Blaine, Ty and Jack for the coming season.

"Obviously, it was a difficult few days for the club but as soon as I spoke to Blaine, Ty and Jack earlier in the week they told me that they wanted to stay and shared their vision and plans for the coming season.

"I was very relaxed and very excited for the coming season.  Despite a lot of interest from some very strong candidates, which I think is testament to the club and its ambitions.

"As soon as Blaine, Ty and Jack declared their interest, it was a very easy decision for me to make.

"Blaine has been fantastic since he came to the club and is a very mature head on young shoulders.  He has always done a fantastic job in his time at the club in his various roles with a calm, professional and enthusiastic manner.

"Ty brings a huge personality and a wealth of experience, having played a very high standard of football throughout his career and Jack has been fantastic all of last season."

RAMSGATE have installed a new 3G playing surface at Southwood Stadium and Teddy Lawson, a member of their under 10s, scored the first goal on the new pitch on Thursday.  However, Matt Longhurst’s side will officially open the new pitch when Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur visit for an all-ticket pre-season friendly on Saturday 17 July.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Richard Styles has signed former Hollands & Blair striker Matt Gething ahead of their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign.

VCD ATHLETIC manager Nick Davis has signed winger Youssef Bamba ahead of their Isthmian League South East Division campaign.