Soccer Shorts: Ashford United snap up prolific striker Stuart Zanone

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ASHFORD UNITED have unveiled the signing of prolific striker Stuart Zanone from Kent Invicta League title winners Bly Spartans, who embark on their inaugural Kent League campaign under the new name of Rochester United.

Zanone joins former Hythe Town striker Gary Mickelborough, Mo Takaloo, Tom Scorer and Aaron Firth in signing to make for an exciting host of striking options at Homelands Stadium.

Chambers is confident everyone from last year’s squad will stay on while defender Matt Hadlum and keeper Tom Carr join the current crop at Homelands.

Ben Jordan, Liam Walsh and Sam Conlon have already signed their Kent Invicta registration forms.

Chambers told www.ashfordunited.co.uk: “No-one looks like they’re leaving and we’re still on the hunt for a couple more players.

“It’s an exciting time and the squad – especially the strikers – looks very strong.”

BROMLEY and Crystal Palace supporter Clive Waters, 60, is recovering in hospital following a stroke.  Everybody at the Hayes Lane club wishes him a speedy recovery.  Meanwhile, Mark Goldberg’s side will now face Charlton Athletic on Saturday 28 July, which replaces the game against Brighton & Hove Albion.

CRAY WANDERERS have confirmed French striker Laurent Hamici has returned to the club following a season with their Ryman Premier League rivals Carshalton Athletic.  The Wands, who lost full-back Jack Clark and striker Tommy Whitnell to Margate and left-back Alex Bentley to AFC Hornchurch, who will be playing Conference South football this season, have also confirmed that goalkeeper Andy Walker, versatile Tyrone Sterling and hardworking striker Leigh Bremner have all put pen to paper to stay at Hayes Lane.

DARTFORD defender Paul Goodacre has signed for Conference South newcomers AFC Hornchurch, who have announced the departure of former Dartford and Tonbridge Angels striker Carl Rook.  Another Conference South side, Staines Town, have unveiled the signing of striker Tony Garrod, who helped the Darts clinch promotion into the top flight of non-league football last season.

EBBSFLEET UNITED are pleased to announce that striker Moses Ashikodi, 25, has returned to Stonebridge Road to play for the club in the coming season.

He had a successful period at the Kent club back in 2010 when he scored 11 goals in 16 games during a loan period from Kettering Town.

His first professional club was Millwall and in his career to date, he has scored 32 goals in 129 appearances in all competitions.

In the early days of his career, he made a number of appearances for the England youth team at various levels, scoring 7 goals between 2002 and 2006.

Last season he was part of the York City team that gained promoted to the Football League via the play-off’s and won the FA Trophy.

Fleet boss Liam Daish told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: “Moses has sometimes found it hard to settle at some clubs, but the last time he was with us was the most productive of his career.  He was happy here and as good as gold.  He is exactly the sort of striker I wanted to bring in. 

“He was only with us for 16 games last time around and sored eleven goals and I will be delighted if he can keep up that strike rate.”

Meanwhile, legendary striker Steve Portway has taken over in charge of Ryman League Division One North side Redbridge.

Prolific striker Portway, a popular figure during his playing days at Stonebridge Road, previously managed Essex Olympian League side Harold Wood.

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Micky Collins says he has bolstered his strike-force ahead of their opening pre-season friendly away to Warlingham tomorrow.

Last season’s Kent League runners-up have signed Richmond Kissi and Carl Cornell from Sevenoaks Town and Tunbridge Wells respectively.

But Collins confirmed that Karl Knight has returned to Maidstone United following the expiry of his loan.

Collins said: “We have added to our squad during the summer but having finished runners-up last season we felt we needed to have more strength in depth.

“I’m really pleased with the additions we’ve made, hopefully they’ll gel quickly.”

Looking ahead to their game against lower-league Warlingham, who play in the first division of the Combined Counties League, Collins added: “Pre-season fitness has been taken by John Wilfort and his sessions have been excellent and the boys are in great shape.

“We are treating our game with Warlingham as a training game – 3 x 30 minutes purely to give the lads some game time.”

When asked about the mood around the camp, Collins added: “There is a buzz of anticipation around the club.”

GILLINGHAM have appointed Martin Allen, 46, as their new manager.

The former Barnet, MK Dons and Notts County boss has signed a two-year deal at Priestfield Stadium yesterday.

Allen saved Barnet from relegation last season but departed Underhill when his short-term contract expired at the end of the season.

Gillingham are Allen’s seventh club in his nine-year managerial career.  Allen will be assisted by former Lincoln City boss John Schofield.

HERNE BAY have signed former Thamesmead Town, Horsham and Sittingbourne central defender Calum McGeehan.

HYTHE TOWN boss Scott Porter has completed his squad for the season ahead by signing highly-rated attacker Jake Hobbs, 21, from Kent League side Beckenham Town.

Hobbs, a dead-ball specialist, scored 29 goals for Jason Huntley’s side last season and has previously played Conference South football with Welling United.

Porter, who guided Hythe Town to Kent Senior Cup glory last season after shock wins over higher-league sides Ebbsfleet United, Dover Athletic and Dartford, told www.hythetownfc.co.uk: “We’ve been after Jake for most of the summer so I’m delighted to bring him here.  Maidstone United were pursuing him as well and he trained with them on Saturday, but he liked what he saw here.

“He’s a young lad with quick feet, plenty of pace and he scores goals.  He wants to get back to the level he was at with Welling and I’m happy to give him a chance.  That’s the squad finished now.”

Meanwhile, striker Lloyd Blackman, 28, has been appointed as the club’s new player-coach.

Blackman originally signed for the club just over a year ago from Whitstable Town, before he ended the season with Ryman League Division One North side Chatham Town.

MITLTON & FULSTON UNITED’S newly-appointed manager Aaron Perry has unveiled the signing of former Margate and Ramsgate striker Karl Barron, 24.  He has also snapped up three nineteen-year-olds, central defenders Atase Wekpe and Emil Durban and goalkeeper Jack Kelly on loan from Welling United.  Looking ahead to the forthcoming Haart of Kent County League Division One season, Perry said: “We are taking this league seriously.”

PHOENIX SPORTS’ joint-managers Steve O’Boyle and Tony Beckingham have been busy signing quality players ahead of the new season. 

Having seen the majority of the side that finished runners-up in the inaugural Kent Invicta League last season, the pair have unveiled the players who will be playing for the club next season.

Scott Mulholland, Adam Woodward, James Brown (player-coach), Ben Yiadom, Ted Hart, Raphael Akala, Dan Parish, Dean Kearley, Aran Heyrettin, Sam O’Keefe, Robbie Tarrant, Dave Crofts, Aaron Jeffery, Callum O’Sullivan and Michael Daramola have all put pen to paper for the club.

The new management team issued the following joint statement on the club’s website www.phoenixsportsclub.org.

“Firstly we’d like to say how pleased we are to have been appointed as first team managers at Phoenix Sports,” said O’Boyle and Beckingham.

“We knew it was going to be extremely difficult as we were up against some excellent competition.  Thankfully the committee liked what we had to offer and subsequently offered us the position which we were obviously only too happy to accept.

“I think it would be fair to say that everyone at the club are as ambitious as we are and share the same vision as to where we want the club to go.

“Things have to be managed correctly both on and off the field but there is no reason why we shouldn’t be looking to be in contention for Ryman League football in a few years’ time.”

RUSTHALL new manager Paul McDonagh says he is looking forward to his first game in charge of the club against Kent League side Sevenoaks Town tomorrow.

“Pre-season training is going well with over 30 players at each of the four sessions so far,” the former Thamesmead Town coach, who lives in Sevenoaks, told the club website.

“We have lost and gained a few players and that is pretty normal for this stage of the season. I am expecting two or three more new faces over the coming weeks.

“Pre-season is a time where players tout themselves about looking to get into the highest level they can.  It is not unusual for players to join a new club halfway through pre-season.”

McDonagh added: “Tomorrow’s game will be interesting as Sevenoaks have recently changed their manager and will be bringing a team of new players and trialists.  We also have a few new faces, so a good game should be on the cards.

“New faces to look out for are Alex Emery, Matt Thompson, Theo Cunningham and the James brothers.”

Rusthall have confirmed that the match will be not be played on the main pitch.  There will be no admission charge.

Meanwhile, the Kent Invicta League club have withdrawn the number 4 shirt this season following the tragic death of former player Michael Pope, 29, who died in his sleep.

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Simon Jones brings a new-look squad to face Rusthall at Jockey Farm tomorrow.

He will take a squad of 18-20 players to play the Kent Invicta League side.   He put his players through another training session last night, including two more new faces.

He told www.sevenoakstownfc.org: “I am looking forward to our first game.  It’s a new crop of players and it will be interesting to see who rises to the challenge.”

SITTINGBOURNE joint-manager Danny Ward says the club will be running with an eighteen-man squad this season.

He told www.sittingbournefc.co.uk: “We have 9 signed on, three other definates and a lot of trailists coming down for a trial.  We hope to be running with a squad of eighteen players next season so I am more than happy with where we are at the moment.  We will find out a lot more after the first few training sessions and friendlies.”

THAMESMEAD TOWN have confirmed the signing of striker Rob Carter, who played for their Ryman League Division One North rivals Ilford last season.

WHITSTABLE TOWN have confirmed that long-serving defender Gary Sayer has re-signed for the club.

Sayer has already played 261 games for the club and manager Justin Luchford told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk:  “Gary got my managers player last year.  His commitment and consistent displays make him a very valued member of the squad.

“Gary has been here a while now and he is hungry to get success and hopes to be playing his football at the other end of the table.

“It’s good news for us, as I know that a couple of other teams in close proximity were after him.  He’s a good lad and I’m looking forward to working with him once again.”

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) has announced a change in eligibility criteria, meaning clubs can apply for a higher percentage of financial support over a wider range of projects.

Funded with £6m each year from the Premier League, the FSIF is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game.

These improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters.

The key changes at Non-League level that will impact clubs down to Step 7 include:
§  The Step 2 ceiling has been increased from £150,000 to £250,000.
§  Clubs can now apply for financial support of up to 50% of the total project cost for Steps 1 to 5 and 70% for Steps 6 and 7. Previously percentages varied starting at 20%, and the change will be of particular benefit to the higher levels of the Non-League Pyramid.
§  Hospitality areas have been made eligible throughout the Pyramid covering all types of food and drink outlets, from simple tea-bars to function suites, in order to provide greater revenue generation opportunities.
§  Grants are now available for several items such as players' and officials' protected walkways, press seating, team dug-outs, pitch maintenance equipment and ball stop netting, which were all previously ineligible.

Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, said: “We want to make it easier for lower-league football to access stadium funding. We’re always revising the criteria, continuously looking at the funding, examining how much we’ve got and where the applications for funding are coming from.

“The Executive were aware that in these straitened times it was becoming more problematic for clubs to generate funds, so they put proposals together which the Board was happy to support.

“These changes are for the long-term good of football. It will be easier for clubs to get hold of funding. What that will hopefully mean is that more facilities will improve and more players will want to play and, just as important, more people will be able watch and generate valuable resources for their clubs.

“There is £6m there annually for people to access and we want as many to benefit from it as possible. Grassroots is fundamental to football because the wider the base the better it will be at the top. The English pyramid is the envy of the world and programmes like the FSIF will ensure that this continues to be the case.”
Since it was launched in 2000 the FSIF has awarded around £100m worth of grants towards stadia improvement projects.