Soccer Shorts: Dover Athletic chairman pays for fans' day out

TONIGHT’S Soccer Shorts brings you news snippets involving FA Vase heroes Greenwich Borough, Maidstone United, Dover Athletic, Herne Bay, Beckenham Town and Slade Green.

GREENWICH BOROUGH boss Phil Miles has promised changes ahead of their Kent League derby at Thamesmead Town on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Bayliss Avenue clash has been sandwiched between their FA Carlsberg Vase fifth round tussles with Hellenic League side Hungerford Town.

And with a home tie against Arngrove Northern League side Whitley Bay - a side that won 3-0 at holders Truro City at the weekend - awaiting Borough if they win Saturday’s home replay - you can forgive Miles for making changes.

“We’re ninth in the table and we’re not going to win the league to be fair and that’s no disrespect to the Kent League,” Miles told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. 

“We made a mistake a couple of weeks ago of putting out exactly the same side against Sevenoaks (after knocking out Harefield United in the last round) and we got turned over. We just weren’t at it at all.

“We’ll have a look at the squad, we’ve got really good reserve players as well so if we have to swap it about we will do.

“We’re not going to flog them at the end of the day. How many players get to the last sixteen of the Vase? It’s a great opportunity - next week’s another (big) game!”

FUSTAL, a football phenomenon played by more than 25 million worldwide, is being pioneered in the South-East by Maidstone United.

The Stones have been accepted into the new FA Regional Futsal League, playing teams in London and the South-East. Winners of this division will go through to the FA Nationals.

Futsal is a fast, skilful game and is seen by football's governing body FIFA as ideal for young people to develop the perfect technique. The name 'Futsal' derives from the Spanish words for ‘hall’ – sala – and ‘football’ – futbol.

It is a five-a-side game, played with hockey-sized goals and a smaller ball with a reduced bounce. Players are constantly placed in situations where they must receive or play while under pressure or in confined spaces and it places considerable demand on technique, movement, tactical awareness and fitness.

Youth development advisor Damian Matthew told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk : "This game is taking the world by storm. It's great that Maidstone United are involved with the FA as part of the Futsal league and encouraging schools and other clubs to take up this sport.

“It requires great skill that will enhance the performance of any amateur, semi-pro or professional footballer."

Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden-Brown added: "Our involvement in Futsal is great for the club. It has given us the opportunity to work closely with the FA and will also help to expose the club at regional and national level.

“It will be interesting to watch Futsal develop in the coming months and years and I'm delighted that we are one of the foundation clubs."

Maidstone United are looking for players, aged 16 or above, to join their Futsal team. There is also a range of sponsorship opportunities available for businesses that want to back this exciting up-and-coming sport.

And if that wasn't enough the club will be starting coaching programmes and youth and adult Futsal leagues shortly.

For more information about getting involved contact Adrian Smith, youth and community development officer at the club, mentioning that you read this on www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Email:  mufcyouth@btinternet.com
Tel: 07801 023 365

Meanwhile, the Ryman Premier League club are delighted to announce the appointment of Mike Sullivan as their new commercial manager.

Mr Sullivan is vastly experienced in sport fundraising, marketing and sales. During his career he has worked with Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Watford, Swindon Town and Wycombe Wanderers.

The position is on a part-time basis and he will play an important role as the club continue their campaign to bring football home to Kent’s county town.

Mr Bowden-Brown said: "I am delighted to welcome someone of Mike’s calibre to Maidstone United. His arrival comes at a time when we need an experienced fundraiser and salesman to increase our exposure among the town’s business community.”

DOVER ATHLETIC chairman Jim Parmenter will PAY for EVERY Dover supporter who wishes to travel to our top-of-the-table clash at Tooting & Mitcham United by coach.

Mr Parmenter will book and pay for as many coaches as are needed to ferry Dover’s entire fanbase from Crabble to South London on Saturday, March 1.

All you have to do to pick up your free ticket is attend the Chipstead home match on Saturday, February 23 - and visit the club shop between 1pm and 3pm.

Strictly only one ticket will be issued to each person. Coach departure times will also be advertised.

The chairman told www.doverathletic.com : "The fans have been terrific this season, supporting the club home and away.

"We want to give something back, as the Tooting game is potentially going to be a vital match which could determine the outcome of the Ryman One title.

"Obviously it would be great for Andy Hessenthaler and the team to be encouraged by as many Dover fans as possible, so we hope that we can take our home crowd to Tooting.

"Wouldn't it be great if we had 1,000 of our supporters at Tooting to cheer the boys on?"

Q & A for those who work shifts and cannot attend the Chipstead match, but want to travel to the Tooting game with the fans.

Q: I cannot make the Chipstead game but really want to join the travelling coach party to Tooting.

A: No, problem. You have two options.

The clubshop will be open this coming Saturday (10am-12noon). Tickets will be available for a £9 donation to the Centre Spot 2008 fund. This price is what you would pay to watch the Chipstead game.

The other option is to get a friend to collect your ticket at the Chipstead game, but that will only be issued for a £9 donation.

Please note, NO tickets will be handed out without the £9 donation this weekend. One FREE ticket per person will only be available at the Chipstead home game. But any supporter picking up more than one ticket will need to pay £9 for each additional ticket.

Q: I'm a season ticket holder but cannot make the Chipstead game.

A: If you cannot make the Chipstead game, contact the club at info@doverathletic.com  or phone (01304) 822306, leaving your full name, contact telephone number and season ticket number. The club will make arrangements with you to ensure you get your ticket.

HERNE BAY striker Aaron Firth has signed for Ryman Premier League side Ramsgate for an undisclosed transfer fee.

The striker has netted 22 goals for the Winch’s Field outfit and Herne Bay chairman Mr John Bathurst is sorry to see the hot-shot leave.

“He would have been out-of-contract at the end of the current season and with the interest he has engendered there is no doubt that he would not have stayed at the Bay after that,” he told www.hernebayfc.net.

“For his advancement to a higher level in the pyramid and for the club financially it had to be the right move for all concerned that he leaves now.”

Mr Bathurst admitted a dual-registration wouldn’t be an ideal situation, adding: “With regards to the League Cup, it was hoped that he may have been released to play for Bay in the semi-finals but with the injury Aaron is carrying it was extremely unlikely that the Rams would risk his playing. On that basis the deal is that Aaron is transferred full-stop.”

ANOTHER Kent League hot-shot has moved clubs with Tony Atkins moving from Sevenoaks Town to Beckenham Town.

Atkins scored 18 goals in 19 outings for Sevenoaks this season, and Becks coach, Billy Hughes, speaking to www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk is delighted to have got his man.

“He is a young man who has attracted a lot of attention in non-league football an has tremendous potential,” he said.

“We are very excited about the prospect of having Tony at Eden Park Avenue. (Manager) Jason Huntley and I watched a lot of players over a long period this season before deciding that Tony was the player we wanted.”

Atkins netted on his Beckenham debut at the weekend, during the 5-0 win at Erith & Belvedere at Park View Road.

SLADE GREEN manager Matt Longhurst has completed one of his most notable signings to date, having secured the services of central defender Jackson Ohakam from Blue Square South club Welling United.

A former Nigerian youth international, Jackson is no stranger to the Kent League, having been with Whitstable Town last season, where he picked up the Kent League title and the Kent Senior Trophy.  Prior to this he played for Gravesend & Northfeet.

Another defender on his way to the club is Paul Votier, formerly of Erith Town, who has signed from Herne Bay.

But Green stalwart Lee Barber has parted company with the club, having made 222 appearances after joining the Small Glen in 2001. He has signed for Kent League basement boys Tunbridge Wells.

And the club insist left-back Lee Craig joined Ramsgate as “the Rams financial offer was simply too good for Lee to turn down.”

Visit club websites: 

www.greenwichboroughfc.moonfruit.com

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.doverathletic.com

www.hernebayfc.net

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

www.sevenoakstownfc.org

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/