Soccer Shorts: Ebbsfleet agree Eurostar sponsorship extenstion

Friday 19th March 2010

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EBBSFLEET UNITED and existing club sponsors Eurostar have agreed in principle to extend the contract for another season until April 2011.

Fleet chairman Duncan Holt and director Phil Sonsara met Eurostar officials on Thursday to present a community brief on behalf of the club and plans beyond 2010.

Mr Holt commented that there was still some detail to be worked out, altering the contract to focus more on community initiatives, before a new deal can be finalised.

The financial deal is confidential though the Fleet chairman confirmed that the amount will be "less than the current deal but hopefully not substantially so".

"I honestly believe this is a great deal for the club," Mr Holt said in a statement, posted on www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

"Eurostar are committed to supporting this club and community around it and once we have done this I will work to get a longer deal to cover past 2012 and the London Olympic Games."

Eurostar have been club sponsors since the beginning of the 2007-08 season when a three-year deal was then reported as one of the most lucrative in non-league football.

DOVER ATHLETIC - who welcome Bromley to Crabble tomorrow - are staging their latest Q&A session for fans next Wednesday.

The evening is designed for fans to ask face-to-face questions to manager Andy Hessenthaler, his No2 Darren Hare and chairman Jim Parmenter at a relaxed social evening at the Centre Spot.

The bar will be open from 6.30pm and the Q&A part of the evening will start at around 7.15pm. Food will also be available.

Hessenthaler told www.doverathletic.com: "We're a close-knit club and all in this journey together. We like everyone to be honest at Dover Athletic - and that includes fans asking us questions that honesty concern them. And we give them our honest answers.

"It's always a good evening for fans to meet us in a relaxed atmosphere - and for us to all talk about what we love most - football."

WELLING UNITED welcome Maidenhead United to Park View Road and go into the Blue Square South game full of confidence, having defeated Havant & Waterlooville, Weymouth and Eastleigh this month.

Such impressive form has taken the club into eighth place in the table - two places behind Dover Athletic - and are now only four points adrift of the play-off’s (taking goal-difference into account).

With eight games remaining, there is a confident breeze within the camp that the club can snatch a play-off place.

“It will be a difficult game against a physical side,” warned player-boss Jamie Day, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“But we will be looking to get three points and improve our home form.

“Our next three games are very important, especially after a good win in the week.”

Skipper Jack Parkinson opened the scoring in the Wings’ impressive 3-1 win at Eastleigh on Wednesday, and he too wants a successful time at the office tomorrow.

Also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, the former Tonbridge Angels and VCD Athletic player said: “We’re all really positive going into the game. We had a great win at Eastleigh on Wednesday, but nobody’s getting carried away as we all know that Maidenhead will be a hard game.

“If we can get the three points that we feel we can, it puts us that step closer (to the play-off’s) with a good run of games coming up.”

Welling United officials would like to remind supporters that bottom-of-the-table Weymouth are the visitors to Park View Road next Tuesday night, kicking off at 7:45pm.

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell said he was pleased with the application of his side - particularly at the back - as they recorded a creditable 1-1 draw against Sutton United in midweek.

“I did my homework on them,” the Essex based O’Connell told www.margate-fc.com. “I spoke to about four different managers and thy all said to me, they’re the best team in the league.

“If I’m totally honest, I like being positive, but I’d have probably taken a point beforehand.”

He added: “We defended superbly - so did they - they probably had 60-40 possession-wise but when you ask Jamie (Turnr) how many saves he had to make, I don’t think he made any.

“We look like a team, and we look like we’ve got the passion and the commitment to go forwards.”

The former Great Wakering Rovers manager heaped plenty of praise on striker Leroy Huggins, who has stepped up a level, having signed from Ryman League Division One North outfit VCD Athletic.

“He’s decent. I’m just glad I got there before anyone else. I’m surprised he hasn’t been signed by a higher league side anyway.”

Striker Lloyd Blackman was also recognised by the manager for his willingness to come on for the injured Nick Barnes and do a job in central midfield.

“Lloyd said I can do a job there, and straight away I thought yes, that’ll do me because he wanted that chance to get on there. He did a very good job when he came on.” added the Margate boss.

Huggins, who has now scored three goals in as many matches, has proved to himself that he can play at a higher level and wants to score again when Carshalton Athletic visit Hartsdown Park tomorrow.

“I’m enjoying my football, I’m working hard and it’s a great start. I couldn’t have asked for better,” the much-travelled striker told www.margate-fc.com.

“I just have to keep up the good football that I’m playing and hopefully it can be a goal a game to the end of the season.”

“It’s good to step up to the challenge, it’s good football and the crowd are doing well; giving us a bit of support and we appreciate that,” he said.

Josh Winchombe, meanwhile, who following his progression through the under 18s and the reserves, has signed a contract with the Hartsdown Park club until the end of next season.

ASHFORD TOWN have unveiled the arrival of Mark Patterson from Gillingham, where he has been earmarked to head up the club’s new football academy (reports www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk)

The football academy will be a new a joint venture between Ashford Town and The North School and offer both full time football training and academic qualifications.

In his new role, Mark will look to use his experience and add more professionalism to the youth structure and a way of bridging the gap between the youth and 1st team. And provide footballing stars of the future.

Mark has joined us from Gillingham's hugely successful youth set up. Responsible for current Ashford’s first team regulars Ronnie Dolan and Tom Murphy.

There will also be a website solely dedicated to the Academy, launching Monday.

GREENWICH BOROUGH boss Steve Firkins admits his side have their mind on other things and as a result their Bulmers Cider Kent League form has nosedived.

Since beating Herne Bay to reach the Kent Senior Trophy final, Greenwich Borough haven’t won against Norton Sports or landlords Holmesdale and Firkins wants a positive result when he takes his side to Hythe Town tomorrow.

“After two disappointing results against Norton and Holmesdale, it’s up to us to get the players back up and try and get some sort of result against a very strong Hythe side that have put together a good run to take them up with the leading pack of clubs,” Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Firkins was upset that his side lost the battle of Oakley Road against their landlords.

“After Tuesday’s result I was very disappointed with the way we went about the game and I let the players know that after the game,” he said.

“We had seven players unavailable through injuries and suspensions but that’s no excuse for a poor performance, although take nothing away from Holmesdale, they battled and deserved their win.

“The problem at the moment is I’ve got too many players with one eye on the Kent Senior Trophy final at the moment.”

CORINTHIAN face a player crisis ahead of their home game against double-chasing Herne Bay.

Joint-manager, Andy Douglas has told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he will be playing even younger players against Simon Halsey’s side at Gay Dawn Farm.

He said: “Although we managed a good point when we played them away earlier on in the season, tomorrow will be a very hard game for us.

“They are a very impressive team, who have stepped up a gear.

“We have a terrible injury list. Eight regular players are out so we will have four under 17s and 5 under 18s in tomorrow’s squad.

“It’s good experience for the lads but a tough game to have them play in.”

With his side in second place - 13 points behind Faversham Town with three games in hand, Halsey told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that his side go in search of three points.

“I’m looking forward to going to play on what should be a great playing surface,” said Halsey.”

Herne Bay completed the double over Faversham to book their place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League Cup Final, where they will meet either Beckenham Town or Sevenoaks Town - who lock horns at Eden Park Avenue next Tuesday.

Halsey added: “I would imagine we will get a tough game up there but my boys should be on a high after Tuesday night’s victory but we know we must give Corinthian the same respect as we showed Faversham.”

LORDSWOOD continued their resurgence under the management of Jason Lillis and John Guest (Senior) by holding Deal Town to a goal-less draw in midweek.

Although still bottom of the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with one win and 9 draws from their 22 league outings, Guest was pleased with his side’s efforts down at the Charles Sports Ground.

“I thought we took a few steps forward and some of the stuff we played was great to watch,” Guest told www.lordswoodfc.co.uk.

“We defended with a passion and after the game we walked into the dressing room and the boys bellowed at us “A clean sheet!”, which is exactly what we want.

“We were absolutely delighted with zero goals against and it is another step forward.”

Lordswood, who are three points adrift of Corinthian, travel to sixth-from-bottom side, the vastly improved Sporting Bengal United tomorrow, and Guest said: “Let’s us see what Saturday brings against Sporting Bengal, who are a better side and a side that is not now looked on as an easy three-pointer.

“There will still be good days and bad but hopefully more good than not.”

Meanwhile, Lordswood have completed the signing of much-travelled strong target man Richard Dimmock and midfielder Robert Hicks.

“We are conceding very few goals and have nine draws. We have signed Dimmo to help sort the forwards and Hicks is a midfield ball player,” added Guest.

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