Soccer Shorts: Faversham struck by bolt out of the blue

Dartford manager Tony Burman is inviting Jack Roberts, 19, to pre-season training when it gets underway on Monday, 9^th July.

Roberts, who can play on either flank, was released by Blue Square Premier club Ebbsfleet United at the end of last season, and spent a loan period with Ryman League Division One South outfit Chatham Town.

Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight: “I have invited him so I can have a closer look at him.”

Faversham Town’s Ray Turner has revealed how his players ran for their lives after being caught up in Tuesday night’s electrical storm - (article courtesy of James Brown and www.favershamtownfc.co.uk).

Youth development officer Turner was coaching a group of more than 20 under-16s at the Abbey School when heavy rain turned to thunder and lightning.

And a strike on the rain-sodden field had players, coaches and parents racing for the sanctuary of the changing rooms.

Turner revealed: "I've never known thunder and lightning like it. And the rain - it was just pouring down.

"We were into the session when suddenly there was a strike that must have been somewhere nearby.

"Everyone leapt off the ground together, landed, looked at each other - and then ran for it!

"One of the lads was doing what looked like an Irish jig - he said some sort of charge had hit him on the leg.

"It would have been comical but for the fact we were all petrified.

"It was such a weird feeling. We were all tingling for ages afterwards. The hair of one of the lads, Dan Gurr, was standing on end - and he has a crew cut!"

Turner's coaching staff included first-team goalkeeper Scott Davenport and midfielder Dave Read.

And youth team boss Turner added: "I've never seen Scott move so fast. And Dave Read was out of there sharpish, too.

"I guess it's funny looking back but my first concern was for the safety of the lads.

"The rain continued to pour down and the lightning was still forking all over the place.

"Not surprisingly, many of the boys were too scared to run back to the clubhouse so another one of our coaches, Kevin Doyle, squeezed as many as he could into his black cab.

"They looked a right sight, but it was a really serious incident. I dread to think of the consequences had any of us suffered a direct hit."

Davenport, who helps Faversham Town's young goalkeepers, said the rain-lashed field was buzzing with electricity after the strike.

He revealed: "We were all training and it was raining pretty steadily. But then lightning struck the ground somewhere - there was definitely a big flash.

"We all ran for the changing rooms. Everyone felt a surge of electricity. The grass was absolutely soaked and seemed to act as some kind of conductor.

"I have never witnessed thunder and lightning as bad as that. I'm not ashamed to say It frightened the hell out of me."

First team boss Paul Copley, who saw the early part of training with assistant Bob Mason, coach Paul Piggott and Reserves boss Kevin Sims, said: "We ran in from the rain long before the thunderbolts got close.

"Training is important I admit, but not that important. I'm just glad all of the boys and the coaches returned safe from harm."

Dagenham & Redbridge have signed Ebbsfleet United defender Ross Smith on a two-year contract, reports BBC Essex.

The 26-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Kent club which recently changed their name from Gravesend & Northfleet.

He made 58 Conference appearances while with the Fleet, including 23 last season - having joined them from Margate in the summer of 2005.

Smith becomes the fifth new signing made by boss John Still this summer.

The Daggers have already signed Jon Nurse, Magnus Okuonghae, Richard Graham and Shane Huke.

The busiest Kent League manager this summer, Lordswood’s Shawn Mitchell, is still speaking to players as he prepares for his first season in charge at Martyn Grove.

He told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight:   “I’ve spoken to plenty of players - I will know more when pre-season training starts on 10^th July.”

Meanwhile, former Herne Bay, Deal Town, Ashford Town and Dartford manager, Tommy Sampson has this week been unveiled as the new manager of Sussex County League side Redhill.

Maidstone resident Sampson, who clinched the FA Vase whilst managing Kent League side Deal Town seven years ago, leaves Horsham YMCA, where he was assistant manager for two seasons.

Sampson assisted YM to a respectable ninth position in the club’s first ever campaign in the Ryman League last season.