Soccer Shorts: Fisher Athletic unveil plans for new £35m stadium

www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you this week’s Soccer Shorts, with news from all levels of football here in the Garden of England.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

BROMLEY
www.bromleyfc.net


Wayne Wilson was the latest new face to pull on a Bromley shirt this week when he came off the bench in the London Senior Cup tie at Imber Court.

The former Charlton Athletic Academy midfielder began the current campaign with Basingstoke Town, having played for Thurrock last season.

Two of the current squad are to undergo surgery in the near future as Bromley's injury problems show no sign of improving.

Barry Moore damaged his anterior cruciate ligament playing for AFC Hornchurch recently and will be out for the rest of the season.

Simon Glover's groin injury also requires an operation although it is hoped he will be back before the New Year.

While the team were grinding out a narrow victory over Metropolitan Police, several players were receiving treatment ahead of Bromley's return to league action at the weekend.

Missing from the midweek match were Garath McCleary, who suffered a bruised stomach at the weekend and Francis Duku who aggravated an ankle injury.

Nic McDonnell and Bobby Bowry both dropped to the bench to give Luke I'Anson and Louis Headley some valuable match practice.

Steve Clark missed the Chippenham FA Trophy tie last weekend with a knee problem whilst Simon Osborn (hamstring) continues to make good progress and all of the four injured players are hopeful of being involved on Saturday.

Bromley will not be running a coach to St Albans City for the Blue Square South clash at Clarence Park tomorrow.

The Setanta third round clash - the round before the Blue Square Premier clubs enter - between Bromley and Welling United takes place at Hayes Lane next Tuesday evening.

FISHER ATHLETIC
www.fisherathletic.co.uk

Blue Square South outfit Fisher Athletic have today unveiled the signing of Scott Gooding, 26, from Ryman Premier League side, Tonbridge Angels.

Gooding, who wore the armband for the Angels this season, has signed for the Fish for an “undisclosed fee”

The versatile full-back began his career at Crystal Palace and has also played for Whyteleafe, AFC Hornchurch, Crawley Town and Gravesend & Northfleet, before joining the west Kent club at the beginning of last season.

Fisher Athletic have publicly announced their submitted plans for a £35m stadium to be built on the border of Southwark Park.

The clubs intention is to build on the site currently known as Southwark Park Athletic's Stadium.

Talks with the council and officials are thought to be at an advanced stage and the club hopes to publicly release detailed design drawings within the next two weeks.

The plan to build the borough’s first state-of-the-art 10,000-seat stadium as a home to Fisher Athletic Football Club and as a centre for sports and entertainment, would be completed within three years if it was given the green light.

The stadium would be three storeys high but only one storey above ground level. Car parking would be underground and the storey above would be covered in grass with an open roof, giving the appearance of a sloping hill from a distance.

Examples of this type of build include the bowl at Michigan State University, although the Southwark Stadium would be deeper and not so wide... not so bowl shaped. Or more aptly, similar in landscaped design to the grassed stadium in Dartford Princes Park (although this is one storey and does not go underground).

Stadium option at £35 million Size: 3 storey (one above ground) and 10,000 capacity

Facilities: As well as the 10,000 seat stadium, which Fisher would play in, they would be using a new Astroturf based grass that is being used at Rangers’ and Coventry's grounds, allowing it to be used for youth teams across the borough, schools and colleges.

The facilities would include football for ladies and disabled provision too. A new leisure centre would be incorporated to replace Seven Islands with a 25 metre pool and a state-of the-art gymnasium.

There would also be rugby, cricket (including all weather facilities and practice nets), hockey, tennis, basketball, athletics, boxing and martial arts, plus a range of indoor sports.

Education facilities in the growing area of sports science, sports injury and rehabilitation would be set up in the ground.

There is also the intention to develop entertainment facilities outside sports with a music and dance academy, plus it could be home to a conference centre for the borough.

Finance: A joint initiative between Fisher, developers Stadplex and the council. A proposal to incorporate the facilities of Seven Islands within the new stadium would require Stadplex take ownership of site to fund the new stadium.

Fisher - £4 million from the budget for their current revamp at their old Salter Road stadium.

Southwark Council - £7 million from the sale of Seven Islands.

Developers Stadplex - £24 million of investment and money collected through sponsors, which are likely to include sponsors NIKE, Sports England and Warner Music UK for the music and dance academy facilities at the stadium.

Timescale: 3 years after planning

“The club and the stadium for the community needs to be sustainable,” said Sami Muduroglu, consultant, whose family own Fisher Athletic and Stadplex, the development firm.

And Mr Barry Albin-Dyer, club president, said: “"I live, work and grew up here and I would not want anything that would ruin the park.

“I am not a faceless person from somewhere like Weybridge and I want to hear from everyone who has an opinion on the proposals for the stadium in Southwark Park.

“I also want the best for Fisher and this would give the local community a real chance of a stadium that everyone could use.

“We are not talking gold memberships. Like Seven Island Leisure Centre the prices at the stadium will be affordable for everyone.

“It would also sustain Fisher's future, as it would be part of the bigger picture and allow us to find and push forward local talent.

“That is something that is really lacking at the moment. As part of all of this I'd like to se Southwark Park lido back here or somewhere else in the area, as well as the cricket pavilion.

“But like the running track I want to be able to get onto it and not have to be fenced off - it needs to be open to the public with 24 hour security."

RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE

FOLKESTONE INVICTA
www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk  

Tomorrow's home game against Hendon, is the date for the official launch of the Shepherd Neame back of shirt sponsorship deal.

Martin McCague, former England test and Kent cricketer and two senior executives from Shepherd Neame will be at the ground from 1.30pm for photo/publicity, and be entertained by Folkestone Invicta F.C. throughout the afternoon.

Martin represented Shepherd Neame in the negotiations with Folkestone Invicta, and we would like to thank him for all his hard work in bringing this mutually lucrative deal to a conclusion.

Announcing the deal Martin said: “We have been searching for a while for a club at this level to support, and with the regeneration of Folkestone, believe we have found the right club to back.

“We look forward to a long and developing relationship with Folkestone Invicta Football Club.”

MARGATE
www.margate-fc.com

Margate return to action at Hartsdown Park tomorrow, desperate to avoid three consecutive home Ryman Premier League defeats, to put their play-off push back on track.

Visitors AFC Hornchurch, meanwhile, return to Kent for the second time in four days, after their 2-0 win over Maidstone United at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne.

Margate striker James Pinnock insists that the Thanet side must bounce back following their shaky form, having lost 2-1 at home to Boreham Wood in midweek.

“Hopefully we’ll get three points,” said Pinnock as he looks forward to tomorrow’s clash.

“We need to get three points to make up for Tuesday night, make (it) up to the fans that have come down on a cold night and supported us.

“We owe them one, we owe the manager one, we owe ourselves one.”

RYMAN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH

ASHFORD TOWN
www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Ashford Town boss Steve Lovell is preparing for a busy December, as his side play the first of their six games this month when Walton & Hersham visit the Homelands tomorrow.

“December is notoriously busy with games coming thick and fast so we need a fully fit squad to choose from to get us through it,” said Lovell.

“But with players returning and an upturn in our form, we should go into next year in a decent position.”

Meanwhile, Ashford Town U16's are looking for a manager to take over the running of the team.

The team currently have a caretaker manager who will offer support to the incoming manager if required. The main requirement is commitment and dedication.

The U16's are also looking for new players to strengthen the squad. Anyone interested in either position can contact Vince Shell on 07746993960 or at vinceshll@aol.com. 

DOVER ATHLETIC
www.doverathletic.com  

Dover Athletic player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has been named Gillingham's greatest player by the Professional Footballers' Association.

The PFA is celebrating its 100th anniversary and are producing a range of events to mark the occasion, including a centenary match this weekend.

And they have also named a best player for each club, and in truth it is of little surprise that Hessenthaler was the Gills' number one.

Signed by Tony Pulis for £235,000 in August 1996, Hessenthaler went on to make more than 350 appearances for the club, as well as having a four-year stint as the club's manager between 2000 and 2004.

He is now manager of Whites and admits he is honoured to be given the award.

He said: "If you think about the great players who have played for Gillingham, Steve Bruce to name one, it's no mean achievement and I'm absolutely delighted - it's a great honour.

"Gillingham are my club and they'll always be in my heart and they're the first result I look out for."

Hessenthaler - who eventually left Priestfield in January 2006 to move to Barnet - also believes Mark Stimson is the man to turn the club's fortunes around.

He said: "I know Mark well and he's a nice guy. He's gone in and changed things around and brought in a non-league mentality and I think he’ll do well.

"He's young and ambitious and I think the club needed shaking up. I would love to see him do well."

Dover Athletic play against two clubs from Walton-on-Thames in the next three days, with the Whites travelling to Walton Casuals on Saturday, before Walton & Hersham visit SeaFrance Crabble Stadium on Monday night.

SITTINGBOURNE
www.sittingbournefc.co.uk  

Sittingbourne will be handing two players their debuts when they travel to Cray Wanderers tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Tim Trebes and striker Richard Brady will make their Sittingbourne debuts for the Hayes Lane clash.

Trebes arrives on loan from Blue Square Premier outfit Grays Athletic, whilst 26-year-old Brady has previously played for Queen’s Park Rangers, Northampton Town, Molesey (loan), before spending a season at Fisher Athletic (2003), Eastbourne Borough (2004) and Tonbridge Angels (2005).

KENT LEAGUE

BECKENHAM TOWN
www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

It’s been a mixed week for Beckenham Town, starting with last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Erith Town in the Kent Senior Trophy.

That was followed by a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Hythe Town in the Kent League Cup Group D.

Becks were forced to make seven changes for the game at Hythe on Tuesday. The latest team news for tomorrow's tough local derby against Greenwich Borough is that whilst the majority of the squad return, both Terry Khan and striker Tommy Youle are unavailable and new signing Nick Reeves from Sevenoaks Town took a knock in training on Thursday evening and remains doubtful.

It's a busy time for Becks as on Tuesday night they travel to meet Waltham Forest in the 3rd Round of the London Senior Cup - the winners of that tie will play Ryman League Premier Division Leyton in the next round.

CROYDON
www.croydon-fc.co.uk

Croydon are searching for a physio for the club’s first team as well as a commercial manager.

Interested parties should contact chairman Dickson Gill on 07940 009 917 - please mention that you saw this on www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Meanwhile, the Trams welcome Blue Square Premier club Woking in the second round of the Surrey Senior Cup next Wednesday.

The clash at the Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, kick’s off at 7:45pm, with the winners travelling to either Walton Casuals or Horley Town, who play eachother 24-hours earlier.

Woking, nicknamed the Cards, defeated Kent side Ebbsfleet United in their last game, courtesy of Matt Pattison’s 20^th minute ten-yard strike in front of the Setanta Sports cameras at Kingfield Stadium on Thursday night.

ERITH & BELVEDERE

www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk
Brian Spurrell reflects on the club's thrilling matches.

Well, that was the week that was, eh? If you thought the previous couple of weeks in the Deres’ season had been extraordinary, with a 4-2 win against the league leaders followed by that bizarre piece of refereeing at Lordswood, you hadn’t seen nothing yet!

The last two games have sent me scurrying towards the record books, and let’s just see what significance they had in the Deres’ history.

The 8-1 defeat at Hythe Town last Saturday was:

- Erith & Belvedere’s biggest defeat for 5 years. The last time we suffered an 8-1 hammering was in fact five years ago tomorrow, and in even more embarrassing circumstances at park View Road in an FA Trophy tie against Welling United.

At the time the Deres were going pretty well in the Southern League and Welling were struggling in their league just one level above, so people were saying it was the closest the clubs had been in years - until this result.

The Deres had mitigating circumstances in that we were missing three players who had scored 24 goals between them so far that season, but it was still bad.

- the first time Erith & Belvedere conceded 8 in a league match in 14 years - since 6 March 1993, when they lost 8-0 at Fareham Town.

Manager Harry Richardson told Martin Tarrant afterwards that he’d rather lose one game 8-0 than eight games 1-0. Uncannily, Chris Cosgrove said almost word for word the same thing to me during the week.

The 9-2 Kent League Cup win against Faversham last Tuesday was:

- The Deres biggest margin of victory for 4½ years - since beating Spalding United 7-0 in March 2003.

- The Deres highest score in a match for 26 years - since the famous 10-0 win at Ramsgate on 17 January 1981 which was the Deres biggest post-war win and their all-time record away win.

- the first instance of a Deres player scoring five in one game for 43 years - since another famous occasion, the London Senior Cup tie on 21 November 1964 when all-time record goalscorer Colin Johnson got all five in a 5-2 win over Tooting and Mitcham. Aiden Pursglove is in pretty good company!

- the first time 11 goals have been scored in a Deres game for 51 years. Since the Deres lost 8-3 at Uxbridge on 18 August 1956, surely the most traumatic opening to a season ever!

- the first instance of 20 goals in two consecutive Deres games for 61 years - since the astonishing Easter weekend of 19/20 April 1946 when the club beat Windsor and Eton 8-2 and Maidenhead 9-3 at Park View on consecutive days - Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

That was the weekend the new Social Club bar opened at Park View, and if I had a Tardis and could travel to any moment in the club’s history, I’d like to have been in the bar after those two games.

- and the first instance of a 7-goal margin of defeat followed by a 7-goal margin of victory three days later, well, for just about any club anywhere I should think!

And one other thing to keep a statto’s eye on - that result on Tuesday takes Erith & Belvedere to 56 goals from just 22 games, and they have a chance to rack up 100 club goals in a season for the first time since 1970-71.

The Deres have got 22 league games remaining and at least three more cup ties, so it has to be a possibility!

HYTHE TOWN
www.hythetownfc.co.uk  

Hythe Town secured their qualification from the group stages of the Kent League Cup in midweek with a victory over Beckenham Town at Reachfields Stadium.

The hosts maintained their 100% record in the competition with a 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Michael Smissen, Jason Brazier and the returning Gavin Ransley.

That followed their 8-1 win over Erith & Belvedere in a Kent League fixture last weekend.

The Deres had only lost once in the league all season but Hythe Town turned in a rampant display.

Hythe scored five goals in the last 13 minutes of the game, with Smissen netting four, with other goals coming from Roy Godden, Jason Brazier, and the first goals for the club for Ben Luckham and new signing from Sittingbourne, James Gregory.

SLADE GREEN
www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/ 

Slade Green officials would like the Kent League to revert to abolish the current format of the Kent League Cup.

A crowd of just 40 watched the club’s last group match in the competition - not enough to pay expenses.

A statement issued by the club said: “It is not a case of sour grapes but surely the time has come for the Kent League management committee to se sense and scrap the current Kent League Cup format.

“If ever there was an example of how ludicrous the system is, it was evident (in our last game).

“On a freezing cold night with a handful of spectators present two sides that have already been eliminated from the competition come face to face.

“We still have two meaningless games to play in this group, including a home game with Hythe that will probably see them losing money through lack of interest from the paying public, for example, floodlights, bar staff, refreshments, bar takings.” 

TUNBRIDGE WELLS
www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells have this week unveiled that Joe Croker has been appointed vice-chairman at Culverden Stadium.

“It is our understanding that further additions are imminent and that there are strong foundations for a flourishing future,” said a club statement.

“Joe has retired from a highly successful business career and his expertise, time and commitment is very much welcomed at Culverden Stadium.”