Soccer Shorts: Folkestone fans raise funds for keeper budget

www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you news involving Ashford Town, Sittingbourne, Dartford, Whitstable Town, Ramsgate, Maidstone United, Folkestone Invicta and Dover Athletic, ahead of their Ryman League games tomorrow.

Steve Lovell has pledged to “sort the men from the boys” just days into his tenure as Ashford Town manager, writes Jack Wilson.

Speaking to www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk, after his Thursday night training session, the former Wales international said: “I’ve settled in very nicely but I think it will take a bit longer to sort everything out, sort the men from the boys, find out who I need to keep and hopefully it will be most of them.

"There’s only been one game and it’s hard to pass judgement on any of the players individually.

“On Tuesday they didn’t play particularly well and I thought they weren’t very organised as a team which surprises me, but the commitment and the effort is there and that’s a big plus when you take over a club.

“I’ve had a couple of training sessions now which I find very important as I need to get my ideas over to the players and give them a chance.

“Most of my work is done on the training ground and I enjoy trying to get teams to play as I want them to, and this is something me and Rob (Udberg) will work at. We will keep working on it until we’ve got it right.”

Lovell did acknowledge that a change in manager takes time to adjust to though, and does not expect too much too soon.

He said: “When someone new comes in it’s hard for the players to straight away turn the tap on so to speak, and play the way that I want to play.

“There will be a lot of graft on the training ground but that’s where I do my work. It’s my job to assess them and put my own stamp on their way of playing.”

Ashford Town fans expect the side to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Chipstead on Tuesday night - Lovell’s first game in charge following his shock move from Ryman League Division One South rivals’ Sittingbourne.

“I like to get the ball down and I like to pass it, but the main thing is getting the players to play to their strengths,” said the 47-year-old.

“There’s some good players at the club but I think before they’ve been playing in positions that perhaps don’t suit them, and don’t suit their ability.

“This is one thing I’ll be looking at, and I’ll be seeing what players’ best positions are and we’ll see what they can do.”

And after suffering a loss in his first game in charge, Lovell doesn’t expect things to ease up as they take on Croydon Athletic on Saturday.

“Croydon are quite a good, young footballing side. They like to play football and it will be a tough test for us.

“In this league everybody can beat everybody and it’s quite open so I think it’s just a matter of going there and putting our authority on the game and hopefully be a little bit more organised than we were on Tuesday.”

And it looks as though the Welshman’s cause may be helped by the possible return of three of the club’s senior players.

“I think Spills [Lee Spiller] has got a bit of a chance of playing, Anthony Browne has got a chance of playing and Ports [Graham Porter] has got a chance of playing,” Lovell revealed.

“They’ve all trained tonight in quite heavy conditions and it will be how they react to the training and how they are on Saturday.

“If they’re fit great and if they’re not then I’ll have to pick the team from the boys that I’ve got.”

Meanwhile, Lovell’s former club Sittingbourne, are without five players for their trip to Surrey to play Walton & Hersham, writes Stephen McCartney.

But confidence is high as the Bourne Park outfit look to win their first game under the caretaker leadership of Lee Richmond, Anthony Hogg and Joe Dowley.

Hogg and Dowley join Lee Hockey, Anthony Allman, Trastan Knowles and Steve Hafner on the sidelines for the Stompond Lane clash.

The Brickies, who have had nineteen applications for the first team managers job, are expected to name Lovell’s predecessor by the time that league leaders Tooting & Mitcham United visit Bourne Park next weekend.

Meanwhile, Ryman Premier League side Hastings United have confirmed that they’ve put in an official seven-day approach for winger Mitchell Sherwood.

And Hastings United boss Nigel Kane has explained the reasons behind skipper and defender Sean Ray’s departure from Elphinstone Road.

Speaking to the club website - www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk, former Beckenham Town player Kane said: “Sean played a big part in our success last season, but has not displayed the same leadership or organisational skills on the pitch this season.

“However, I did not state at any time that he had not been loyal to the club", refuting an allegation posted on the club's unofficial forum and attributed to Sean himself.

Kane added: "I have made this decision in the best interests of the club and I feel that Sean will also benefit from a fresh challenge.

“There is no doubt that Sean still has ability, but I feel that the team will function better without him.

“I told Sean that I still felt he was a good player, but that he could be a better player if he gave 100% in training and was prepared to listen and adapt his game.

“Hopefully, he will take my comments on board and learn from them. If he does, I am sure that he will flourish at his next club."

Dartford celebrate their first anniversary at Princes Park tomorrow - and parade their new signing.

Phil Williams, 21, rated as one of the best players outside Kent, has signed for the Ryman League Division One North club, from Dulwich Hamlet.

The fast and exciting Jamaican born forward has plenty of natural ability and is never afraid to take on defenders, and has also netted some marvellous individual goals since arriving at Champion Hill after signing from Molesey during the summer of 2005.

“Phil can play on either wing or up front and has pace to burn, which I feel will be a major plus for the squad,” explained Darts boss Tony Burman, when speaking to www.dartfordfc.co.uk.

Versatile player Eddie McClements (calf), who was forced off at half-time in midweek, is doubtful to feature against Waltham Abbey at Princes Park tomorrow.

John Guest (illness) should be fit to take part in the club’s first anniversary party, and Richard Avery and Mark Greenie are fighting their way back to fitness.

And like 12 months ago, when Horsham YMCA were beaten 4-2 in the first game at Princes Park, Burman wants another landmark win tomorrow.

He added: “I hope fans have a very enjoyable day tomorrow, another landmark in the club’s history - and we will do our best to put the icing on the cake.”

Whitstable Town boss Marc Seager is looking for consistency when Dulwich Hamlet visit The Belmont tomorrow.

Croydon Athletic were beaten 4-2 last Tuesday, and Seager is looking for a repeat performance against the south Londoners.

Dulwich Hamlet have lost Phil Williams, 21, to Ryman League Division One North club Dartford in the build-up to the Belmont Road clash.

“After the game I know that I singled out a couple of players and praised Michael Adcock and Steven Lloyd, but in all honesty I could have named the whole squad from front to back, I thought they were all outstanding,” Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk this week.

“It was a game purely won on the basis of teamwork and that’s what I am looking for the rest of the season.

“From now on that is the benchmark I will be looking for; more teamwork, more consistency from the players in all areas over a number of games.

“Not just the odd game here and there, we have good players at the club, good young players coming through the ranks and if they are good enough they will get their chance and that keeps everyone on their toes.

“Look we are holding our own in the Ryman, if you like mixing it with the ‘big boys’ certainly if you talk in terms of budgets then we are with the big boys.

“No disrespect to the Kent League, it’s a great league and well run but we have had to raise our standards both on and off the pitch to compete at this level.

“I knew it was going to be a learning curve so did the club, we have all had to raise our standards, but that’s good because the only way to get better is be building on what you have achieved; then aiming higher.

“If you look at some of the grounds we go to now and the amenities they have, Met Police, Dover, Ashford the list goes on, that’s what’s driving this club and me forward, we are all working hard to improve Whitstable Town.”

It is with deep regret that we learned tonight that Bob Harrrop has passed away. Our thoughts go to his wife, son Mark, and all his family.

As many will know, the Manchester-born defender joined United when he left school at 15 and made his first team debut after the Munich air disaster in 1958, going on to play 11 1st team games as a 'Busby Babe' before being transferred to Tranmere Rovers.

He joined Margate in 1961 and made over 500 appearances before he left in 1969, which he increased to an all-time club record of 567 when he returned for the 1977/78 season.

In 1978 he joined Ramsgate, playing a few games for the first team as well as being player/manager of the reserves. He took over as first team manager in 1979/80 but resigned at the end of the season.

A statement issued by Ramsgate said: “In recent years Bob has become one of the most respected referees in the area, and indeed was refereeing last weekend. A local legend who will be greatly missed.”

Meanwhile, Ramsgate travel to Hertfordshire to play Boreham Wood tomorrow, ending their ten-day break.

Owing to the closure of the Thanet Way, the coach will be travelling via Dover, which means it will be leaving at 10am.

Maidstone United will give fitness tests to Mario McNish and Errison Ahwan prior to their Kent derby against Folkestone Invicta at Bourne Park.

The Stones who will welcome Canvey Island in the FA Trophy at the end of this month following their 5-3 second qualifying round replay win over Abingdon United in midweek, also welcome back Craig Roser (from honeymoon) and Andy Martin (suspension).

Ben Lewis, Jimmy Strouts and Lyndon Rowland are all injured, whilst Lee Shearer sits out the derby due to suspension.

Meanwhile, Folkestone Invicta supporters have raised funds for Neil Cugley to splash on his goalkeeping budget.

Following the midweek Supporters’ Club meeting at Stripes, Paul Sly was thanked for all his effort in running the “Pay for a Player” scheme for the Ryman Premier League club.

A statement issued by Invicta’s Supporters’ Club, said: “The new idea was working well with £70 a week being given to the manager for help with the playing budget. The monies had gone into the goalkeeping budget.”

Meanwhile, Dover Athletic have released full-back Ryan Andrews earlier in the week.

Former Ashford Town defender Andrews hasn’t seen first team action since Matt Fish returned from injury a month ago.

Andrews, who can play as a left or right back, has had his appearances for the Whites limited, due to having Fish, Sam Gore and James Rogers ahead of him in the pecking order. 

Meanwhie, the Ryman League Division One South club are aiming to raise a total of £150,000 for a new clubhouse at their Sea France Crabble Stadium base.

So far a total of £1,309 has been raised for the building.


Please visit club websites:

www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

www.dartfordfc.co.uk

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.doverathletic.com