Soccer Shorts: Folkestone to make announcement concerning their future - tomorrow

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FOLKESTONE INVICTA consultant Mark Jenner says the troubled Ryman League Division One South club will make an announcement tomorrow, concerning the club’s future.

“Following yesterday’s meeting with HMRC there is a board meeting arranged for this evening at which the outcome of the meeting will be presented and the options arising there from will be discussed,” Mr Jenner told the fans’ forum at www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“I would hope to have an announcement drafted by tomorrow to explain the latest position.”

Invicta welcome Kent rivals, Whitstable Town to Cheriton Road tomorrow, and the former Ashford Town chairman, added, “Everybody who cares about the club should be there. Come and enjoy the game.”

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish has today drafted in two players to bolster his squad.

Derek Duncan, 21, and Leon Crooks, 23, have arrived at Stonebridge Road from League Two leaders, Wycome Wanderers.

Duncan is comfortable in left-sided positions at the back or in midfield. He was born in Newham, east London and began his career at Leyton Orient, where he made over 20 appearances, before joining Grays Athletic in 2007.

He moved on to Adams Park and will now join the Fleet until the end of the season.

Crooks, meanwhile, has signed initially on a month’s loan. The six foot two Greenwich-born player, joined Wycombe in January 2007 after also playing for MK Dons. He has been handed the vacant number 4 shirt at Stonebridge Road.

Meanwhile, defender Peter Hawkins, two games short of his 100^th match for the Fleet, has joined Ryman Premier League side, Maidstone United, and will make his debut at the heart of defence at Tonbridge Angels tomorrow.

Daish, without a win in five league games, urges his side to beat Rushden & Diamonds at Stonebridge Road tomorrow.

“We have to take confidence and it does give us a base to build on,” Daish told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk, following his side’s 2-1 midweek win over Stalybridge Celtic in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy.

“But the focus is concentrating on the league - we are all still fighting for the same cause.”

FISHER ATHLETIC, who welcome Newport County to Champion Hill, East Dulwich tomorrow, have been lifted ahead of the match against Dean Holdsworth’s side.

A statement issued on their website, www.fisherathletic.co.uk, revealed some good news for the south London outfit, who still can’t afford to pay their players.

“The FA lifting the transfer embargo has given everyone at the club a timely boost,” said the club statement.

“Manager Dave Mehmet and chairman Martin Eede have been busy strengthening the squad and the Fish could have as many as half a dozen new faces in Saturday’s squad.”

Fisher chairman, Martin Eede, meanwhile, urges everybody at the club to remain upbeat as they bid to stave off relegation back to the Ryman Premier League.

“We have absolutely no intention of accepting any demotion whatsoever,” Mr Eede told www.fisherathletic.co.uk.

“We’re in this to the bitter end and will fight all the way.

“I’ve had a chat with Dave Mehmet and the manager remains 100% committed to the cause. In fact, the squad are in bullish mood and are looking forward to the remainder of the season.

“There are a lot of points still to be played for and we’ve got a run of games now against teams in and around mid table and the lower regions.”

And speaking about the club’s current financial plight, Mr Eede, added, “To be frank, I’m a little upset with all the negativity being spread around the club. It doesn’t do any of us any favours.

“We’re very much in a relegation dogfight and we need our supporters to stay with us. We’ve been busy trying to strengthen the squad and we should have one or two further signings on board in time for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that the admission prices for next Monday’s home tie in the quarter-finals of the London Senior Cup against Ryman Premier League side, Harrow Borough, will be at their usual prices for Blue Square South games.

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman is relishing tomorrow’s home game against second-placed side Staines Town.

All Ryman League games last weekend were frozen off and Burman, speaking to www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk today, is looking forward to getting back into the groove at Princes Park against the high-flying Swans.

“The start of the new year has been very frustrating time, especially after finishing the old year on such a high,” said Burman.

“The postponements do bring their problems in more ways than one and we do have three players out suspended for the game - a blow I can do without.

“We know that Staines are a very good side, but we’re not a bad side ourselves. Whatever team we put out I want them to make it very tough for our opponents.”

Brendon Cass, Danny Dafter, James White and Jamie Coyle are available for selection.

The quartet all played in a midweek reserve game against neighbouring side VCD Athletic, and Burman added, “I felt it served its purpose in getting ninety minutes under their belts in preparation for the game tomorrow.

“In particular I was very pleased with Brendon’s performance and efforts during the game and with a little more vision from some players around him, his runs could have been picked out a lot better.”

Cass, golden boot winner in Ryman One North last term, has lost his first team starting place this term, due to Rob Haworth and Cody McDonald striking up a brilliant partnership, but McDonald is expected to sit out tomorrow, through suspension.

TWO KENT schoolboy footballers, who play for Ryman League clubs, have received the news that they have been selected for this season’s under 18 England Schools’ squad.

Michael Scott, who plays for Chatham Town, and attends Maplesden Noakes School, Maidstone, and Rob Carter, who plays for Maidstone United, and attends Kemnal Technology College, Sidcup, came though an extensive series of trials at Lilleshall National Sports Centre to maintain the excellent record of the Kent School’s Football Association in providing players for the England squad.

Last season, three Kent players gained international recognition, including Chatham-based youngster Chris Smalling who, as a result of his performances for England Schools, was offered a professional contract by Premiership Fulham and is now on the verge of making his first-team debut, having signed from Maidstone United last season.

The England squad will be training at Villareal during the February half-term, and will then have Centenary Shield matches against Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, prior to completing their programme against France at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 13th June.

John Coles, the long-serving manager of Kent Schools Under 18 squad, said "This is a real honour for Michael and Rob and for everyone involved in schools' football in Kent. We have an excellent record at this level of providing players for England, and it demonstrates the importance of youngsters staying on at school to get qualifications and at the same time having opportunities to play football at a high level.

Chatham Town boss, Steve Binks, meanwhile, is proud that one of his players, who has first team experience, has been called up.

“Michael was told on Tuesday that he has been selected for the final squad of eighteen,” Binks, who takes his side to East Thurrock United tomorrow, told www.chathamtownfc.net.

“This is a fantastic achievement for Michael, considering that he is still eligible for this age group next year and it only two players of his age to make this years squad, which is also a very rare achievement.

“In the coming weeks he has a Kent Schools quarter-final cup match to be followed by another weekend in Lilleshall when he will be presented with his England equipment.

“I also believe that he has a soccer camp in Valencia to look forward to and a match at Wembley on Saturday, 6^th June.

“We have briefly discussed the possibility of hiring a mini-bus or coach to make a great day out to give him our support.

“Michael has been a real credit to himself, his family and the club and I would like to personally wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

LORDSWOOD boss Kevin Metcalf has warned his upbeat squad not to expect Holmesdale to feel sorry for themselves when the Bromley side visit North Dane Way tomorrow.

Lords may be second-from-bottom in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table, but Metcalf has got the Medway side playing well and the former Tunbridge Wells boss is confident that his side will start climbing the table during the second part of the season.

Although Holmesdale arrive in second place, they are still reeling over the shock resignation of Tony Beckingham in midweek, although other boss Keith Thurgood, club coach Billy Hughes and goalkeeping coach Tony Prime, have stayed.

Beckingham, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Thursday night, revealed he resigned as the club didn’t match his own aspirations of clinching promotion into the Ryman League.

But Metcalf, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, is looking forward to the game and a bright end to the season.

“Very tough game, although Holmesdale lost their manager, they will set up professionally,” he said.

“But this is the first time we have all of our rebuild squad available, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Metcalf, who revealed he had 35 first and reserve team players at training last Monday, added: “I think it’ll be quite a game.”

GREENWICH BOROUGH boss Steve Firkins is looking forward to getting back to competitive action tomorrow.

The Boro’ boss takes his side to Faversham Town on Saturday, desperate to return to action, despite a 3-1 friendly home win over troubled Blue Square South neighbours, Fisher Athletic, on Tuesday night.

The Kent League side won the game, courtesy of a brace from Danny Hunt and Jason Mabbs.

“We are looking forward to Saturday’s game against Faversham, especially after missing the last two games down to the bad weather,” Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Eighth-placed Boro’ travel to Salters Lane to play a Faversham Town outfit that are in fourth place in the table on 31 points - ten points behind leaders Hythe Town.

And Firkins revealed: “Team wise we have a couple coming back from injury, although one of them will not feature this week due to the seriousness of his injury.

“We managed to have a midweek friendly against a Fisher Athletic side, made up of trailists and a few first teamers.

“It definitely came in handy for both clubs in regards to players’ sharpness in our case and an opportunity for Fisher to have a look at a few players in a competitive game.”

ERITH TOWN boss Steve O’Boyle has Ted Hart and Alan Matthews missing for the visit of Kent League leaders Hythe Town at Bayliss Avenue tomorrow - but Lee Morgan returns having missed the midweek Cup tie cup-tied.

“Hythe are top and have some good players,” O’Boyle told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “We are going to have to be at our best and work hard to get a result.

“But we are on a good run at the moment, so there is no reason why we can’t get a result.”