Soccer Shorts: Jamie Kempster returns to Cray Wanderers

Tuesday 02nd July 2013

Click here for some summer transfer news.

CRAY WANDERERS have confirmed that manager Ian Jenkins has re-signed striker Tommy Whitnell, 24, following a season at their Ryman Premier League rivals Margate, where he scored 11 goals in 41 appearances at Hartsdown Park.

The club have also confirmed that goalkeeper Andy Walker, defender and club captain Mark Willy, the versatile Aaron Day, midfielder Alex Stavrinou and striker Leigh Bremner have also re-signed.

Midfielder Jamie Kempster has also made a return to the club after a spell out of the game.

The Wands report back for pre-season training on Thursday evening.

DARTFORD’S summer signing from Dover Athletic, Tyrone Sterling, featured in the second half of Dagenham & Redbridge’s 4-0 win at Whitstable Town at the weekend. The versatile former Thamesmead Town and Cray Wanderers player wasn’t listed on the official team-sheet handed to the press, but still played a part in the League Two side’s win over Nicky Southall’s side.

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Steve Brown has made his 12^th and 13^th signings of the summer.

The Conference South club have unveiled the arrival of full-back Osei Sankofa, 28, from Hayes & Yeading United.

Sankofa represented England at every level from under 16 to under 20 and played Premiership football for Charlton Athletic, where his professional debut came at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

Having broken into the Charlton first-team in 2002, Osei gained further League experience in loan spells at Bristol City and Brentford, while clocking up a further 14 Premiership appearances for the Addicks. H

He was released in the summer of 2008 and snapped up by Southend United, playing more than 40 times for the Roots Hall side in two seasons.

A spell at Farnborough followed, where he played twice against the Fleet including in the play-off final, before further moves to Boreham Wood, Eastleigh and Hayes & Yeading.

The defender, while primarily operating as a right back, is something of a utility player who can slot in anywhere across the back four.

He told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: “I am very pleased to be joining Ebbsfleet United at this exciting time. Looking at the players signed already I am sure the style of football that we will play will be both exciting and attractive.

“When the plans regarding the future of the club were explained to me I could not wait to sign, it was an offer I simply could not refuse.

“I am really looking forward to getting involved in pre-season training sessions and working with the other members of the squad and the management team.”

Central midfielder Michael Corcoran, 25, has also agreed terms at Stonebridge Road.

The dynamic former Northern Irish Under-21 international – who can also play across the back four – joins after a season with Conference North play-off finalists Brackley Town; he also played for Leamington in that time having signed dual forms.

Corcoran began his career at Cardiff City, progressing via their youth system, before a loan move to Oxford United that became permanent in summer 2007. He played mainly in defence at the Kassam Stadium, making 30 appearances, before moving to Rushden & Diamonds in February 2008. He was a regular in the Diamonds midfield at Conference Premier level, clocking up more than 100 games in a three-year spell until a move to Dover followed in the summer of 2011.

Corcoran also told the club website: “I am looking forward to teaming up with Steve Brown again. He is an excellent coach and I really enjoyed working with him previously. I have been impressed by his ambition and the club’s and I can’t wait for the season to start.”

ERITH & BELVEDERE have unveiled the signing of midfielder Tayler Thomas, 23, from Dulwich Hamlet.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley has appointed former Canterbury City manager Simon Austin as his new player-assistant manager.

Austin, whose winning goal shot the club back into the Ryman Premier League after beating Godalming Town in the 2010 play-off final, is returning to Cheriton Road.

Austin scored some cracking goals in two previous spells for Folkestone Invicta before leaving just over a year ago, first to play for then newly-promoted Herne Bay, before switching to take his first steps into management with Kent League side Canterbury City.

Austin replaces midfielder Darren Smith, 35, who has signed for league rivals Leatherhead.

Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “He’s a good lad and I needed to being someone else in.

“Simon was very popular with the supporters and gets on particularly well with the younger players.

“He wants to get more into management eventually. If we can help him do that then great, but in the meantime I’m confident he will do a very good job for us here.”

Austin took Folkestone’s first pre-season training session at the weekend and will sign playing forms for the club once more.

Cugley said: “It would be silly not to have him available to play when we need him.

“He also has plenty of contacts and knows a lot of players in and around the county.”

Roland Edge, meanwhile, will miss the start of the new season because he is getting married next month.

HERNE BAY manager Sam Denly has made a couple more new signings.

Striker Jamie O’Connell, 20, who has previously played for Notts County, Sutton United and Gillingham, has arrived at Winch’s Field.

O’Connell signed a two-year contract with Notts County in July 2009 and played under former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

He left Notts County in 2011 and signed for Conference side Sutton United in 2012.

Central defender, Joe Kennett, has re-signed for the club after a spell with their Ryman League Division One South rivals Ramsgate.

Denly told www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay: “Joe is a quality central defender who is comfortable on the ball and who had a very good season at Ramsgate last year so I am delighted he has joined us".

Kennett was the former captain at Canterbury City and had two previous spells at the Bay.

MERSTHAM manager Hayden Bird has gone to his former club Bromley to snap up defender Liam Harwood and midfielder Aaron Rhule, who were both not retained by Bromley manager Mark Goldberg.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS have confirmed that former academy striker Luke Blewden, 21, has returned to the club after gaining valuable first team experience at both Folkestone Invicta and Crawley Down Gatwick.