Soccer Shorts: Keith Piper stands down as Margate's chief executive

Friday 02nd July 2010

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The Football Association confirmed today that Fabio Capello will continue as England team manager.

This followed a meeting of the Club England Board (Sir Dave Richards, Alex Horne, Sir Trevor Brooking and Adrian Bevington) and formal approval by The FA main Board.

The Club England Board considered all aspects of England’s performance and operations at the FIFA World Cup, and it was unanimously agreed that Fabio is the best man to continue managing the England team.

Club England Chairman Sir Dave Richards told www.thefa.com: “We are all still extremely disappointed at our performance in South Africa, and we believed it was important that we took some time to reflect on everything in a calm and considered manner back in England. After fully discussing our performance we remain convinced that Fabio is the best man for the job.

“He went into the World Cup with a reputation as one of World football’s finest managers and we are confident Fabio will benefit from his first international tournament experience and this will undoubtedly make us all stronger for the Euro 2012 campaign.”

FA Board Acting Chairman Roger Burden commented: “The FA Board supports this decision. It is the right decision and will allow us now to rebuild for the future with Fabio leading us forward.”

Capello, who picks up a reported £6m per year, also told www.thefa.com: "I am more determined than ever to succeed with the England team.

"Sir Dave Richards has called me to tell me everyone at The FA wants me to continue. I explained it is very important we use the disappointment as a motivation in the future.

"I can assure the fans I am now fully focused on our European qualifying fixtures, starting with the friendly against Hungary in August.

"We will look to introduce new players to give the team new energy and I will use all my experience to take England forward.

"I am extremely proud to be the England manager, it means so much to me and I am determined to succeed."

FORMER Gravesend & Northfleet defender Roy Hodgson was yesterday appointed the 18th manager of 18-times League winners and five times European champions Liverpool.

The 62-year-old Croydon-born Hodgson played for Crystal Palace but struggled to break into the first team and dropped into Kent football, first with Tonbridge and then with the Fleet under Alf Ackerman in 1969.

His arrival, aged 22, at Stonebridge Road coincided with an upturn in the club's fortunes and they were promoted in third place from the Southern League First Division in his final season.

After exiting Stonebridge Road in 1971 - having played 53 (+6) and scored once - Hodgson moved to Maidstone United, where he was assistant manager, before leaving for Sweden in 1976 where he began his managerial career at Halmstad.

He had a brief spell at the helm of Bristol City before a successful time leading Malmo to the Swedish cup and championship several times.

He enjoyed European wins over Celtic and Real Madrid while boss of Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax before leading their national side to the 1994 World Cup. He guided them to Euro 96 before taking the reins at Inter Milan and later Blackburn Rovers, Grasshoppers, Copenhagen, Udinese, UAE, Viking Norway and Finland before saving Fulham from relegation and later guiding them to the UEFA Cup Final. He was voted LMA Manager of the Year last season.

When recalling his time at the Fleet some years back, Hodgson told the club website www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: "I remember my two less-than-glorious years at Stonebridge Road warmly. As a young player I learnt a lot about football whilst there - the characters I played with and my geography improved as we played in a number of locations I never knew even existed.

"Our training nights in cold, damp evenings helped forge my future ideas. I have accumulated a fund of memories from my spell at Stonebridge Road and I salute the men I played and trained with during this spell."

Meanwhile, another old Fleet boy could also be mixing it with former European champions as Jimmy Bullard is mulling over a season-long loan move to Celtic from Hull City.

KEITH PIPER has announced that he is to step down as chief executive of Margate Football Club Limited.

Making his announcement at the Annual General Meeting held at Hartsdown Park on Wednesday evening, Mr Piper told shareholders that he was stepping down to concentrate on the stadium development project.

With planning approval for the full size synthetic football pitch granted by the local authority and positive news about the North Stand development expected over the coming weeks, Keith has opted to focus his efforts here.

He thanked his family, fellow directors and development partner Gary Lever for their support in clearing the club’s debt; a significant achievement.

A club statement, issued on it’s website www.margate-fc.com said: “Margate Football Club’s ultimate ambition is to return to the Football Conference and Keith believes that the financial situation provides an opportunity for the club to make real progress towards that objective.

“With other commercial and community initiatives in development and underway, he also believes that the club represents a real opportunity for new investors.

“Keith will remain on the board of directors until the redevelopment has been completed before standing down completely.”

A further announcement about the chief executive role will be made by the Ryman Premier League club in due course.

Margate Academy director Phil Fennell has announced the signing of 16 year old Courtney Robinson, brother of Margate’s Curtis.

Courtney, who was with Ramsgate last season, is described as “a fantastic prospect for the future.”

The big, strong centre back is a player who likes to play is football from defence (a bit of a Rio Ferdinand) and is just the kind of player Margate are looking at for the future.

Commenting on the signing, Phil Fennell told www.margate-fc.com: “We are hoping that Courtney will prove to be one of many quality players at the Academy before the season starts.”

On his role with the Margate Academy, Fennell added: “I am looking forward to my new role as Academy Director.

“I have worked across many sports in my 16 years as a sports coach; on developing players, athletes and professional attitudes. I know this is going to be a long process and that is why we have put together a three year plan to develop our youth policy.”

FOLKESTONE INVICTA have announced entrance and season ticket prices, for their return to the Ryman Premier League.

Club spokesman Jim Pellatt told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “The Board has given careful thought to establishing admission prices balancing maintaining and increasing our loyal support against the increased cost of Ryman Premier Lleague football, and ensuring the future financial stability of the club.”

Admission Prices:

£9 (ground admission), £5 (seniors), £2 (younger supporters aged 5-16). Under 5’s are admitted free.

Season Tickets:

Ordered and paid for before 1 August 2010: £150

Ordered and paid for after 1 August 2010: £165

Seniors (age 60 and over) ordered and paid for before 1 August 2010: £80

Seniors (age 60 and over) ordered and paid for after 1 August 2010: £80

Juniors (5-16): £40

MAIDSTONE UNITED are launching a football academy from September – the first of its kind in mid Kent.

This is an exciting opportunity for footballers to continue in full time education, after completing their GCSEs, and combine it with the sport they love.

Anyone interested in a place at the Maidstone United Football Academy must have played at District League level or above, and display all the necessary attributes to improve further. Applicants must be aged 16 or 17 years old as at 31 August 2010.

Places are limited and will be allocated following open trials and interviews. These take place at Cobdown Sports and Social Club, near Maidstone, on Monday 5 July, Friday 9 July, Monday 12 July and Friday 16 July. All sessions start at 6:30pm and end at 8:30pm.

References from suitable people (PE teachers, club/district/county football managers etc.) are welcomed.

This programme is a partnership between Maidstone United FC and SR Education. SR Education is a private national training provider with wide ranging experience of operating Sports Apprenticeship programmes with high profile sports organisations.

For further information contact Helen Wellings at SR Education on 01949 20976 or email academy@maidstoneunited.co.uk

ERITH & BELVEDERE under 18 manager Wayne Baldacchino is pleased to announce that the following youth team players have signed for their second season with the Deres to play in the Kent Youth League Central Division.

Jack Moore, Sam Noller, Mattie Reilly, Anthony Hickey, Jamie Blunden, Tom Bassett, Jay Hedges, Teddy Datson and Ben Bickford have all put pen to paper for the season ahead.

In addition to this and following three trial sessions, five more players will sign next week for the club.

For more details on trials for the Under 18 squad, please call Wayne Baldacchino on 07719 712151.

MARTIN COLLINS has called time on his career at Kent League side Herne Bay.

The coach has been promoted at work which means he will be unable to get to many games or training sessions in future so he is calling it a day.

Collins has been part of Herne Bay for longer than anyone can remember. He played for the first team and apart from a brief sojourn away, spent his entire playing time at Winch’s Field.

He became involved in the management team with Jason Lillis, continued with Barry Morgan and became the number two with Simon Halsey.

Halsey told www.hernebayfc.net: “He will definitely be missed but we all wish him well. I'm sure he will be keeping in touch as he is always part of Herne Bay Football Club.

Halsey now embarks on his search for a replacement. Anyone interested should contact the club via the website contact page.

HOLMESDALE have confirmed that Dave Steers and Steven O’Rourke have been appointed as joint reserve team managers for the new season.