Soccer Shorts: Lordswood put in surprise bid to land much-travelled Dimmock

Friday 27th November 2009

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Former Tonbridge footballer Neil Emblen says quitting the game in England and moving to coach in New Zealand has been the best decision he has ever made.

The 38-year-old began with Tonbridge and also played for Millwall, Wolves, Crystal Palace, Norwich and Walsall.

Emblen left to play in New Zealand in 2005 and now coaches Waitakere United.

"We qualified for the Fifa club world cup, which was a great experience," he told BBC Radio Kent. "I would never have got anywhere near that in the UK."

He added: "We went there at the same time as Manchester United last year, after they won the Champions League in Europe and we won our Oceania Champions League.

The All Blacks are the most talked about thing in New Zealand and the All Whites for a change are getting all the back pages

"We're a part-time outfit so it's pretty much the same as non-league in the English game. We train two or three times a week and a lot of the fixtures here are on a Sunday.

"They have been some real memorable moments for me. It's something I've not regretted doing. I've really enjoyed myself here so far."

Football fever is currently sweeping New Zealand, after the national side qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1982.

And Emblen says football is now receiving almost as much media coverage as the nation's favourite sport - rugby union.

"They hadn't qualified for 28 years so it was a very long time waiting.

"The All Blacks are the most talked about thing in New Zealand and the All Whites for a change are getting all the back pages and the front pages, which is nice to see as football is definitely the poor relation in this country."

DOVER ATHLETIC can close the gap on Blue Square leaders Newport to five points with a win over Thurrock this weekend.

Dover ended a run of four straight home defeats by beating Dartford in the FA Trophy last week and manager Andy Hessenthaler hopes that was the turning point of their season.

He told BBC Radio Kent: "That last half an hour epitomised us, it was a good performance but it's back to the league.

"We know what they are about, good pace in the right areas. We need to get our league performance back on track.

"They've got a group of players working together and they have got a bit of momentum. You wouldn't have thought of them to be up there but all credit to their manager and their players, they've done a good job."

Hessenthaler confirmed that he is trying to extend the loan spell of defender Tom Wynter from Gillingham. Wynter has missed the last two games through injury.

He said: "He has a chance for this weekend and it would be the last game but I have spoken to them and there is a possibility we might have Tom for a longer deal."

Dover have also sent defender Yado Mambo, who was sent off on his debut against Dartford, back to Charlton after just one game on work experience.

"It was only on a game by game basis. He did well for the time he was on, he is inexperienced and you could see that. He has a bright future but at the moment we have players back in defensive areas.

"I wouldn't say it has ended, I think Phil Parkinson and Damien Matthew at Charlton are always looking to get them out to get some games but the option is open to us."

WELLING UNITED are looking to make it six straight wins when they visit Basingstoke in Blue Square South. New manager Jamie Day has added midfielder Sam Cutler and defender Jack Obersteller to his squad, who both arrive from Blue Square Premier side Grays Athletic.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA will go outright top of Ryman South if they better Worthing's result. Folkestone host Burgess Hill Town at Cheriton Road but their manager Neil Cugley is still wary about getting carried away.

He told BBC Radio Kent: "If we are there at the end of the year then great, but we are not going to go out and sign loads of players. Only a few months ago we didn't know we would still be in existence."

"We've only got eleven or twelve players, we nearly had a problem during the week. That is what would cost us if we get injuries or illnesses.

"We have put the same team out seven games in a row so we have been lucky.

"Burgess Hill are on a bit of a run. They didn't start very well, I thought they would make the play offs, and they are starting to come through now. It's one of those games I would be very pleased to win."

Two of Kent's struggling teams meet when Whitstable Town face Ashford. Whitstable, who are bottom of Ryman South, won for the first time in 15 games on Tuesday night. Ashford are only two places above them.

THAMESMEAD TOWN can go second in Ryman North if they beat Northwood. Their manager Keith McMahon, also speaking to BBC Radio Kent said: "We've assembled a really good side, we play some really good football. We're in a position we deserve to be in and there is no reason why we shouldn't be in the top five or six."

EBBSFLEET UNITED chairman Duncan Holt insists he is not considering sacking manager Liam Daish, even though the club remains deep in relegation trouble.

The 3-0 defeat by AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday was their seventh in a row and leaves them second bottom of the Blue Square Premier table on nine points.

"We made that bed for Liam in terms of the start he had this season with the budget cut," Holt told BBC Radio Kent.

"It's certainly a long way away before we have that conversation I think."

Having not scored a goal in more than 12 hours of play, Holt says the club's main priority was to bring in a new striker - but efforts to do this failed before the end of today’s loan window closing.

"It wouldn't cure all our issues but it would certainly make it a lot brighter," Holt said.

"We've had the money to get a striker in for the last two weeks but the issue we've also had is we're struggling to get what we want.

"What we don't need is a reserve-team striker from a league club, what we need is an experienced striker and we're really struggling to get that.

"We're at the mercy of other clubs in terms of the three players we're looking at. We need other things to work for us to get those players in.

"The league clubs need to work to get them away. They've got to do their deals to get people in that they want to get in, and then we can have one of their strikers."

In spite of being knocked back in his attempts to draft in an experienced forward during the loan window, Fleet boss Liam Daish has recruited young Charlton Athletic prospect Alexander Stavrinou on loan.

Daish worked up until yesterday’s 5.00pm deadline to sign the players he had targeted, but it was 19-year-old Stavrinou, born in Harlow but a Cyprus Under 17 international, who agreed to move to Stonebridge Road.

Midfielder Scott Shulton - who joined the club in the summer from Wycombe Wanderers - has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Shulton, who has been on loan at Bishops Stortford, had now joined the Blue Square South club on a permanent basis.

MAIDSTONE UNITED has received 'Deaf Friendly Football Club - Project' award at the Deaf Friendly Football Club (DFFC) conference which was held at Anfield, home of Liverpool FC.

The award was presented to John Harvey and Tyke Harvey by Pompey legend Alan Knight MBE who praised them for their fantastic work in helping set up deaf football in Maidstone.

The conference celebrated the success of the DFFC project and recognised the achievements of clubs and individuals who had made exceptional contributions to this groundbreaking initiative.

Set up by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) in 2007 to make football more accessible for deaf children, the project has so far reached nearly 1,000 deaf young players and trained up more than 400 coaches on how to communicate with them.

Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Sports and Leisure Activities Manager, told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: "Football clubs like Maidstone United are a great example of how mainstream clubs can become fully inclusive for deaf young people.

“I am therefore grateful to Maidstone United for their dedication to improving opportunities for deaf children to access football activities in their area, and for the support they have given to our Deaf Friendly Football Club project."

Mr Harvey added: "It was an absolute surprise. I thought we'd been invited to showcase what we had done to become a deaf-friendly club. Unbeknown to us we were in the mix for an award with pro teams like Arsenal, Brighton, Everton, Fulham, Manchester City, Manchester United etc.

“When mine and Tyke's name was called out we were shocked. It's a fantastic achievement and great news for Maidstone United.

"We've got a structure where we've got level two disability signers, a girls' deaf football team and up to 20 players now. We are the backbone of the Kent deaf football set-up. We have done really well over the past year."

Club chairman Paul Bowden-Brown added: "I am very proud that Maidstone United won this award, It's not everyday a club like ours is pitted against Premier League teams and comes out on top. This award recognises the dedication of John and Tyke, and all the volunteers who assist with the deaf football set-up."

The DFFC project has revolutionised the game at all levels for deaf children and has so far attracted 56 football clubs in England, including clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Fulham. The project is funded by the Football Foundation and The Football Association, and actively recruits and trains deaf adults to become qualified football coaches.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley has explained why he has let midfielder Billy Somerville join Kent League strugglers Lordswood.

“It is a situation we will be monitoring but I think he needs to be playing a higher standard of football than what our reserves are playing at,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“I know their manager Jason Lillis very well and he will be well looked after there in the sense I think it will help his football. He's one of those who needs to be playing and we can't stop players from playing at a higher standard.”

ERITH & BELVEDERE have confirmed that their Kent Senior Trophy second round tie at home to Vandanel Kent County League side Hollands & Blair will take place on Friday, 11 December, kicking off at 7:45pm.

The switch is to accommodate the FA Carlsberg Trophy first round tie between Welling United and Eastbourne Borough on it’s original date, Saturday, 12 December.

Meanwhile, the Deres have announced the return of former player, Kevin Lott, who made 16 appearances for the club last season, including four as a substitute, before leaving with Joby Thorogood to play for the Brisbane Wolves in Australia’s Football Brisbane Premier League.

The pair played matches against such wonderfully named teams as Peninsular Power, Kangaroo Point Rovers and Pine Rivers United.

Finishing 3rd in the Premier Division table, the Wolves won their Premier Division Play Off Semi-Final against Rochedale Rovers 5-4 on penalties before defeating Capalaba 2-1 in the Grand Final to become Premier Division Champions.

Erith & Belvedere are now in the process of obtaining Lotty's International Clearance before he can resume his playing career with the Deres and hopefully this will be obtained before tomorrow’s crucial Bulmers Cider Kent Football League fixture with Herne Bay.

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Justin Luchford says he was lost for words following his side’s first back-to-back defeats this season.

Lost for words is not a phrase commonly used on the manager, but even he was left speechless by what happened in the first half of last weekend's game against Erith & Belvedere.

The Lilywhites travelled to take on the 'Deres trying to preserve their unbeaten league record against the team leading the chasing pack.

Faversham dominated the first half but went in two down. Luchford wasn't sure what to say to his players in the dressing room at half time but following two defeats in a week, he conceded that it had been a 'rough week' but was a proud man nonetheless.

"I have learnt a lot about my players this week and I must say I am very proud to be their Manager" Luchford told www.favershamtownfc.co.uk.

With defeats against Badshot Lea (FA Vase) and Erith & Belvedere (League), Luchford has called his squad in for two training sessions this week in a bid to get things back on track.

He said: "Losing to Badshot was always going to be hard to take, but to be honest we had so much against us on the night that it was almost fate that we were not to get through. Other than 25 minutes where we allowed them into the game, we were the better team and had more chances.

"I was without my two centre midfielders and had to play a lad for the first time this season in the back four.

We arrived twenty minutes before kick off which wasn't great. But the way in which we battled back to get ourselves into the game was a fantastic effort from the lads. I was disappointed for that 25 minutes, but all in all I couldn't have too many complaints.

"As for Erith & Belvedere, I really don't know where to start. I am not very often speechless, but when I went into the dressing room at half time, being 2-0 down, I wasn't that sure what to say!

“We had played fairly well and were rarely troubled. Then they score, what I believe is the best goal I have seen all season from any side including ours and then on the stroke of half time they get another from a great strike form the edge of the box. Rob [French] had nothing to do apart from those two shots. Damian [Abel] could have had a couple and Buster [Smissen] as well, but it wasn't to be.

"I didn't change anything at half time, I just told them to believe in what they were doing.

"My god did they do that! We played them off the pitch second half and we deserved at least the draw if not 3 points. But sometimes that's how football works.

“We played Corinthian and won and we were really poor that day. We were excellent Saturday and lost. We had enough chances to win the game by a decent margin and then we go and make a silly mistake at the other end with Ashley [Brown] and Rob colliding with each other. I don't blame them, I don't blame anyone. We had one of those days, but I couldn't be prouder of the lads. We have lost one League game and in that game we gave everything even when we could have folded after half time."

Luchford had nothing but praise for his team's attitude and character shown during this difficult period and we sure they would bounce back even stronger and hungrier for the fight.

"The players are gutted but I think probably relieved. The pressure was mounting a little as we hadn't been beaten [in the league], but now we have so we can continue with improving as we try to do each game.

New signing Michael Dodsworth did not feature in the game against his old club on Saturday but must have been impressed by what he saw and knows he will have to work extremely hard to get his chance in the first team.

Next up for Faversham Town tomorrow is Sporting Bengal who in recent years have been the whipping boys of the league, but not so this year. With three wins already this term, they have proved they can beat sides and mix it up this year.

"We will approach in the usual way and go and give a good account of ourselves. Only Dave Botterill [suspension] is missing, so we will see what we have when the game comes around."

As we draw nearer to Christmas, Luchford was keen to point out that both he and his players are thoroughly enjoying themselves at present and with four games to go before the break, there is still lots to play for. "I can't wait and nor can the players."

LORDSWOOD’S recently installed manager Jason Lillis has been busy in the free-transfer market since taking over the Medway club.

Along with the recent signings of Roy Guiver and Aaron Burrett, Lordswood have announced the acquisition of Andy Forster (Herne Bay), Billy Summerville (Folkestone Invicta) and Dave Eckersall.

Lillis has also announced that he has put in a seven-day approach for much travelled striker Richard Dimmock who is currently playing for tomorrow's opponents, Erith Town.

Lordswood travel to Erith Stadium on Saturday (28th) for what will be the first of two trips there in 3 weeks. This is a League game and Lordswood will be looking to build on recent performances as they still search for that elusive first league win.

The two sides have already met this season when Erith Town came away with a 4-0 victory when the Lords defence saw fit to self destruct and concede all four goals in the last 25 minutes of the game. Kick off is 3pm

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Simon Jones was satisfied with the Bulmers Cider Kent League Premier Division quarter-final draw that pairs them with Deal Town over two legs early in the New Year.

Jones makes no secret of wanting to bring silverware to Greatness Park, and the home defeat against Southern Amateur League West Wickham at the same stage of the competition last season was a major disappointment.

Having got past Norton Sports in the previous round, Jones, speaking to www.sevenoakstownfc.org admitted: Avoiding Faversham or Hythe was my first thought, and the draw is all right, but Deal are probably saying the same thing about us.

"We have played them down there already, and drew 2-2, which was and entertaining game."

Alfie Keroma, meanwhile, was due back in training this week, while Ossie Bayram has recovered from a stomach problem, and was on the bench last weekend.

John Alegbe has completed his three match ban, but the club are waiting to hear whether skipper Danny Ward faces a one-match lay off, following several cautions.