Soccer Shorts: Margate were within hours of closing down - Piper

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MARGATE director Keith Piper says the club is safe after a last-minute deal with HM Revenue and Customs.

"We were hours from going out of business but we found a way to save the club," Mr Piper told BBC Radio Kent.

"I think the Revenue were relieved when we found a solution. I don't think anybody wants to see the demise of a club that's been around for 120 years."

The Ryman Premier League club faced a 10-point deduction if they had entered into a Company Voluntary Agreement, which would have left the Hartsdown Park club at the bottom of the table.

Mr Piper says the deal struck means he has to make a substantial payment to the Revenue, and in return it will freeze the balance of the debt until development work at the club's Hartsdown Park gets under way.

Mr Piper believes he has now found a solution to the club's funding needs.

"I'm absolutely convinced that within the next three or four months we will start to see that development taking place, and then with all that extra income that'll be generated I see no reason why the club can't seriously aim for Football League status," he said.

Meanwhile, back on the pitchMargate will look to build on the week’s good news about the future of the club but face the significant challenge of promotion-chasing Staines Town. However, they do so buoyed by the double signing of Jacob Erskine and Reggie Savage, writes Steve Wells - www.margate-fc.com.

Ryan Peters could make a welcome return to the starting 11 but Roberto Corbishley may well need more time to recover from a recurrence of his ankle problem.

The Blues have used 31 players so far this season but that does reflect the changes that Terry Yorath and his assistant Neville Southall are gradually making.

With a win against Staines and a three goal swing from Hastings to Margate could see the Blues climb two places to 16th in the table. And Gate should be due a good home performance. Like another 11 clubs in the division, Margate’s away form is better that their home form.

The Swans are once again challenging at the top of the table, but looking at Dover’s form so far, may have to make do with another crack at the play-offs. Currently in third place on 33 points, Staines has lost just twice away from home but do concede goals at the rate of about one and a half per game.

The Wheatsheaf Park club have recently announced the return of fan’s favourite Scott Taylor. Now aged 32, Taylor was Lewes’ joint top-scorer for the Rooks' in the Blue Square Premier. Originally sold for £75,000 to Millwall 13 years ago, he goes into the squad for the visit to Hartsdown Park.

On the negative side, manager Steve Cordery will have to make do without Elliot Onochie and Richard Butler through injury and Andre Scarlett who is suspended.

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish has an almost fully fit squad to choose from for their trip to Cambridge United tomorrow - one of his former clubs whilst a player.

Veteran central defender, Paul McCarthy, could be back in the reckoning if he can regain match fitness in time.

But Daish has something of a selection headache developing. Even Mark Ricketts’ fifth yellow card of the season last week is not enough to keep him out of this game as, since it was issued on a Sunday, the full-back will instead be suspended for the Setanta Shield game against Stevenage Borough at Stonebridge Road next Tuesday.

Daish seems content to prey on Cambridge’s poor scoring form and his players will likely bide their time on Saturday and hope to frustrate the home side.

“The onus will be on Cambridge a little bit and, for our part, we've got to make good of the possession, set plays and chances that we get,” Daish told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk. 

“Show the same as what we did away at Crawley. I'm confident we can get something."

The Fleet can take heart from a relatively decent record against Cambridge in recent seasons, though they have yet to win at the Abbey – or the Trade Recruitment Stadium as it’s called now - in six attempts.

Last season’s corresponding fixture, however, was a close-run thing with Luke Moore’s goal seeming to have wrapped up all three points only for Cambridge to equalise in the five minutes of added time at the end.

Players may also want to keep an eye on their discipline. Four of the last six meetings between these two sides have produced red cards, McCarthy being the only Fleet player to have been sent off, the other three all being Cambridge players.

THE Southwark News have recently revealed details of FISHER ATHLETIC'S proposed plans to return to a stadium of their own.

The following article was published on the Blue Square South club’s official website - www.fisherathletic.co.uk.

Local paper 'The Southwark News' has revealed Southwark Council's intentions to shelve plans for our proposed 7,000 all seater multipurpose venue on the edge of Southwark Park.

Their committee are extremely likely to green light an alternative bid to redevelop the existing decrepid Athletics ground with a £4.5 million facility to be used as a training venue for the London Olympics - ready in the summer of 2010.

The plans include a seated stand, social club, changing rooms etc with a design very similar to Chelmsford City's Melbourne Park Stadium. The funding comes from a host of Agencies and the Football Foundation. It will be used by various amateur football teams in the Borough and a base for the Para-Olympics. Surprisingly the latest developments have nothing to do with Fisher. We believe this needs to change and quickly. We see this as the concrete development Fisher have been waiting for after 5 years in exile at Champion Hill.

The board have continually said the Surrey Docks Stadium (Fisher's old ground) would probably be a white elephant because of the restricted transport links. This is now a fantastic opportunity for the club and it's the responsibility of the Council and Fisher board to work together and safeguard the future of Fisher Athletic Football Club. We believe common sense must prevail. It is the Council's responsibility to protect the community and the facilities there-in. Fisher is a very important part of that community.

The name holds high affection amongst the people of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey and it's future must be secured so generations to come can enjoy following a club with a fine history and tradition. In hindsight Fisher's move to East Dulwich was perhaps an error in judgement but we're not interested in pointing fingers at people. The board and council now have the chance to listen and act with the best intentions. If the proposed multipurpose facility is given the green light, it can not grow partially funded by Football foundation money but allowing the death of a Conference Football club with local heritage.

The board and council member's need to draw a line on what has been said and done in the past for the greater good. Don't let our club die - do the right thing.

THAMESMEAD TOWN have gained the FA Charter Standard, after months of preparation from the Ryman League Division One North club’s president, Albert Panting.

The Charter Standard Scheme is a best practice guide that sets standards of coaching, administration and child protection for all clubs outside the Football and Premier League.

The accreditation now means the club can move forward to provide the best quality standards of coaching and administration for the benefit of players of all ages within the community.

Gaining the standard forms part of an ambitious five year plan, which places the club at the heart of the community, beginning with the development of the £4m redevelopment of Bayliss Avenue to provide sporting and leisure facilities in 2009.

The facilities will enable the club to develop youth teams across all ages as well as providing coaching and working in partnership with local clubs and organisations.

Special thanks must go to Club President, Albert Panting, in preparing the successful application.

BECKENHAM TOWN’S new management are actively seeking a new sponsor for the Kent League club.

“It’s important that we put in place a new sponsor as quickly as possible,” club secretary Peter Palmer told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk.

“Obviously, the timing of recent events has not been ideal. However, the club have always been fortunate enough to have a great deal of local and sympathetic support. I'm extremely optimistic that we can achieve our objectives".

ERITH & BELVEDERE’S reserve team manager Sean Clarke was taken ill at his home last Saturday morning and was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

Following tests, it was discovered that Sean had developed a brain aneurysm.

A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral or intracranial aneurysm, is an abnormal bulging outward of one of the arteries in the brain.

A small, unchanging aneurysm will produce little or no symptoms. Before a larger aneurysm ruptures, the individual may experience such symptoms as a sudden and unusually severe headache, nausea, vision impairment, vomiting, loss of consciousness or the individual may be asymptomatic, experiencing no symptoms at all.

Onset is usually sudden and without warning.

Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is dangerous and usually results in bleeding into the meninges (the system of membranes which envelopes the central nervous system) or the brain itself, leading to subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) or intracranial haematoma (ICH), either of which constitutes a stroke.

Sean has since been transferred to St George's Hospital in Tooting where he is now in the care of their Vascular Department, which has an international reputation in the treatment of complex aortic and carotid disease.

It has special interest in minimally invasive procedures (sometimes called ‘keyhole surgery'), including aneurysm repair.

Sean was due to have surgery during the week.

Sean is in a stable, but critical condition and is surrounded by his family during this difficult time and is receiving the best possible care.

The Kentish Football family wishes Sean has a speedy recovery and messages of support can be sent via the football club.

Meanwhile, following the floodlight failure at Park View Road last Friday, it has been decided to bring forward the kick off time off tomorrow’s Kent League game against Deal Town to 2:15pm.

A fault has been found in the wiring of one of the floodlight pylons at the Danson Park end of the ground at Park View Road and until a full repair is made, only two of the five lights are working.

To try and ensure that the game is played for the full ninety minutes, the club have decided to bring forward the kick off time to 2.15pm.

A statement issued by the Deres on it’s website www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk, said: “We hope that this early kick off time isn't inconvenient to our supporters and trust you will understand the decision to bring the game forward.

“So make sure you tell your friends, to tell their friends and make sure you join us on Saturday at 2.15pm for the match with Deal Town.”

One other fixture on the move is the Umbro Kent Senior Trophy 2nd Round tie with Lordswood, scheduled for Saturday 13 December.

Following Welling United's FA trophy replay win at AFC Totton on Tuesday night, the Wings have a home tie against Blue Square Premier Weymouth to look forward to, also on 13 December.

Initial contact between the clubs would suggest that Weymouth are only able to travel to Kent on the Saturday of that weekend. Therefore the Deres have decided to rearrange their fixture with Lordswood to Sunday 14 December or Tuesday 16 December.

FOLLOWING a seven-day approach by HOLMESDALE, Dave Cook has decided to remain as a HYTHE TOWN player.

The loyal midfielder decided he couldn’t leave Reachfields Stadium in the summer, after spending pre-season with Ryman League Division One South neighbours Folkestone Invicta.

Cook, who has scored eleven goals so far this season, has now turned down an approach from Kent League leaders Holmesdale

SLADE GREEN boss Matt Longhurst continues his ploy of signing quality players, bringing vastly experienced midfielder Bryan Glover, following his release from Ryman League Division One South side SITTINGBOURNE.

Longhurst has felt the need to bring in Glover following the recent departure of Dan Waterman to fellow Kent League side Erith & Belvedere.

Glover, who made his debut in at perennial whipping boys Sporting Bengal United last weekend, has had spells with the likes of Maidstone United, Weymouth, Sutton United, Chelmsford City and Canvey Island - all clubs that play higher up the pyramid.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS are putting plans in place to bring their Culverden Stadium ground up to Ryman League status.

The club are enjoying their best season for many a year and welcome Norton Sports tomorrow sitting in second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table - just three points behind Holmesdale with two games in hand.

Secretary Joe Croker issued the following statement on the club’s website www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk this week outlining plans to bring Ryman League football to the town.

“The committee is as ambitious for the club now as it was when elected back in June. Since that time the committee has been working hard to stabilise the club in preparation for moving forward.

“To this end planning permission has been obtained to legitimise hiring our facilities during the week to Compaid and NHS Transport and a company limited by guarantee has been set up for the members to continue to control the club.

“The club is also working towards obtaining the Charter Standard so that grants can be obtained for ground improvements.

“The footballing side is going exceptionally well with the team currently occupying second place in the league and with the U21s playing attractive football with a very young side.

“The aim of the committee has always been for the club to play at the highest level sustainable on the income which can be generated; certainly their duty is to consider the long term not just short term ambitions.

“The current base of the club is too narrow for long term growth. Although the prime objective of the club has to be the success of the first team, the base needs to be widened to support it. The club is therefore being repositioned as a ‘community club’ to increase its appeal to wider sections of the Tunbridge Wells residents.

“The club already runs self funding U15’s and U13’s youth teams and this will be increased to three youth teams next year. In addition to these teams there will also be a ladies team and a disability team. The expectation will be that all of these extra people involved will also support the club in other ways: as supporters, attendees at social events or by sponsorship or advertising. The hope is that they also involve their friends so we reach the wider community.

“The overriding question for this season is should we seek promotion? This is a difficult one to call. Last season we could have confidently expected major sponsorship from promotion but economic circumstances have considerably deteriorated and sponsors have their own concerns at the moment.

“The committee has decided to apply for promotion so it will be a possibility if the team finishes high enough in the league. The ground will be inspected and a list of improvements will be given to us which have to be completed by March. There is a lot of uncertainty and possibly cost in this.

“Several clubs in our league and in the leagues above us are struggling financially and it is incumbent on the committee to be prudent and ensure that the club can prosper and succeed not only now but also into the future.

“The committee is working hard on behalf of the club but more help is needed from sponsors and with ground maintenance whilst greater attendance is required at the games and functions if the vision is to be realised.”

Manager Mike Robbins greets the news that the club’s ambitions match his own.

“The board’s statement was positive and openly states the promotion is an option here, making the growing aspiration of the players,” he told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“And that leaves people to continue to focus on each game as it comes in a bid to first move towards, and then exceed, original objectives.”

Robbins added: “We’ve cultivated something here that you’d be hard pushed to find elsewhere at this level.

“We have five or six of the lads who are local to Tunbridge Wells. We feel this has been vital to moving the club forward, and it’s been central to Martin (Larkin) and my plans - a pride in playing for the club that can’t be bought.”

Looking forward to the visit of 12^th placed Norton Sports, a side that have bagged 16 points from 12 games, Robbins is expecting yet another tough battle on the Culverden Stadium mud.

“Norton Sports will be a similar game to what we faced against Deal,” he said.

“They are a good side, and have double the number of points we had at this time last year when we were starting to turn things around and they’re new to the league.

“Also, Deal’s pitch was better than we had expected it to be. Ours could act as a bit of a leveller. As always, though, we’ve done our homework on Norton, and we are preparing accordingly.”

Articles courtesy of the following websites:

www.bbc.co.uk/kent

www.margate-fc.com

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.fisherathletic.co.uk

www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

www.hythetownfc.co.uk

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk