Soccer Shorts: Personal reasons force Ford to swiftly quit Deres

Friday 02nd October 2009

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MARGATE, who are under the temporary charge of assistant manager Neville Southall following the resignation of Terry Yorath almost two weeks ago, have been busy bringing in fresh faces ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Kingstonian.

Defender Liam Harwood, formerly of Bristol Rovers and Carshalton Athletic, re-joins the Thanet side after a loan spell at the club last season.

He was signed by Bristol Rovers from Carshalton Athletic but was unable to secure a first team spot. He signed for Margate, making 13 appearances and after returning to Rovers he subsequently re-joined Carshalton but was released by the Surrey club last week.

He goes into the squad for tomorrow’s game but the highly rated blonde haired defender misses the trip to Canvey Island seven days later, a one-match ban he picked up whilst playing for Carshalton.

Margate have also signed much-travelled striker Akwasi Edusi. The 23-year-old started as a trainee with Gillingham and has also turned out for Welling United, Farnborough Town, Ramsgate and Tonbridge Angels.

Margate has also confirmed that striker Steve West, who originally signed from Sutton United in August, has been released, having made eight appearances for the club, scoring just one goal.

Goalkeeper Pat Mullin, meanwhile, has left the club and has signed for Thanet neighbours Ramsgate. The former Maidstone United stopper made 32 appearances for the club during the past two seasons.

With Paul Nicholls still on the injury list, Margate have moved to fill the vacancy by signing former Maldon keeper Lloyd Anderson.

Anderson comes highly recommended and has been training with Championship side Crystal Palace. He goes straight into tomorrow's squad for the visit of Kingstonian. Luke Kiteley - who played in goal against Hornchurch last week - has moved on.

Also available for tomorrow's game is Jeremy Boreau. The attacking midfielder, who has been on the scene for a while, now has the international clearance and is available for selection.

RAMSGATE secretary Martin Abel, meanwhile, explained why manager Jim Ward has snapped up Mullin from arch-rivals Margate.

“Sam Mott is suffering from a recurring back injury and may not be fit for tomorrow,” Mr Abel told the fans’ forum at www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk.

“Subject to paperwork being cleared this morning, we have signed Pat Mullin, who has decided his future does not lay with Margate, as cover.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED have released midfielders Jimmy Bottle, 19 and twenty-year-old Dan Stubbs.

Despite the players only joining in the summer, from Ashford Town and Margate respectively, the decision was a difficult one for joint-manager Alan Walker.

“Making decisions like these are not easy,” Walker told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk. “Like any business, we are working to a budget and when it came to midfielders we were rather top heavy.

“Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw returns from suspension this weekend and Nick Barnes has impressed since his return.

“This has made it difficult for Dan and Jimmy to get into the starting eleven. They gave us a very strong bench but are both young and keen to be playing regularly. They leave with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.

“We still have enough cover and are fortunate to have Pete Nott and Tony Cornwell managing our reserve team. There are lads in that side who we can call upon and I know they won’t let us down.”

Walker confirmed that striker Meshach Nugent has joined Ryman One North side VCD Athletic on loan.

“Shack missed most of pre-season and the start of the league campaign,” he said. “We all know he’s a quality player. Once he’s regained his match fitness he’ll be back doing what he does best.”

Looking ahead to their trip to strugglers Bognor Regis Town tomorrow, Walker said, “We are on a good run at the moment, which has been helped by the fact that for the last few weeks we have been able to name a settled side, which has largely been undisturbed by injuries or suspension.

“Although Bognor Regis appear to be struggling in the league at the moment, we know that every team in this league is capable of beating each other.

“We have had Bognor watched and we have been told that they are a very good and very young side and so are a bit unpredictable.

“It is important that we stamp our authority on them early on because if we let them play from the start we will be in trouble.”

ERITH & BELVEDERE are in Cup action for their next two fixtures, the first of which sees Sussex County League Division One side Pagham visit Park View Road on Sunday (4pm).

The Lions currently sit in 15th place in the League table, having won just 2 of their seven League fixtures so far this season, both wins coming at their Nyetimber Lane home.

Despite victories over Beckenham Town (2-1, 1984) and Sittingbourne (2-1, 1990), Pagham have suffered nine defeats to Kent League clubs in the FA Vase, the biggest defeat coming at Tunbridge Wells (1-6, 2006) following a 2-6 defeat at Hythe Town the previous year.

The Deres build up to this match has been disrupted by suspension (Harbingi Grant), injury (Chris Hill) and unavailability (Dave Hassett, Juan Ramirez and Huseyin Budak), but Joint Managers Richie Radbourne and Paul Gorman have been boosted this week by the arrival of John Maloney from Kent League rivals Holmesdale.

The 29 year old defender, who has also played for Beckenham Town, Tooting & Mitcham and Fisher Athletic, goes straight into the squad for Sunday's match, having not featured in Holmesdale's FA Carlsberg Vase campaign this season.

"John is another quality addition to the squad," Radbourne told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk.

"We've been tracking John for a long time and Paul and I are absolutely thrilled to have finally signed him."

The draw for the Second Round Proper of the FA Carlsberg Vase, which is scheduled for Saturday 14 November 2009, will be available on The Football Association's website from 1pm on Monday.

Providing this tie does not need a replay, the Deres will travel to White Hart Lane on Tuesday 6 October, for a London Senior Cup, First Round tie with Haringey Borough, kick off 7.45pm.

Haringey Borough's main ground is Coles Park Stadium, White Hart Lane, Tottenham, London N17 7JP

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Martin Ford has officially left the club.

A club statement said, “His reasons for leaving are personal and he requests that it remains that way, and we are happy to oblige.

“We would however, like to extend our thanks to Martin for the hard work in put into the club during his brief spell with us, and we are sure that he will be snapped up by another club soon.”

RICHARD Dimmock, James Taylor and goalkeeper Sean Glover have signed for Erith Town in time for their FA Carlsberg Vase trip to Newport Pagnell tomorrow.

Manager Steve O'Boyle has been keen to add to his striking options and Dimmock, a proven goalscorer at Kent League level, has been draughted in.

Also in comes another striker James Taylor. O'Boyle was keen on him last season while at Dartford but he joined VCD in the summer.

A seven-day approach was made to his current club Sevenoaks and the deal was completed today.

Keeper Sean Glover joins as cover for the injured Jack Bradshaw and played a couple of times last year when called upon.

Player/coach Ryan Royston has left Erith Town by mutual consent.

Speaking about the defender turned target man, O’Boyle told www.erithtown.com, "I'd like to thank Ryan for all of his effort in the last couple of months and I'd like to wish him all the best for the future."

FISHER take on Kingsbury London Tigers in the first round of the London Senior Cup next Monday (7:45pm).

In Fisher’s previous guise, Fisher Athletic won this competition five times and with Fisher unable to compete in the FA Cup or the FA Vase this season due to late formation, the competition takes on extra significant importance.

This will be the new club’s first ever cup game and is also their first ever fixture, competitive or otherwise, against the Tigers, who play in the Spartan South Midlands League.

“Due to various postponements as other Kent League sides progress in cup competitions, it means we haven’t had a home game in nearly a month, which is tough for a small club like ours who survive mainly on what we generate on the gate,” chairman Martin Eede explained to www.fisherfc.co.uk.

“It means that we need a good turnout from the Fisher supporters on Monday as we need to keep the interest going.

“The team is improving week by week and I can ensure the fans we take this competition very seriously, this is effectively our FA Cup.”

“I believe it will be a very competitive game, no one should underestimate Kingsbury Tigers, they’re a step five club just like us who finished fifth last year and they’ve had a decent start this time round.”

The East Dulwich based club confirmed that it’s all-pay on the gate at Champion Hill on Monday night - £5 (adults), £3 (concessions) and £1 (under 16s).

KEVIN BROWN says he has signed for Lordswood as he didn’t feature in the starting line-up for their Kent League rivals Tunbridge Wells, his home-town club.

The 34-year-old returned to Culverden Stadium during the close season after his work commitments took him abroad but was frustrated with the lack of opportunities.

The versatile player has signed for the Lords, who are managed by former Wells duo, Kevin Metcalf and Martin Telford.

“I have left Tunbridge Wells to try and get regular football, which I need at my age,” Brown told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“I am signing for Lordswood tonight to link up with Martin Telford and Kevin Metcalf again to add some much needed experience to their playing staff and with me coming and other players in the pipeline and the injured players coming back, we should be able to turn the bad start around.”

Brown hopes the paperwork goes through in time of tomorrow’s game - ironically against Tunbridge Wells - at Martyn Grove.

Visit the following club websites:

www.margate-fc.com

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

www.erithtown.com

www.fisherfc.co.uk

www.lordswoodfc.com