Soccer Shorts: Ramsgate stars return to honour loyal servant Warren Schulz

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“I’m very pleased to be back,” May told www.bromleyfc.net. “Hopefully this season will be a bit better than the last time I was here.

“When Mark called me I knew I wanted to come back and have a second go at it.  Mark didn’t really have to sell it to me. He said he’d been watching me last season and thought I had a good campaign.”

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Steve Chapman says he misses tomorrow’s trip to Gillingham for their second pre-season friendly against Hollands & Blair.

The Eltham-based side defeated Ryman League Division One North side Chatham Town on Tuesday night, courtesy of Daryl Wheeler’s late strike.

“I’m actually away now on holiday so I miss the Hollands & Blair game so Mark Edwards and Brian Wicks will be in charge for that,” said Chapman.

“Again, the message to those two is to start working on the shape that we’ve discussed. I suppose there’s always room for improvement.”

DOVER ATHLETIC have unveiled the signing of defender Terrell Forbes, who has 500 appearances for Football League clubs.

Forbes, 31, who played for Chesterfield and Aldershot Town last season, is comfortable at right-back or centre back and brings valuable experience to Chris Kinnear’s young squad.

Terrell came through the West Ham United youth system, going on to play 114 times for Queens Park Rangers and made 163 appearances for Yeovil Town.  Last season he made 28 appearance in League Two for Chesterfield and relegated Aldershot.

Meanwhile, creative midfielder Barry Cogan has renewed his commitment to the club by signing a one-year contract.  The former Millwall player came to Crabble in 2010 and is the club’s third longest serving player.

EBBSFLEET UNITED have cut admission prices in half for their first pre-season friendly at the refurbished Stonebridge Road on Sunday 28 July.

Adult admission will now be just £5 and concessions only £3.  Under 12s can, of course, attend for free providing they are accompanied by a paying adult.

ERITH & BELVEDERE are delighted to announce that they have been chosen as one of the host clubs for the first annual Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day on 10 August.

The Deres will host Redbridge in the club’s first ever Ryman League fixture and the Kent League double winners issued the following statement on their club website www.erithbelvederefc.co.uk.

“It gives us a day to showcase everything that we believe to be special about our football club and gives our fantastic youth players an opportunity to be recognised for all the effort they give go the club.

“With that in mind we will be hosting something very special for a few lucky youth players during the half-time interval.

“Be sure to come along and share with us not just a very special day for the club but a very special day for football all over the country.

“Prices are the same as they were last season as we stand by our belief of offering exceptional football but without the price tag.”

ERITH TOWN manager Mark Tompkins is searching for a new physio and interested parties should call him on 07854 569 916.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA’S gate receipts from their home game against neighbours Dover Athletic on Saturday 3 August will be donated to the Dix family.  Heather Dix was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2012, since then she has shown great determination in bravely fighting her battle which has even amazed the health professionals.

HERNE BAY manager Sam Denly says there is a good buzz around Winch’s Field, ahead of the former player’s first league ame in charge of the club.

Herne Bay kick-off their second Ryman League Division One South campaign with a home game against newly-promoted Guernsey, who have won back-to-back promotions in only two years of playing in England.

“The lads are working hard in training, fitness will play a big part towards our success this year and the hard work they’re putting in will be beneficial and reflect in our performances this season,” Denly told the club website.

“There is a good buzz in and around the club. The players are starting to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and are becoming closer as a group, together as management, coaching staff and players our professional, well organised disciplined attitudes will stand us in good stead for the coming season.

Herne Bay travel to Woodstock Sports tomorrow (1pm) and Denly said: “Over the next few weeks I will continue to look at players and the squad will start to take shape.

“Tomorrow gives me a chance to have a look at some players and help us build and prepare for the 10^th August when all the hard work really starts.”

HOLMESDALE have published their sponsorship packages for the new season and the Bromley-based club are selling their first team sponsorship at £2,500 and website sponsorship is up for grabs at £1,000.

Chairman Mark Harris told the club website: “The Holmesdale profile is being raised by their young emerging side – this will not be available for long!

MARGATE have confirmed the arrival of a couple of new players.

Impressive trialist, Elliott Cox, 21, has put pen to paper after Saturday’s win at Hythe Town.

Cox started his career as a junior with Queens Park Rangers at the age of nine and was handed a one-year professional contract after graduating through their Academy set-up in the summer of 2010.

He spent the last couple of months of the following season on loan at Histon and after his release from Loftus Road, rejoined the Cambridgeshire side ahead of the 2011-12 campaign.

He then moved to Hastings United 12 months later after an impressive pre-season trial period, during which he was chiefly employed as a right-back, despite being more adept in an attacking role.

He was in Sean Ray’s side that lost at The Riverside Stadium to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Third Round in January 2013.

Cox told www.margate-fc.com: “It was time for a new challenge and in the short time I have been with the Margate boys they have made me feel extremely welcome and I get on really well with everyone including Simon (Osborn) and Craig (Holloway), so it feels very much like the right move for me.

“With the squad that is being assembled I see no reason why we shouldn’t be fighting for promotion this season, automatically or via the play-offs.”

Margate have also snapped up George Whitelock, 16, who spent the end of last season at Essex Senior League side Clapton and also had a brief spell at Leyton Orient.

He said: “Margate is a great club and it is a fantastic move for me and I am really looking forward to the season.”

Meanwhile, versatile left-sided player Ryan Dolby, 23 and central defender Joe Vines, 32, have put pen to paper to stay at Hartsdown Park.

Dolby said: “It’s fantastic to be staying. I really think it’s a great club from the management to the fans. Everyone has always been so encouraging and it is a great place to play football.

“I heard rumours that I was going elsewhere but there was only one place I wanted to be this season and I’m certain we can push ourselves that little bit harder to make sure we are there or there abouts at the end of the season.”

RAMSGATE are staging a testimonial for Warren Schulz on Sunday (3pm) for his ten years’ service at Southwood Stadium.

Schulz has clocked up well over 400 competitive appearances for the club and numerous former players are coming to pay tribute to the loyal servant to the club.

Players that will appear will include Gavin and Ollie Schulz, Paul Wilkerson, Lee Pilcher, Sam Vallance, Michael Cassar, James Gregory, Liam Norris, Michael Yianni, Mark Munday, Shane Suter, Dan Dolton, Stuart Vahid, Aaron Robinson, Shaun Brown, Shaun Welford, Steffan Ball, Dave Cory and Lee Minshull.

Minshull, who was plucked out of Sunday League football by former Rams boss Jim Ward and also played for Tonbridge Angels, has since clinched promotion into League Two with both AFC Wimbledon and Newport County.

The game will kick-off at 3pm and the club are planning a couple of pre-match events for youngsters and after the game there will be a barbeque and music for adults.

Admission prices for Sunday’s game are £5 (adults), £1 (under 16s) and under 12s FREE.

SEVEN ACRE & Sidcup’s home pre-season friendly against Cray Wanderers will now take place on the 4G pitch at Thamesmead Town’s Bayliss Avenue next Monday due to the pitch at Oxford Road not being ready in time.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS have confirmed that Jason Barton has been released after two season at Culverden Stadium.

WHITSTABLE TOWN are delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Gurr as their new secretary.

Mr Gurr, 57, is no stranger to the club having been involved now for nearly eight seasons having been part of the club management committee as match fixture secretary when the club were promoted from the Kent League to the Ryman League.

Chairman Gary Johnson told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk: “Phil has a wealth of football administration knowledge and ability so after 18 months of discussion and with Phil having stood down as fixture secretary of the East Kent Youth Football League the time was right for Phil to succeed me as secretary.

“The role of secretary is a demanding and time consuming one with financial penalties and point deductions if not administered correctly, don’t let anyone tell you it’s an easy role, it’s certainly not; it is however addictive!”  

A club statement added: “What’s more pleasing for Gary Johnson is that he himself only took the reins for a few weeks temporarily after the previous secretary resigned early one morning; that was four seasons ago.

“Gary, a former referee and now chairman of the club, proved more than an adequate stand in and has since been elected to the board of the Ryman League as a director, combining the role of secretary and chairman was proving more time consuming for him whom also works full time and whilst having other business interests.”

Mr Gurr remains on the council of the East Kent Youth Football League and also serves the Kent County Football Association since being elected four years ago.