Soccer Shorts: Rhys Lawson re-signs for Herne Bay

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CROCKENHILL coach Darrell Queeley invites potential new players to pre-season training.  The Wested Meadow outfit finished the inaugural Kent Invicta League campaign in the bottom three and the former Lewisham Borough manager is searching for new blood. Trials take place on 26 and 28 June.  To register players should send details of their footballing CV to Darrell@crockenhillfc.co.uk.

EBBSFLEET UNITED supporters’ are helping manager Liam Daish boost his playing budget ahead of next season.

The Fleet boss is working hard to put his squad in place to push on and improve on last season’s fourteenth-place in the Blue Square (Bet) Premier.

To help him do this, both myfootballclub.co.uk and the Fleet Trust have formed a joint initiative to help raise funds towards helping Daish secure the strongest possible squad to start the season on the front foot.

To date pledges have been received to the value of almost £26,000. 

A club statement which was published on www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk said: “The more money that can be pledged now, the stronger the squad can be when the season kicks off in August.

“Sign up for the Fleet Players Fund and donate the equivalent of £1 a week or £52 a year.  If every supporter did this, it doesn’t take much to work out how much extra funding Liam could have at his disposal.

“If you want to give more, higher pledges are more than welcome.  We won’t mind if you want to give more!”

Regular donations can be made by standing order or via PayPal, and single donations by cash and/or cheque can also be made.

Standing Order forms are available by e-mailing the Fleet Trust at emily@fleet-trust.co.uk or via the club office on 01474 533796.
 
If you bank on-line, you should be able to set up a standing order directly. The information you need is below. If you set up a standing order directly, please e-mail emily@fleet-trust.co.uk
with the details so that your donation can be added to the running total of pledges.

If you wish to pay by PayPal, myfootballclub have set up a website "Sponsor our Squad", where you can pledge your support to an individual player or the squad as a whole. Why not show your support to your favourite player
.
Click on the link for further details: www.fleetsos.co.uk.

Cash and cheque donations are also accepted via the club office. Cheques should be made payable to "Fleet Trust No. 2 Account"

The statement added: “We want to involve local businesses in this initiative, so we're offering them an opportunity to visibly show their support by giving them a "I helped Liam raise his budget" sticker to display in their premises.

“Any business that donates £52 will receive a sticker. In addition, they will receive a mention in the club programme and we will also use our social media sites to acknowledge their support.

“If you think you know of a local business that can offer support, please get them to contact the club. Alternatively, come into the club office and pick up a sticker or two and speak to them yourself.

“Supporters are the best advocates for Ebbsfleet United Football Club and so come and collect them from the club office and start asking your local businesses for their support.

“Let's work together to give Liam and Ebbsfleet United the best possible start to the new season!”

FOLKESTONE INVICTA’S disability side travelled to Ghent with high hopes and they came back with the winners’ trophy and the second team came fourth and won the Penalty Shoot-out Cup.

A club statement published on www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk said: “This was a great trip and the players were praised by their Belgium hosts for their fairplay and behaviour.  They have also invited us back next year.  If we can find the finances we would love to go and defend it, also we would love to bring a side to Folkestone.”

Meanwhile, trials for the club’s under 18’s are due to take place on Sunday, 10 June (10am-12pm) and Tuesday 12 June (6:30pm-8:00pm).

Please meet at Cheriton Road outside the changing rooms/Wilf Armory Suite.  Further details can be obtained from Paul Stanton on 07818 432 444.

HERNE BAY chairman Trevor Kennett says the club are looking forward to facing arch-rivals Whitstable Town to contest the Bruce Smith Shield – despite facing the Oystermen in the Ryman League next season.

Manager Simon Halsey guided the club to the Kent League title and FA Vase Semi-Finals last season and will face Justin Luchford’s side on Tuesday 17 July at Belmont Road.

Mr Kennett told www.hernebayfc.net: “We would not normally play a pre-season game against Whitstable in our first season in the Ryman League.  However, this is a long standing commitment between both clubs and shows the massive respect we all have for Bruce. It should be a great event.”

Meanwhile, applications are being invited from qualified coaches to manage the club’s women team next season.

They will play in the Kent County Division of the South East Counties League.

Please send your initial interest and CV by email to trevor.kennett@hernebayfc.net.

Short-listing and interviews will take place this month.

Meanwhile, Halsey has announced that winger Rhys Lawson has re-signed for the club.

He said: “I am very pleased that Rhys has re-signed for us.  His form was fantastic last season, which didn’t go un-noticed by a lot of clubs.”

Lawson, who has previous Ryman League experience with Ramsgate, added: “I am really pleased to have re-signed for Herne Bay for next season and I am really looking forward to playing for the Bay in the Ryman League.”

THAMESMEAD TOWN will be running a full-time education football academy from later this year.

Applicants need to be between 16-18 years old and of a decent football standard.

Trials take place tomorrow, 9 June, between 10am-12 noon and on Saturday, 16 June, between 2pm-4pm, at Crossway’s Park, which is adjacent to the club’s Bayliss Avenue ground.

Meanwhile, the club require an under 16 team and under 11 team and any mini soccer team. 

If anyone is interested in any of the youth vacancies please contact first team manager Keith McMahon by email keith@maine-plc.com.

WHITSTABLE TOWN chairman Gary Johnson says the club are looking forward to welcoming soap stars to Belmont Road next month.

Mr Johnson, who was voted in as chairman at last night’s annual general meeting, said: “Saturday 21 July, strictly by ticket only at £25 each, is a VIP Meet The Soap Stars evening at the club.

“The evening commences around 6:30pm with fabulous Indian caterers offering a choice of cuisine, followed by the Soap Stars Celebrity Match on the Sunday, 22 July (2pm).
 
“This is a major fundraiser for our club, by which we would dearly love to pack The Belmont.”

For ticket details, please visit www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk