Kentish Football 
Soccer Shorts: Slade Green must raise £40,000 to maintain Kent League status
Tonight, Soccer Shorts brings you news from Folkestone Invicta, Faversham Town, Greenwich Borough, Lordswood, Slade Green and Hythe Town.
Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley made it six summer signings earlier in the week, when he confirmed that vastly experienced goalkeeper Charlie Mitten and Bulgarian right back Iliyan Pamukov both put pen to paper on deals with the club.
“They both signed one year deals at the club after the Eastbourne game,” announced a delighted Cugley to the club’s website www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.
“I think I’ve seen enough from them to suggest that they’re going to have an impact at this club and I’m really pleased that I’ve got both of them.
“Iliyan especially will bring a lot of quality to wherever he plays and he has looked good in midfield as well as at right back so it will provide cover as well as competition. The language barrier is still a problem but with time that’ll improve.
“He’s 33, he has a lot of experience, he’s tremendously fit and I think he’s a quality player and with him and Piper down the right hand side it’s looking quite exciting. He is basically a right back and he did very well for us in the first game but I think the communication is a problem in that position so I thought I’ll try him in midfield and he has been very good in the two games he’s played there and he can do a lot of damage.”
Secretary Mr Neil Pilcher listed the clubs that the Bulgarian has served:
1986-1992 - Locomotiv Ruse
1992-1994 - Koraboatroital Ruse
1994-1996 - Locomotiv Ruse
1996-1998 - Alondemik Sofia
1998-1999 - CSKA Sofia
1999-2000 - Cierno Moro Vama
2000-2001 - Marek Dupnitsa
2001-2002 - Happy End (Moldova)
2002 - Marek Dupnitsa
2003 - Lokomotiv Chita (Russia)
2004 - Dunav Ruse
The Invicta boss, heading into his eleventh season at the Buzzlines Stadium, did not rule out the possibility of more new faces at Cheriton Road before the season starts.
He said: “I’m still talking to a few other players but nothing is definite yet. If the players that we have got keep performing then I’m not in as much of a rush but we’ll see how things go over the next week or so”.
Last Saturday saw Folkestone earn an impressive 1-1 draw against Conference South side Eastbourne Borough, where former Invicta striker and crowd favourite Allan Tait is currently plying his trade.
Tait himself had to be content with a seat in the stands as he recovers from a knee injury.
“I thought we did very well against a strong team and we played some decent football so I was pleased with the performance overall,” said Cugley.
“I haven’t started thinking about who will be starting line up for next season for definite as yet and places are still up for grabs but obviously there are some players who have more experience than others and should be in the first team by the time the first game comes around.”
Saturday also marked a first pre season outing for Tottenham based centre back Samuel Kola Okikiolu, who proved an invaluable part of the Invicta backline last season.
Cugley was full of praise for the solid, no nonsense centre back, and said: “I think generally we’ve been really good at the back this year as a whole and Kola was excellent on Saturday and him and Liam (Friend) marked the big lad out of the game so I don’t have any concerns with the defence.”
With the departure of captain Adam Flanagan to Ryman Division One North side Dartford, debate continues over who will take the armband.
“I haven’t decided on a captain as yet,” admitted Cugley. “I’m throwing the armband around and seeing how people adapt and perform and it’s to keep people on their toes more than anything because if they want it then they will put that extra bit of effort in.”
Cugley’s first summer signing David Piper, on his return from holiday, made his debut in Invicta colours against Herne Bay and started again against Eastbourne on Saturday.
Piper, 29, was captain of Conference South side Bognor Regis last season, where fans there were sorry to see the Whitstable based defender leave.
“Absolutely class player and you could see that by how much he contributed going forward,” said Cugley.
“The Eastbourne manager said after the game how lucky I was to get him and he felt he was the best right back in their league last season and he’s starting to show it.
“They’re the sort of players that we need to make us a better footballing side and I think that’s what’s happening, we’re trying to play a bit more forward, get some pace down the wings and supply the forwards.
“If Jimmy (Corbett) can supply the balls through the middle then I think we’ll have a decent team next year”.
Ellis Remy made it two goals in two games against Eastbourne and scored again last Tuesday against Sevenoaks in a 4-2 victory for the club.
Goals also came from Roy Guiver, Damian Abel and James Everitt. Talking of the goal at the weekend from Ellis, Cugley said: “I did feel we deserved the lead and Ellis is having a pre-season now and that has made a big difference to him already because he’s very sharp already and will only get better.
“It’s the same for Damian Abel who I said throughout last season just needed a pre season to get fitter and he’s also looking good.
“Ellis is big lad, 6’2”, 6’3” and he has got a good touch and he’s a bit of a confidence player really.
“If he gets some more goals in pre season then he’ll definitely take that into the season and I hope he does that because we need a striker who’s going to score, 15 to 20 goals a season”.
In the second half against Borough the Seasiders made a number of changes, with Cugley admitting his side “lost their way a little”.
“We gave the ball away a little bit more but we had some youngsters on and all credit to them though as they stuck at it and did well to get the draw,” he said.
“I was also very pleased with Luke (Stonebridge) because he didn’t have a very good game against Herne Bay to be honest and Saturday he came bouncing back and made two great saves and one was absolutely outstanding.
“Potentially, he’s still a very good goalkeeper and just needs some more experience and coaching. We’ve all got high hopes for him.”
A misplaced back pass from Guiver essentially gifted Eastbourne an equaliser courtesy of former Dover Athletic forward Scott Ramsay.
Cugley said: “It was a soft goal and disappointing because as soon as they score that they were on the front foot and looked like adding to it. Roy could’ve done better with the back pass and he’s got to learn from that but it’s not the result that counts and as I said earlier I thought we played well.”
After the game Cugley caught up with Allan Tait, saying:”It was good to see Allan again and he did this club a great service and he’s a great bloke.
“I had a chat with him and he’s going to be out of action for a few weeks but he was looking forward to the start of the season.
“If we could get someone of his quality back into the club then I think we could be a force to be reckoned with but these players are hard to find!”
Local pride is at stake at Salters Lane tomorrow, as Kent League side, Faversham Town tackle their Ryman League Division One South neighbours, Sittingbourne to contest the annual Bob Amor Cup.
Sittingbourne impressed during their 4-0 win at another Kent League side, Thamesmead Town last Tuesday night, having beaten Deal Town 4-1 in their first outing.
Faversham boss, Paul Copley goes into the derby without Wes Hammond and Ian Pulham, who are both nursing ankle injuries.
“We’re going into the Bob Amor Cup against Sittingbourne with a couple of injury worries,” Copley revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“In addition to that, we will be without new signing, Ricky Freeman, who is on holiday.
“It should be a good game, it’s a local derby and usually as competitive as a friendly can be.
“But ultimately, it’s a chance to look at various playing systems and work on the player’s fitness.”
Greenwich Borough welcome Carshalton Athletic to Harrow Meadow tomorrow, and boss Phil Miles is expecting his side to be firing on all cylinders.
“This weekend, we take on Carshalton, it will conclude a hard week of football, which has seen us play four games in seven days,” Miles told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“The week’s main priority was to gain better fitness and the games have enabled us to do that.
“We have had a good look at some of the new players we have attracted, so all in all, it has been very useful and there have been more positives than negatives.
“After wins against Croydon Athletic, Chatham Town and Redhill, tomorrow will be another good test.”
But former Slade Green boss Miles, is more interested in his side’s Kent League results, rather than the ones in warm-up matches.
“I don’t take much notice of friendly results, it’s when the season kicks-off that really matters,” he said.
“Too many teams have good pre-seasons and then fall flat on their faces. The most important thing is that the players are beginning to look sharper, and there seems to be a positive air to what the club are trying to achieve.”
Greenwich Borough welcome the following sides to Harrow Meadow; Maidstone United (Tuesday, 31st July, 7:15pm), Orpington (Thursday, 2nd August, 7:15pm), Cray Wanderers (Saturday, 4th August, 3pm) and another County League side, in Fleet Leisure on Tuesday, 7th August, 7:15pm).
Lordswood, fresh from their combative goal-less draw with Ryman Premier League neighbours, Maidstone United in midweek, welcome Tommy Sampson and his Redhill side to North Dane Way tomorrow.
“Should be a good tester,” Lords boss Shawn Mitchell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“Tommy Sampson will have Redhill organised and they will play good football as all his sides have done that in the past.
“I’ve about six players missing through injuries but I can run the rule over a few more lads.
“Our fitness should be good as we’ve been working hard during the last three weeks.”
Slade Green play their first home pre-season friendly against Stansted tomorrow, having endured two embarrassing results on the road.
The Small Glen outfit lost 4-2 at Frenford before losing 1-0 at Penant in midweek, and assistant manager, Wayne Baldacchino demands improvement.
“We had a good run-out but mainly trialists on show,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk about the side’s single goal midweek defeat.
“A few lads came through but a few others failed miserably.
“It’s going to be interesting on Saturday, with our strongest available squad.
“We hope to get our first pre-season win under our belts.
Slade Green are expecting to unveil their new signings after tomorrow’s match, but Baldacchino revealed that Lee Barber has been named as club captain for the new season, with Adam Morrish standing by as vice-captain.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, Brian Smith, whose been chairman of the club for more than twenty years, shared his delight about finally getting planning permission to install a new stand at The Small Glen.
“It has been a hard battle,” he told www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc. “It has taken almost ten months to get to this stage alone, because the football club is on the edge of a green belt area.”
The new stand is estimated to cost about £40,000, and Mr Smith added: “We haven’t won yet. It is critical we raise the money to maintain our position in the Kent League.
A new stand would mean the club will be able to carry on playing at senior level.
A 162-seat stand will be built at the north end of the ground after plans were passed.
The club applied to Bexley council for permission to build a new stand to retain its current Kent League status.
In order for any team to compete at level five in the Kent Football League, each ground must have seating for at least 100 spectators.
But The Small Glen’s current stand at the south side of the pitch was not meeting FA criteria.
Hythe Town officials would like to remind fans that their home match against Lewisham Borough at Reachfields Stadium takes place on Sunday, 3pm.
Former Dover Athletic goalkeeper, Paul Hyde, whose arrived from Blue Square Southern club, Welling United, is not available Ashford Town visit Reachfields Stadium on Tuesday, 7th August.
But manager Paul Fisk has revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he will be fielding a new face against Kent County League side, Lewisham Borough.
He said: “We have former Gills and Ashford youngster, RJ Boorman having a game Sunday, and we’ll see how things go there.”
Fisk revealed that Gavin Ransley is back in training, having recovered from a broken wrist, and he added: “”We go into the game looking forward, with the preparation working well.”
COMING UP ON www.kentishfootball.co.uk
Saturday 28th July 2007 - 3pm
FISHER ATHLETIC v MAIDSTONE UNITED
at Dulwich Hamlet FC, Champion Hill
Sunday 29th July 2007 - 3pm
HYTHE TOWN v LEWISHAM BOROUGH
at Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe
Tuesday 31st July 2007 - 7:45pm
TONBRIDGE ANGELS v TUNBRIDGE WELLS
George Piper Courier Cup
at Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge
Thursday 2nd August 2007 - 7:45pm
TUNBRIDGE WELLS v WHITSTABLE TOWN
at Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd