Kentish Football 
Soccer Shorts: Striker Stuart Zanone opts to quit Ashford United to return to Rochester United
CHATHAM TOWN have put out a plea to find former players and committee players so they can be a part of the club’s 130th anniversary celebrations this season.
Email Mile Green at ctfccommercial@live.co.uk and your details will be added to the club’s Anniversary database so that the club can keep you posted on the exciting events that they have planned, as well as hopefully getting you involved later in the season when they will hopefully be staging and hosting events to people who have kept the club going through the years.
Mike Green told www.chathamtownfc.net : “Given that this season is such a great landmark for the club, it’s important that we don’t forget our past and the people who have made the club it is today, especially those who in the past have given up so much of their own time keeping the club firmly in the public eye.
“One name that keeps cropping up is that of John Crow, so if John reads this or anyone who has contact with him, I’d love for John to get in touch and pass on some of his wonderful memories that he has of our great club.
“That said, if anyone has any special memories of the club from years gone by – funny stories or just memories of specific games or players – please get in touch.”
CORINTHIAN coach Matt Longhurst says he is looking forward to the opening week of the Ken Hurlimann Football League season.
They welcome Lorswood to Gay Dawn Farm tomorrow (3pm), before traveling to Erith & Belvedere next Tuesday.
He said: “With pre-season over we now look forward to the beginning of the league season with two tough fixtures against Lordswood and Erith & Belvedere.
“The first game of the season is always a tight affair with a few nerves floating around in all the players. No-one wants to lose that first game but it’s down to us to settle the players down and give them the freedom to express themselves and relax on the pitch.”
Longhurst revealed the team will be going out for a meal tonight ahead of the earlier than normal start of the season.
He said: “We’ve trained well during pre-season and had some excellent performances across pre-season and some mixed too.
“With holidays and injuries to contend with it’s always a little hit and miss, especially with the season starting so early this year, but there will be no excuses from us come Tuesday night for lack of preparation.
“We’ve done everything we can and given the players everything they need to be able to perform and we’re confident that we can do that.
“With such a young side there will always be ups and downs as consistency is a struggle sometimes with young players but that’s why we have several older heads in Lee Barnett, Jim Lyons and Ryan Johnson to name a few to help these young lads in those games they are struggling in.
“The aims this year are clear progress on last year we certainly won’t be putting bold statements out about winning things as that has a habit of biting you on the backside but the squad knows what’s expected of them week in week out and where our strengths and weaknesses are and we’ll aim to improve as the season goes on.
“Lordswood have made some impressive signings and gone about their business quietly so they are a little unknown to people unless of course you’ve had them watched leading up to your game against them.
“I’d say were underdogs in the game as we’ve only claimed four points in two seasons against them so it’s going to be tough they are well drilled try and play a passing game and Jason (Lillis) has done a great job there since taking over so with us having a few out injured the squads strength in depth will be tested already tomorrow and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Corinthian then travel to Park View Road to face last season’s runners-up, Erith & Belvedere.
Looking forward to the clash against Micky Collins’ side, Longhurst said: “Tuesday night’s game against the title contenders, Erith & Belvedere have made a bold statement of intent with some excellent signings to date to go with a strong squad they already have so we certainly go there as underdogs which is a tag we’re used to so no pressure on our lads at all.
“Big ground, big club, good players, strong management team, leading scorer (Andy Constable) in the league last year so it’s really pressure on them first home game of the season against a club with no budget.
“I’d imagine Micky (Collins) will be saying it’s a must win game if they want to win the league and rightly so.
“But we’ll go and enjoy playing on that pitch and enjoy pitting our wits against the potential champions and again see how good this young squad is.”
Longhurst has pinned their hopes on former Chatham Town, Lordswood and Ashford Town hit-man Rob Denness – the club’s flagship summer signing.
He said: “On the signings we’ve made notably Rob Denness has come in and chosen us over a host of clubs to give him his appetite back for the game and hopefully he proves a great asset to us.
“We’re pleased to announce James Hawkins was told to come and play for us by Tony Russell at Erith Town that was very kind of him to pass on such a talented young player with a bright future in the game just shows there still is good people in football being so generous to club like ourselves.
“We’ve improved year on year and again expectations are low for us with some big names in the league this year some new teams new managers and coaches which all bring a bit of excitement to the table along with budgets at these clubs comes expectation who will deal with that best.
“If I was a betting man, which I’m not, my money would be on VCD, Canterbury and Erith & Belvedere to challenge but time will tell so no bold predictions but a clear statement we can put out is anyone watching us this year will watch a team that plays attractive football and hopefully will see some good young players emerge and progress up the non-league pyramid buts let’s see in 10 games time as things pan out.
“Corinthian FC would like to wish all the clubs in the league good luck and look forward to another exciting season ahead.”
CRAY WANDERERS are urgently searching for a physio following Terry Groom’s departure to Chatham Town. If you can step in please call Joe Francis on 07949 990 114.
EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish has re-signed 20-year-old full-back Ryan Blake on a permanent basis.
The Northern Ireland under 18 and under 19 international played 11 times for the Fleet whilst on loan from Brentford in 2011, helping the Kent club to promotion to the Blue Square Bet Premier that season.
Blake also had loan spells with Woking, Farnborough and Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Daish told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: “It’s great to have Ryan back. He enjoyed his time here on loan and we got to see what a good young player he is.
“He remains very popular in the dressing room and on the terraces at Stonebridge Road.
“It may seem strange to sign a left-back when Joe Howe performed so well there last season in an emergency capacity, but signing Ryan will allow us to use Joe’s talents in other ways.”
Meanwhile, Daish’s rebuilding plans have moved a step closer to completion by the signing of experienced Phil Walsh from Dagenham & Redbridge.
Born in Hartlepool, Walsh grew up in Somerset and began his career with Almondsbury Town. Moves to Clevedon Town, Taunton Town, Bath City, Newport County and Dorchester Town followed before he joined Dagenham in the 2009/2010 season.
Loan spells with Barnet, Cheltenham and Hayes & Yeading followed, before the 6ft 3in tall striker was released by the Daggers at the end of last season.
Daish added: “I have followed Phil for a while. I wanted to bring in players who can handle the physicality of the Blue Square Bet Premier Division and Phil fits the bill.
“He’s a useful player to have around as he can operate in defence as well as leading the forward line.”
FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he missed key players during his side’s 4-0 defeat at Margate in midweek.
James Everitt and Lee Gledhill – who were unavailable at Hartsdown Park - while Roland Edge has returned from holiday.
On the minus side, however, midfielder Darren Smith is now away for a fortnight and will miss Folkestone’s Ryman League Division One South opener at home to Worthing on August 18.
Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “We were a bit short at Margate – and it showed! With Ratty(Everitt) and Gleds both missing we didn’t have a right back and I think all of their four goals came through there.”
And there’s more very good news concerning the vastly experienced Gledhill – the former Metropolitan Police and Maidstone United defender.
Cugley said: “When I signed Gleds for this season it was on the basis that he wouldn’t be available every week, but he’s sorted out all his shifts for the next month or so and should be okay for all our early league and cup matches.”
Meanwhile, Cugley confirmed Richard Atkins’ loan arrangement with Simon Austin’s Kent Hurlimann Football League side Canterbury City.
He said: “Richard’s at the age where he needs to be playing regularly and at the moment he wouldn’t get into our first choice eleven.
“It’s an arrangement that suits all parties. We’ll review it at the end of September and see where we go from there.”
Atkins’ absence will mean that fit-again striker Paul Jones will be in for a return to the side, and the once prolific former Ashford Town striker will be hoping for a long-overdue change of luck after an injury-stricken 18 months or more.
Cugley said: “Jonesey has worked very hard on his fitness and really deserves a bit of luck after being out so long.”
Speaking about the emergence of the club’s youngsters, Cugley said: “Mark Towse’s trained hard and like two or three others will be trying to force his way into the team.”
That includes youth team striker Ryan ‘Vinnie’ Philpott whose energy and enthusiasm have quickly made him a favourite with supporters.
“He’s done well and he’s a confident lad” said Cugley. “We worked on our shooting in training last night and Ryan was very much involved. He is a nice addition to have in the squad.”
Another highly promising youngster, Rowan Williams, has also impressed but Cugley says that Invicta will take things carefully with a player who is “only just 16” and who is expected to figure regularly for the under 18s in the Kent Youth League.
Injured wing-back/midfielder Josh Vincent is still awaiting the results of a scan on his groin/hernia problem and is itching to return once he gets the clearance from the medics.
Folkestone Invicta entertain Tommy Warrilow’s Tonbridge Angels on 11 August, seven days before the big Ryman League kick-off.
Cugley added: “We’re getting things sorted out both on and off the pitch and I for one can’t wait to get started.”
LORDSWOOD assistant manager Steve Arnold says they are ready for their Kent Hurlimann Football League opener tomorrow.
Jason Lillis’ side travel to Gay Dawn Farm to tackle a Corinthian side that finished in seventh-place and reached the final of the Kent League Cup last season.
Arnold told www.lordswoodfc.co.uk that pre-season has gone well at Martyn Grove.
He said: “Firstly I would like to say both the gaffer and myself have been very pleased with the work-rate and effort shown by all the players right throughout the whole club.
“I am pleased to say that things have gone very well, with the lads putting in some hard work and endeavor to attain the fitness levels they have now reached.
“If they are honest I think they would have to admit how surprised they are at the amount of ball work we have done during the pre-season and I had to laugh at one session when one of the players was heard to say he’d rather be running to get a rest!
“As we have all gone through the build up to the season the morale and camaraderie has grown within the club with a number of new players integrating into the squads.
“The quality of the players trialling this year has been very high. A few have signed which has raised the competition for places to a more healthy level, players are now having to compete for starting places which can only be a good thing going forward.”
Lordswood completed their pre-season campaign with a morale boosting 6-2 home win over neighbours Chatham Town in midweek.
Looking ahead to their trip to Corinthian tomorrow, Arnold said: “Are we ready for the season start? Well on the last run out definitely! This year we have gone about our business quietly, with very few press cuttings being published with news from our close lipped camp.
“Surprise package is what we are aiming for with as per usual people writing us off even before the boots are tied playing to our advantage.”
MARGATE have announced that Richard Avery and Tom Murphy have put pen to paper on new deals.
ROCHESTER UNITED have received a major boost on the eve of the new Kent Hurlimann Football League season with the return of last season’s leading goalscorer Stuart Zanone opting to leave Kent Invicta League side Ashford United before playing a league game for the Homelands club.
Glen Barlow’s side welcome last season’s runners-up, Erith & Belvedere, to Rede Court Road tomorrow with Zanone , who scored a last minute equaliser for the newly-promoted side in their 2-2 draw against Maidstone United last night, is ready to be unleashed on Micky Collins’ side.
A statement published by Ashford United on their website www.ashfordunited.co.uk said: “Having only just recently signed for the club, striker Stuart Zanone has decided to leave Ashford United and rejoin his former club Rochester.
“He said that he was unhappy and frustrated at being played out of position and felt that the best way that he could contribute to the club’s success was to be scoring goals.
“Having been given no assurances that things would change in the near future, and preferring to play football in his best position, the player decided that this could not be possible whilst remaining at Ashford.
“He said that he was disappointed to be leaving as he really liked the club but must think of his future in the game and therefore reluctantly decided that it was best to leave.”
SITTINGBOURNE are staging a meet the players’ session at their Bourne Park ground next Thursday, 9 August. The management team of brothers Jim and Danny Ward would like to invite all of the club’s fans to come along, watch the players train and ask the players and management any questions afterwards. The session will start at 7pm and close when the last person leaves.
SUTTON ATHLETIC welcome Hythe Town to their new ground at Lower Road tomorrow (3pm).
The Kent Invicta League side welcome Scott Porter’s side to their new ground in Hextable.
Admission is via a special matchday programme for £5, but supporters’ are advised to bring an umbrella as there is little cover at the ground.
The address is Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ.
THAMESMEAD TOWN have confirmed Jordan Johnson, who recently re-joined the club, has been released. The Ryman League Division One North club have confirmed their squad ahead of the new season.
Lewis Tozer, Lea Dawson, Ashley Probets, Danny Penny, Jack Hopkins, James Donovan, Chuck Duru, Rikki Cable, Danny Kerrigan, Richard Butler, Rob Budd, Ross Lover, Quentin Conteh, Oliver Poole, Rob Carter and Saleem Masari have all put pen to paper at Bayliss Avenue.
WELLING UNITED have confirmed that Kiernan Hughes-Mason has been called up to the Antigua under 20 international squad, where he will be travelling to play three matches early this month.
A statement published on the club’s website said: “The club are delighted to announce one of the current first team squad have been recognised by their national football association. Antigua and Barbuda have selected the Welling United forward for the upcoming Caribbean Football Union Under 20 World Cup Qualifiers.”
Antigua and Barbuda, Curacao, Dominica and Grenada make up the group and there will be three matches.
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