Soccer Shorts: Welling United shares up for grabs for £450 each

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DARTFORD manager Tony Burman has sent striker Jack Pallen on a month’s loan to Ryman League Division One North neighbours Thamesmead Town.

DOVER ATHLETIC have completed the signing of winger Jemal Johnson.

The 26 year-old has signed until the end of the season after impressing boss Nicky Forster on trial.

He played in Whites' 7-0 friendly win against Whitstable on Wednesday, winning a penalty for the first goal.

Born in the United States, Jemal came to England at the age of five, signing for Manchester United and then Blackburn Rovers as a teenager.

After serving his apprenticeship at Ewood Park, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and Milton Keynes Dons. He spent three years with the Midlands club, scoring 12 goals in 96 appearances.

In the past year Johnson has experienced Bulgaria's top flight with Lokomotiv Sofia, where he was one of only a few foreign players. He left Bulgaria last summer and had a short spell with Southend United earlier this season.

Jemal will go straight into tomorrow's squad for the first ever visit of Truro City to Crabble.

FISHER are on the look-out for talented people who want to help us develop and grow our supporter-owned club.

The Fish, who are constituted as a not-for-profit co-operative organisation, have made huge strides since forming in 2009 in the wake of Fisher Athletic’s liquidation. Now, as chairman Ben Westmancott explains, the Kent League club are looking for people who want to help us take the next steps in our journey.

He told www.fisherfc.co.uk: “We’ve achieved a huge amount in the last three years: we’ve developed a competitive first team with ambitions for promotion, have just launched a Bermondsey-based football academy, improved our links with the local community including donating shirt sponsorship to Downside Fisher Youth Club and Time and Talents this season, and we are making progress in our plans to get back to Bermondsey.

“But we need help if we are going to continue this good work. We are looking for talented people who share our vision and values and who can contribute just a few hours a month to help us. This includes board positions as well as match day and behind the scenes roles. If you believe that clubs should be run sustainably, and want to help Fisher FC develop, then get in touch!”

He added: “To help us achieve our ambitious work programme we need the help of talented people who share our vision and values and practical help on match-days and behind the scenes. The jobs are all good fun, and because you’re working for a co-operative then all of our supporters, members and players will benefit from your efforts!”

The club are recruiting to the following positions:

·         Board members (we are particularly keen to hear from those with financial, legal, commercial and organisational development skills)

·         Match-day volunteers to help with pre-match preparations, hospitality, programme sales.

·         Fundraisers

·         Bookkeeper

The chairman added: “So if you share our passion to grow Fisher FC as a community club and create a new dynamic and multifunctional facility in north Southwark, and you have a few hours a month to spare, then we’d love to hear from you. Please  email with a summary of your skills and experience and we’ll be in touch. All positions are unpaid but we will provide an induction and reimburse reasonable expenses. The deadline for applying for this round of applications is 5pm on Tuesday 28^th February.”

If you would like to discuss any of these opportunities please contact the chairman, Ben Westmancott via ben@fisherfc.co.uk.

HERNE BAY have issued instructions to local fans ahead of tomorrow’s FA Carlsberg Vase Last Sixteen clash against Larkhall Athletic at Winch’s Field.

A club statement, published on www.hernebayfc.net  said: “If you are coming to the game would you please help the club by bringing the correct change for admission (£7 adults, £3 concessions and £1 kids).

“You could further help by leaving your car at home, or at least away from the club car park.

“In any event please do come and enjoy this historic game – it equals the furthest Bay have been in the Vase – and who knows, we may break new ground by getting a first ever place in the quarter-final.”

HYTHE TOWN secretary Martin Giles says the club are looking for a commercial manager.

He said: “The club is keeping an open mind regarding the hours/work involved and so would consider any persons who may just be able to do some match-day bookings etc, right up to an experienced applicant looking for a commission-based post.”

Initial enquiries can be made by emailing Mr Giles on martinrgiles@sky.com

Meanwhile, the Ryman League Division One South club have arranged their mouth-watering Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Semi-Final clash against Dover Athletic for Tuesday 28^th February, kicking off at 7:45pm.

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager Jay Saunders has unveiled the signing of goalkeeper John Whitehouse from Welling United.

Saunders told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: “John Whitehouse has joined us from Welling and brings a wealth of experience with him. John was a player we looked at the beginning of this season and then Jamie Day contacted me to say that he might be available as Welling were bringing in another keeper (former Bromley keeper Craig Holloway).

“I didn’t have to sell the move to John. He knows that he should be playing every week and so has twelve games to put himself in the shop window. We are looking to get into the play offs if we can’t win the league and if John does well and it works out for both parties then he could earn himself a deal for next season.

“I thought that Marc Powell did well on Tuesday night (a 3-0 defeat at East Thurrock United in the quarter-finals of the Ryman League Cup) with regards to his kicking and handling but he did make a mistake and we need to have two goalkeepers at the club so I was keen to bring John in.

“John has won the league with Dover and has played regularly at Conference South level. He is also a good influence in the dressing room and so he suits us in many ways.

Saunders, meanwhile, has brought Sean Johnson back from his loan spell with Kent League side Tunbridge Wells as “he wasn’t getting games and that wasn’t benefiting him.  He may end up going out to somewhere else this season but for now he will be with us.”

SEVENOAKS TOWN’S new signing Sam Jeremiah admits it's been a frustrating time waiting to make his debut for new club.

The 26-year-old striker completed his move from Sussex County League side Hassocks a couple of weeks ago, only for the cold snap to arrive and put things on hold.

Jeremiah signed off from his old club with both goals in a 2-2 draw at Three Bridges, and his move to Sevenoaks centres around a desire to play for a club closer to his home in Chislehurst.

He told www.sevenoakstownfc.org: "I was finding it difficult travelling to Hassocks and I had a word with Tony Beckingham, the former East Grinstead manager as I had no clue about clubs in Kent and so asked for his opinion.

"He put me in touch with Darren (Anslow), and I have been training with the boys, and now looking forward to start playing again."

Jeremiah has had spells with other Sussex League teams including St Francis Rangers, Horsham and Horsham YMCA, but was out of action for a year, after rupturing knee ligaments. He scored nine goals in 18 games last season before being sidelined.

An IT consultant in the City of London, Sam is a big Arsenal fan, and a prolific tweeter.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ashley Bourne has also joined Sevenoaks Town on work experience from Gillingham.

The youngster played against Chelsea in a friendly at the London club's Cobham training ground earlier this week.  He will also make his debut at Beckenham, with the game confirmed as taking place at Eden Park Avenue, after boiler problems were resolved on Thursday.

WELLING UNITED are delighted to advise supporters that it has instructed its solicitors Leathes Prior to commence the process of converting the club to a limited company and directly thereafter to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

Indeed, having gained approval from the current members of the Club to proceed, the first stage in the process is now well underway.

As the limited company is formed the club has decided to make 30% of the shares available to be purchased. Whilst the finer details of this have yet to be ironed out in respect of share subscription price it is likely that a figure of £450 is going to be the minimum amount an individual would need to pay if they would wish to obtain a stake in the newly formed company. This amount if paid would give the shareholder a parcel of shares. Once the transfer process is completed, further details of the opportunity to acquire a stake in your Club will be available, although anyone wishing to register an interest now should email WUFCIR@taxassist.co.uk.

A statement published by the Park View Road club on their website www.wellingunited.com said: “The one thing we cannot advise is how long the transfer process will take. Dan Chapman of Leathes Prior has advised us that there are a number of administrative processes we have to go through (including obtaining clearance from the FA, the Football Conference and also the London FA) but, as stated above, the process is now finally well under way.

“This is a testament to the hard work which has been carried out behind the scenes to get the financial accounts of the club in an order and position that allows us to contemplate this transfer.”

Meanwhile, any paying spectator for next Tuesday’s Blue Square Bet (Conference) South fixture with Havant & Waterlooville will be given a voucher entitling them to half-priced admission when the Wings host Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday 6 March.

General manager Barry Hobbins said: “We want to encourage as many fans as possible to come and get behind Jamie Day and the team. 

“The players have had a magnificent first half to the season and knowing the role our fans play at home then they would welcome as many fans as possible to take advantage of this offer.”