Kentish Football 
Strouts is the missing piece in the jigsaw, says Seager
VCD Athletic and Whitstable Town go face-to-face during Saturday’s mouth-watering Kent League showdown at Oakwood as both sides chase leaders Thamesmead Town, writes Stephen McCartney.
Thamesmead Town are the leaders with 32 points from their 13 games but Vickers and the Oystermen are both in hot pursuit just six points adrift.
But Whitstable Town, arguably the favourites to land the title at the end of the season, have three games in hand on their two rivals.
Saturday’s game, which is expected to attract a crowd of over 300 to the Crayford ground, will be the first in Whitstable Town colours for former Maidstone United skipper Jimmy Strouts.
The 35-year-old midfielder, whose played League and Conference football earlier in his career, will be given his debut against a VCD Athletic side that have strikers Leroy Huggins and Richard Sinden, former team-mates of Strouts, on top form.
Marc Seager, Whitstable Town’s manager, has high hopes for his new signing.
He told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk : “I’m always looking to improve the squad if I can and adding Jimmy to our strong squad is I believe be the missing piece of the jigsaw for us.
“The experience and professionalism that Jimmy will bring with him to this young side will I’m sure prove vital in our quest to gain promotion and bring some silverware to The Belmont.
“Last season Jimmy captained Maidstone United to the league and cup double, so he knows what it takes to be a winner and I feel sure that his experience from playing at the highest level in non-league football and being successful will help the youngsters and others who haven’t enjoyed much success in their careers handle and overcome the difficult times that lay ahead.
“The big plus point for me in signing Jimmy was the fact that even at 35 he still has ambition and desire to be successful and it is a massive boost for the club that he feels he can achieve this at the Belmont.
“The fact that wages have never come into the equation only goes to show that his football is more important because one thing this club hasn’t got is money but what it has got, on and off the pitch, is professionalism and the club knows how to look after players which is why it is easy to sell this club to any player wanting to join.”
Chairman Mr Tony Rouse was delighted that Seager was able to attract such a high-profile figure to the club.
He said: “It’s been said the signing of Jimmy Strouts is the missing piece in the jigsaw, I see it a bit different.
“I see Jimmy as the last brick in the foundation which Marc and the club are building for the future.
“We already have quality players at Whitstable, Jimmy will add some much need experience needed at times during a game when a player is needed to take control and settle the lads down.
“I met Jimmy for the first time last Saturday morning, but Marc and I have been quietly working at bringing Jimmy to Whitstable ever since we heard he’d parted company with Maidstone.
“As soon as Marc said he wanted to sign him, we wasted no time it setting up a meeting. When we spoke to Jimmy he made no secret of the fact he thought he would finish his career at Maidstone; equally he is excited that Whitstable will more than likely be his last club.
“He is a winner and determined to end this season on a high, and then we shall all sit down a talk about the future.
“I am pleased that Marc has conducted the addition of such a good player in such a professional manner, with other clubs chasing him it’s a credit to him and to the club that Jimmy will soon be wearing a Whitstable shirt.”
Martin Ford, meanwhile, is playing down all the pre-match hype.
“Saturday’s match against Whitstable, for us, cannot come quickly enough for our liking,” the VCD Athletic boss told www.vcd-athletic.co.uk.
“If we hold aspirations this season to finish top then we must take some points against the Oysterboys this weekend.
“The result will not have a baring the league title at this stage of the season but it will go a long way towards a title push from both sides.
“It should be a great game played by two good sides in front of a very healthy crowd.”
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VCD Athletic v Whitstable Town
Kent League
Saturday 2nd December 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd