We've got to have a structure in place of producing our own players, says Faversham boss Ray Turner

FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Ray Turner says he is excited about the prospect of giving youngsters the chance at Salters Lane next season, writes Stephen McCartney.


Turner announced his retained list this week, which currently stands at 21 players, including his two summer signings so far, midfielders Darren Marsden and Michael Yianni, who have joined from Herne Bay and Whitstable Town respectively.

Turner will need to sit down with striker Richard Sinden to discuss his future and Dane Luchford could team up with older brother Justin, who was appointed Horsham’s manager at the beginning of the month.

Turner has confirmed the players that are staying at the club.

Goalkeepers:
Rob French
Dan Ellis

Defenders:
Matt Bourne
Ashley Brown
Sam Gore
Jack Baldwin
Michael Scott
Michael Dodsworth

Midfielders:
Tom Hickman
Dave Botterill
Justin Ascheri
Simon Brown
Michael Yianni
Darren Marsden
Dean Grant
Dave Bathgate
Mobola Dawodu

Strikers:
Damian Abel
Dan Ellett
Tommy Hill
Jo Lester

Turner said: “I’m pleased with the response from the players from the back end of the season and the fact that they’ve all indicated to me that they’re quite happy to continue and carry on doing what we’ve been doing since the back end of last season.

“It forms the basis of a good squad, I believe, with a little bit of tinkering and a couple of players here and there, I’m pretty happy with it.”

Turner is pleased to have secured the services of Yianni and Marsden – Marsden was clearly the most talented player in the Kent League.

“Is that what you think?” said Turner.  “I think he was certainly one of my main targets, Darren.  We spoke to him quite early on, as we did Michael.  They were keen to come over.  We had a good conversation with both of them and the deal was done very quickly.

“They’re both ambitious and they both want to play at a good level.  It’s a good age for them and they’ve come at a stage of their career where they’ve got experience and they’ve still got ambition and drive to carry on.

“From my point of view it complements the squad that we’ve already got.  We’ve added to a couple of areas where we needed to add to. We were happy anyway.  I was just looking to tinker around, maybe get a couple of new faces up front and then we’re finished.”

Turner says he will look for more experience to partner Abel up front, although he admitted he will give his youngsters a chance during the course of the season.

“I’m very much a fan of younger players but it’s good to start the season with a good senior squad and introduce the younger players when you go on,” explained Turner.

“We’ve picked up a couple of players that have come through the system in Michael Scott and Jack Baldwin and hopefully we can do the same.”

Speaking about Sinden’s future, the Faversham boss said: “Richard Sinden’s still on the scene.  He was on holiday at the time when we signed all of the players but we are just looking to strengthen and give us a few options in that area.

“He’s been on holiday so we haven’t actually had a chance to meet up yet but he’s indicated he would like to stay at the club but he’s had a couple of offers as well so it just depends on what happens in pre-season so hopefully that will be resolved in pre-season.”

Speaking about Dane Luchford’s future, Turner said: “I don’t know for sure.  The paper’s reported it’s quite a good story in the sense that the brothers link up again but I’m not sure whether Dane’s going down there (to Horsham).

“I’m sure Justin has given him some sort of offer to go down there.  I wish Justin all the best, hope it works out alright for him and makes a success out of it.  I won’t be surprised Dane’s gone down there.  I think he’s got some options he’s considering.”

Faversham Town launch their one-year apprenticeship scheme this summer and Turner is relishing the opportunity of developing their own talent.

“Tom Hickman, who is the club’s captain, works at the college and he works on a day-to-day basis with the Academy boys and we want to launch our own one (an one-year apprenticeship scheme) at Faversham,” said Turner.

“It’s a case from my point of view of building the club up.  It’s very important we’ve got the structure right.  You have to focus on the first team, which is fine, but these days you’ve got to have a system and a structure in place of producing your own players.

“With the under 18 Ryman side starting off this year and the under 18 Kent side and a young reserve side, the Apprentice side just bolts onto that.  Sixteen-to-eighteen year old’s can get day-to-day coaching as to suppose to the limited coaching we can provide as a Ryman club and bringing them in for evening coaching.  The day-to-day coaching will benefit them.”

Clive Walker, a full-time coach, will work with the youngsters, as well as coaching Faversham’s first team squad.

Turner said: “Clive will take the day-to-day coaching of that.  There’s various courses they can take as well with it.  It will have various bolt on’s that the boys can pick up qualifications so it’s just not football.  We’ve got an open day before the Dover game on 9 July so boys aged 16-18 are welcome to come along and find out what it’s all about.”

Turner confirmed that the club will not be competing in any academy league's.

For more information visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk