What we offered him was too good for him to turn down, says Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon

The 27-year-old has banged in twenty goals for Kent League side Rochester United this season, form that has taken the newly-promoted side into third-place in the table with 22 points from 13 games, ten points behind leaders Erith & Belvedere.

McMahon is delighted that his search for a prolific goalscorer has finally ended and Zanone will make his debut at Faversham Town on Tuesday night in the Ryman League Cup Third Round tie at Salters Lane.

“He’s something that I’ve been looking for, for the last six or seven weeks,” said McMahon.

“I’ve been monitoring his situation.  There’s been a lot of clubs looking to sign him and I’ve been waiting for the right time.   I’m really over the moon that he’s decided to sign for us.

“It’s just a little bit of a missing jigsaw that we’ve needed.  We’ve been playing fairly well recently and not taking the chances so hopefully the chances that we create someone of Stuart’s calibre will benefit us.”

Kent League leaders Erith & Belvedere and Blue Square Bet (Conference) South side Bromley have shown an interest in Zanone already this season.

McMahon added: “I wanted a proven goalscorer. There’s loads of people looking to loan players out, youngsters and club’s higher, but they’ve got no track record.  I know Stuart is the top goalscorer in the Kent League.

“He’s played for Harlow and Waltham Abbey in the Ryman Premier so he’s renowned and he’s played at our level and he will be a massive signing for us.”

When asked why he thinks Zanone has opted to play his football at Bayliss Avenue, McMahon said: It’s a higher level of football than the Kent League. I know there’s been a host of Kent League clubs after him and another Ryman League club – who I won’t mention that’s quite close – who wanted to sign him.

“We’re an ambitious club. We’re in a good position as well. We’re just outside the play-offs (in sixth-place, with 24 points from 14 games).

“He’s got good friends at Harlow, who we’ve played recently, who have told him good things about us and I think he liked what I had to say.

“He fancied it! We’re a club that’s turned the corner. We’ve got good facilities, the stadium’s nearly finished and I think it’s a challenge for him.”

McMahon thanked Rochester United manager Glenn Barlow for granting him permission to approach the Medway club’s most prized asset.

“It was hard for him to leave Rochester,” admitted the Mead boss.

“They’ve been brilliant to him.  Glenn let me speak to him, which I’ve got to say thank you for and give him a lot of credit and to leave there was a major wrench for Stuart because he wanted to win the Golden Boot in the Kent League but I think he could also see what we offered him was too good for him to turn down.  I know he’ll enjoy it and with his pedigree, he will score goals.”

McMahon will hand Zanone his debut against Faversham Town on Tuesday night in the Ryman League Cup.

“Yes, he’s in the squad tomorrow night and he will play,” revealed McMahon.

“We’re treating it seriously. There will be some players who will have a rest because the league is a bit more important and we’ve got a big game on Saturday against Waltham Forest which is massive.

“We’ll still be pretty strong and we’ll treat Faversham with respect.  They’ve had a great start to the season.”

Ray Turner’s side lie in sixth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 23 points from 14 games, one point adrift of the play-off zone.

“I like Ray over there a lot, he’s a top man,” said McMahon.

“It will be nice to get over there and see some nice people. I’ve always got on well with Faversham as a club and it will be nice to see Wendy (Walker), their secretary, who I know well and Tommy Sampson as well, which will be great!”

Thamesmead Town return to league action on Saturday, when fourteenth-placed Waltham Forest are the visitors to Bayliss Avenue.

McMahon said: “A tough game. They’ve had a great start!  Going forward they’re exceptional.  Again, I’ve had them watched, but we are at home though and our home record is second to none with only one defeat in seven.

“I’m hoping to have one more signing as well.  We’re going into it with confidence and I’m looking forward to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat against Grays.  It will be a tough game for us, like they are in our league, but hopefully with home advantage we can get three points.”

McMahon expressed his delight that there is now finally a light at the end of a very dark and deep tunnel and the club will move into their new facilities at Bayliss Avenue.

He said: “The ground is basically done.  We’ve got a moving in date of 9^th January, I think.  The power is going to be switched on next week, the mains power. We’re training now on the 3G pitch. Everything inside is done, the carpets are down, the changing rooms have been done. All the bar’s been done and the car park, which is a major issue at the moment and knocking down the old building and that’s it!”

McMahon added: “Listen, the last few years’ have been so stressful especially on myself and the rest of the committee and we just want it done and put it to bed.   I’ve had enough of it to be honest off the pitch but it’s only the football and how great it is that I’ve stayed on.

“I’m quite happy for it to happen and once it’s done the club can only go forward.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Ryman League Division One North, much-travelled striker, Jean Michel-Sigere has left Chatham Town and has signed for Crawley Down Gatwick, who are in fourth-place in the South division, three points behind joint-leaders Maidstone United and Hythe Town.

 
Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk  

Faversham Town  v  Thamesmead Town
Ryman League Cup Third Round
Tuesday 20^th November 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND