Yiadom pens contract to curb Deres' interest

CROYDON chief Dickson Gill has issued their Bulmers Cider Kent League rivals Erith & Belvedere a hands-off warning over Ben Yiadom, writes Stephen McCartney.

The former Greenwich Borough left-sided winger, penned a contract with Croydon this week, despite a heated tug-of-war between the two clubs in recent weeks.



ALL SMILES: Ben Yiadom (centre) signs his contract with Croydon, flanked by chairman/manager Dickson Gill (left) and secretary Barry Feist
Photograph courtesy of www.croydon-fc.co.uk

And Gill, the chairman and manager of Croydon, can now concentrate on Saturday’s opening game against Lordswood, a side that finished with only Sporting Bengal United below them in the table last term.

“You know what it’s like early part of the year,” Gill told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “Everyone comes out flying out of the box at 90mph, but you just have to take it how it comes.

“We’ve just done our work and look good - the boys’ are positive.

“I’ve been in football a long time, it’s all on the day, not how you look now, good or bad.”

With Lords manager Kevin Phillips keeping a very low profile, Gill admits he knows nothing about the Medway side.

He said: “I know nothing at all, only from last year. There’s nothing on the website, no-one’s told me anything!”

Gill, who says he’s strengthened “all over,” is looking for improvement on last season’s poor finish in the bottom six.

“The word on the street is that Erith & Belvedere, VCD and Hythe are going to win the league,” he said. “But they all can’t win it so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

“We’re not going to win the league but I think we’ll be a bit better than last year.

“Other people have stated we’ll win the league, but I’ve never said that.”

Gill urges local people to flock through the turnstiles to get the season off to a lucrative start.

He added: “We’re surrounded with lots of clubs in the area but we’ve got good supporters, who get behind us. We take them home and away as you’re probably aware.”

Visit Croydon’s website:  www.croydon-fc.co.uk

Croydon v Lordswood
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 9^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, London SE25 4QL