With the new season closing in, a lot of Kent’s non league football clubs are preparing for the 2014/ 15 season with some changes.
The first game of pre-season is tomorrow when Bromley host Dagenham and Redbridge at Hayes Lane. The Lilywhites are set to see Bradley Goldberg back after he signed a one year deal with the Daggers, Bromley fans will be able to see some of their own new signings, Moses Ademola is available after his move from Dover Athletic over the summer.
Staying in the Conference South, this week Ebbsfleet United confirmed the signing of Charlie Sheringham after the striker was not offered a new contract from League 2 AFC Wimbledon.
The Fleet players returned to training on Monday in preparation for their first game of pre-season against Dagenham & Redbridge on the 19th of July.
Dover, who beat Ebbsfleet in the Conference South play-off final, have announced their new kit manufacturers for the new season will be Macron. They are preparing for their first season in the Conference Premier since 2002.
Dartford are also preparing for another season of Premier football after Salisbury City were expelled from the league after they were unable to pay their debts.
The Darts signed Rory McAuley from Cambridge United this week after Paul Lorraine was unable to commit to their training schedule; McAuley returns to Dartford after making 20 appearances at Princes Park last season when he signed for them on loan whilst returning from injury earlier in the season.
After finishing 16th last season, Welling United are looking to build on their successful season and have signed midfielder Charlie Gorman from Eastbourne Borough, Gorman joined his Wings team mates on Tuesday as they continue to look forward to the new season.
Pre-season began for relegated Tonbridge Angels on Thursday as they prepare for their first season back in the Ryman League Premier since their promotion out of the league in 2011.
The county’s other Ryman league sides, Maidstone United narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season and reported to training for the first time this summer on Wednesday. Margate travelled to Dublin to face Irish Premier League side UCD, in a tough match they lost 3-0 in front of 20 away fans who travelled from Thanet.
In Division 1 of the Ryman League, Folkestone Invicta have made some changes to the Fullicks Stadium after their main stand was damaged in storms during the winter months, seats have now been installed in the Brian Merryman Stand and the Wilf Armory Stand which was formally the main stand has become an open terrace.
On Tuesday Ramsgate’s first team returned to training with 30 players attending, 11 of these players have already been signed by the club but Paul Murray has also allowed some players to stay with the club on trials as the Rams go through their pre-season schedule which starts on Saturday 12th of July when they face Phoenix Sports at Thamesmead.
Herne Bay added two more pre-season friendlies against Whitstable Town on the 15th of July and Thurrock on the 2nd of August, these are both at Winches Field after the ground was unable to host any matches over the summer last year due to pitch maintenance.
Down the A299 Faversham Town’s Jamie Maxted was included in the Ryman South team of the year whilst Sittingbourne begin their pre-season friendlies next week when they play Welling United at Woodstock Park.
Whyteleafe are getting ready for their first season in the Ryman South after they finished top in the SCEFL last season, in preparation for the new season they have been making huge improvements to Church Road, this includes the installation of a 3G pitch and putting a new fence around the perimeter of the pitch.