Thamesmead Town have confirmed that the Jersey FA will send their representative side to play at the SCT on Saturday 1st August with a 3pm kick off.

This is the result of many phone calls and faxes between the club’s offices and the Island and is going to be a great day in the club’s history as the Jersey FA side (who are currently looking into playing in the English Pyramid as their Guernsey “cousins” do in Ryman One South) have never played a side from Thamesmead’s League on the mainland.

The club’s managing director Paul Bowden Brown told the official TTFC website, “Obviously we’re delighted that we’ve been able to get confirmation that Jersey are coming. I’d like to thank Neville Davidson of the Jersey FA for all his help in arranging the fixture after many communications.”

“It’s great that the game will also be played on Saturday 1st August as that’s the same day as there’s going to be a Fun Day at our Sporting Club Thamesmead home for the whole of the Thamesmead area which is being run by our landlords the Peabody Trust – it’s going to be a great day which we all hope will highlight a terrific achievement for the club!”

Mead boss Terry Spillane said, “it’s an excellent game to have – it promises to be a great day for the club and is the ideal culmination of our pre season campaign; something that doesn’t come around very often and we hope that it’ll attract the attention that it deserves and undoubtedly the flag ship of our pre season.”

“You never know it may become an annual game. It’ll be a real good test for the season ahead – it’s probably the strongest Ryman League that I’ve known, but it’ll be a great day for the players and everyone at the club!”

The club have also announced the signing of goalkeeper Andy Walker and winger Nathan Korangten.

Keeper Walker played against the Mead in the last game of last season for Harlow Town having joined them from Thurrock and boasts a highly successful spell at Maidstone also on his CV.

Wide man Korangten joins forces with Terry Spillane again as he was the last signing the Mead boss made when he was in charge at Maldon & Tiptree. He started his career as a youngster at Peterborough United before enjoying a spell at St Neots Town.

Speaking about his new signings, Mead boss Spillane was naturally in a good mood. “Two great signings for the club which I think will show a lot of people just what our aims are for the coming season.”

“It’ll be great to work with Nathan as I didn’t really get a chance to at Maldon. I’ve kept tabs on him and I’m pleased to say that when the chance came he signed.”

“Andy Walker meanwhile in my view is one of the best keepers at our level and with all the experience that he has, it speaks volumes of the targets we’re aiming for as a club.”

“I hope that signings such as these and the ones that we’ve already made are a true indication just where we’re hoping to go with the club this season!”