Archives: News

DUNNE DEAL

Midfielder joins the Whites.

We are delighted to welcome experienced midfielder James Dunne to Crabble. Dunney was at Welling United last season where wore the captains arm band. Dunne started his career at Wimbledon’s youth academy, before moving to Arsenal in 2004. He was loaned to Nottingham Forest in 2008, where he made no first team appearances, He joined Exeter City in July 2009 after his release from Arsenal, and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club over three seasons. In May 2012, Dunne joined League One club Stevenage. He was loaned to Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone in 2014, where he won the Scottish Cup. He signed for Portsmouth in 2014 and joined Dagenham and Redbridge on loan in 2015. He signed for Cambridge United in 2016 and then Swindon in 2017. He moved onto Barnet and then Southend United before playing for Welling United in the 2022/23 campaign.

Welcome to Crabble, Dunney.

COYW

STRIKER – DID YOU HIT THE NET?

Latest Striker results for Wednesday 19th July

Congratulations to all the winners and better luck next time if your name wasn’t drawn out. It could well be your time next week.

For anyone who doesn’t know how the Striker Lottery works well let me explain if for you. Each week, so long as you have paid your £1 weekly subscription, your number will be entered into a draw. If your number is drawn, congratulations – you’re a winner! It’s as simple as that. The draw is held every Wednesday. Keep an eye on the website and social media pages for full details. Who knows, your number could scoop the £1,000 top prize.

Please note that only paid-for tickets are entered in the draw. For your convenience, your membership fee can be collected from you, or you can pay at the Club Office or, to save time, you can pay monthly or quarterly by standing order.

Contact [email protected] to register your interest and good luck

ALLEN ADDS TO THE SQUAD

Another new signing arrives at Crabble.

Ifeanyi Allen joins the squad to add more pace and attacking guile to the team. The former Yeovil, Torquay, Ebbsfleet and Maidstone winger can play on either flank as well as through the middle.

Allen began his career at 14 with Fulham before moving onto Barnet where he signed a two year scholarship deal.

Welcome to Crabble, Iffy.

COYW.

ACADEMY AT IT AGAIN – YOUNGSTERS MARCH TO VICTORY

Youngsters excel at St Georges.

Following on from their National Youth League success, Mike Sandmann and his squad of impressive youngsters headed to the home of English football, St Georges Park, to play in the U18-21 VAR tournament. The competition was used as a training aid for Premier League referees, as they continue with the development of the VAR system.

It was a great experience and the academy return the trophy for the fourth year running. – Mike Sandmann

The young Whites won 6, drew 1 and lost 2 on their way to the final where they nicked the only goal in a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Tim Marapara winner. First team George Wilkinson, Luke Baptiste and George Nikaj were also involved in the competition with Nikaj claiming the golden boot. Tom Green scored what many consider to be the goal of the competition as the youngsters marched on to glory.

Mike Sandmann spoke of his delight following the team’s victory. ‘Really pleased for the group who showed great character over the two days. We played a total of 10 matches and there were some really tired legs out there for the final but you would have thought it was our first game and that’s credit to the character and mindset of the group. It was great to have some of our graduates back due to this being an U18/21 tournament and it’s always great for them to win a trophy and have a winners medal around their neck.

It was a great experience and the academy return the trophy for the fourth year running.’

Well done, lads.

5 SIGN AS BRUNDLE BOLSTERS SQUAD

Mitch Brundle adds to his squad.

Joshua Anifowose & Michael Olarewaju had their clearance from the National League and FA today to add to Mitch Brundle’s squad as well as three new additions from the Academy.

Anifowose has played for Oxford United in both League One and the Papa John’s Trophy with the 19 year old having featured for the u18’s, as well as Colchester United U21’s. Olarewaju had spent the beginning of last season with Cheshunt in the National League South before the defender headed to Wingate and Finchley, where he scored twice in 5 appearances.

Academy graduates Matty Holness, Henry Young and Archie Hatcher have been promoted to the first team squad, following their impressive performances last season in winning the National Youth League and also impressing the manager during pre-season.

This adds to the already signed George Wilkinson, George Nikaj, Luke Baptiste, Peter Ojemen and Imran Kayani.

Squad numbers are still to be decided so we will update these prior to the season commencing.

Welcome to Crabble, lads.

COYW.

COMMUNITY DAY & OPEN TRAINING SESSION

Come and get involved as we throw our first community day.

With the re-energised Community Trust team being assembled in the summer, we look forward to throwing our first community day of the season. Come along and see what fun and entertainment we will have at Crabble, with the added bonus of the first team completing an open training session, followed by an in house match. We would love to see some new faces as well as old, so why not bring a friend or family member, and come and take a look at what we will be doing this campaign. And best of all, admission will be FREE for all.

Following the first team training session there will be some live music in the Centre Spot with a chance to meet and greet the players and management team. Why not bring along something for them to sign?

The running order for the day will be as follows:

12-2pm – Inflatable Football Pitch supplied by the Football Fun Factory
Face Painting and Temporary Tattoo’s
A Shirt Raffle
Raffle to Win a Bucket of Booze.

Raffle tickets will be £1 each but the face painting and inflatable football is FREE and will be held on the community pitch behind the stadium.

2pm – First Team begin Open Training Session on main pitch
2.45/3pm – First Team in house match
4-6pm – Live Music from Turmoil, in the Centre Spot.

We hope to see as many of you there as possible.

COYW.

STRIKER – DID YOU HIT THE NET?

Latest Striker results for Wednesday 12th July

Congratulations to all the winners and better luck next time if your name wasn’t drawn out. It could well be your time next week.

Contact [email protected] to register your interest and good luck

THE VOICE – IS IT YOURS?

The Whites are on the lookout for a volunteer PA announcer to join our team of announcers.

We are looking for a volunteer PA announce to work as part of the team covering matchdays works on a rota basis. Your role will be to read out the teams, goals, substitutions and any other announcements that you would normally hear on a matchday.

A free meal will be provided for the candidate.

For anyone interested in the position please contact [email protected]

2023/24 FIXTURES ANNOUNCED

We take a look at our 2023/24 schedule.

We kick off our 2023/24 campaign with Torquay United visiting Crabble on the opening day of the season. The Gulls will make the long trip east on August 5th to begin what will be another exciting season in the Vanarama National South. Notable dates for your diary are the Kent derbies against Maidstone United, which will be played in November (A) and March (H). The Christmas fixtures have us playing newly promoted Avely (H) Boxing Day and the reverse on New Years Day.

Our final game of the season will see us at home to the Glovers as Yeovil Town head to Crabble in what will no doubt be an important title decider for both teams. Leicester City were given odds of 5000/1 to win the Premier League in 2016 and if you want to put that into some context, the bookmakers that year were offering 3000/1 on Elvis Presley showing up and 500/1 that you would find the Loch Ness monster. So why can’t we dream, eh?