Summertime Blues (and Reds) continued

As an outbreak of football rudely interrupted this thread, I will need to restart it. To recap where I left it, Gillingham and Tonbridge both finished the season manager-less but Peter Taylor has a new two-year contract and Tonbridge have chosen Steve McKimm as their new boss.

Tuesday, 15th July: Gillingham won their second match of pre-season 2-0 at Bromley with goals from Danny Kedwell (pen) and Brennan Dickenson, whilst their Development XI drew 2-2 at Rochester United. Stanford got another 45 minutes and I'm hoping that he will still be trialling on Saturday when I get to see Gillingham at Welling United.

Friday, 11th July: Gillingham begin their pre-season with a comfortable 3-1 win at Folkestone Invicta. Goals from Danny Kedwell, Brennan Dickenson and Doug Loft cancelled out the home side's opening goal. Josh Stanford was a surprise triallist for the Gills and from reports he did pretty well. It is thought that he would get another run-out in their next match at Bromley.

Saturday, 5th July: Tunbridge Wells finally break the world's worst kept secret and announce the signings of Brendan Cass and Aaron Lacey, they do manage to spring a surprise though with the signing of Nick Barnes, a favourite from Cass's time down at Longmead. All should do well at SCEL level.

Thursday, 3rd July: Peter Taylor captures Luke Norris, a 21-year-old striker from Brentford for a fee to be decided by the compensation rule. Very limited opportunities at Griffin Park, but has done well in loan spells. Taylor is building a young, vibrant looking squad but I will be relieved to see the odd experienced defender added to the squad. At present the opening game at Milton Keynes could be 7-6 either way.

A second signing of the day does indeed bring a defender. John Egan, a 22-year-old central defender, arrives from Sunderland. A Republic of Ireland international at youth age groups, Egan has failed to make a breakthrough at the Stadium of Light, but enjoyed a successful loan spell at Southend last season.

Monday, 30th June: A new look website goes live at www.tunbridgewellsfc.com and very impressive it looks too and with player registrations to be confirmed tomorrow we should have a clearer idea of the strength of the Wells' squad at that point.
Chris Whelpdale has opted to leave Gillingham in favour of League Two football at Stevenage, best wishes to a player that never quite fufilled the potential of his previous loan spell.

Experience has two ends of the scale and this arrives at Gillingham in the shape of Brennan Dickenson, a 22-year-old forward from Brighton and the appointment of 70-year-old Tony Burns as goalkeeping coach. Dickenson has never made a first team appearance at the Albion and 31 games on loan at various places have yielded just four goals. It does give rise to thought that he won't be challenging McDonald and Kedwell in the immediate future. Burnsie's arrival is a blast from my youth with memories of his time at Tonbridge back in 1961 before gaining a move to Arsenal around 1963. He went on to manage Tonbridge in three different spells.

Friday, 27th June: Josh Stanford, Tunbridge Wells' Vase hero, has returned from Australia and is going to trial at Ryman Premier League, Maidstone United pre-season alongside his old mate, Jack Harris.

Tuesday, 24th June: Cast your eyes down to the fixtures release on 18th June. As said there, my attention was particularly on the visit to Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium. 13th December, just before Christmas, perfect, or so I thought. Less than a week later, a wedding invitation drops onto the mat, 13th December. As Victor Meldrew would have said, I don't believe it. People don't even get married in December, do they? The Keepmoat seems to be aligning itself alongside Ewood Park and the Riverside as stadiums that are going to forever elude me.

Monday, 23rd June: Nathan Green has made it into the Football League, signing a one-year contract with Dagenham and Redbridge of League Two.

Friday, 20th June: Ex-Ramsgate manager, Justin Luchford is added to Steve McKimm's coaching staff and the Big Man, Adebayo Akinfenwa, finds himself a new home at AFC Wimbledon.

Wednesday, 18th June: Gillingham will start their season with an away fixture at Milton Keynes on 9th August and then welcome Yeovil to Priestfield, four days after their trip to the West Country for the League Cup tie. Boxing Day brings a visit to Colchester United and the season is brought to a close at home to Notts County. Looking forward to my only new ground, Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium, on 13th December.

It's probably been easier to winkle a bit of news out of North Korea than Culverden Stadium this summer and the first official player news is disappointing. Lewis Mingle, Tunbridge Wells' popular full back, has opted to join Hythe Town, thus stepping up a level to the Ryman League.

Tuesday, 17th June: Gillingham's midfield is further strengthened with the signing from Fulham of Josh Pritchard. 22 years-old, there has been an emphasis on youth with the signings this summer, Pritchard is a product of Manchester United's academy but has found opportunities in the Premier League very limited. The first competitive game of the season to be announced comes with an away draw at Yeovil in the Capital One Cup. Tomorrow is fixtures release day, always brings the season that little bit closer.

Saturday, 14th June: I have resisted the temptation to post about the situation regarding Tonbridge's possible reinstatement to Conference South as it was ongoing and would have taken a column in its own right. Today, the murky waters of Conference politics seem a little clearer and it does appear that Tonbridge will be playing their football next season in the Ryman Premier. Salisbury City, the subject of the confusion, with a dodgy new owner and unpaid debts, will be relegated from the Conference Premier rather than being thrown out altogether as were Hereford United. This, ultimately, gives a reprieve for Dartford, but not for the Angels. If anybody from beyond these shores reading this blog are somewhat confused, then I suggest they do some googling, but on the other hand, I wouldn't suggest that they waste hours of their life. Personally, given that relegation was accepted and that the new manager has built his team for the Ryman Premier, I think it may well have been damaging to be reinstated to the higher league with a team that might not have been capable of sustaining their position. What I think of the Conference administrators though is not printable.

Meanwhile, two departures from Longmead are Henry Muggeridge who has joined Lewes and coach Simon Balsdon.

Tuesday, 10th June: With Hessenthaler and Dack expected to form a regular pairing at the heart of Gillingham's midfield next season, the signing of Port Vale's captain, Doug Loft may be the significant bit of business done by the club this summer. Loft rejected a new contract at Vale Park to return to his home county of Kent and will add the experience needed in what might look a very youthful midfield.

A second striker, Billy Medlock, has arrived at Tonbridge from Eastbourne Town. Medlock scored goals aplenty last season in Ryman South. Another relative youngster at 22, McKimm's squad has a youthful look about it.

Saturday, 7th June: Tom Parkinson, a 22-year-old full back and part of Leatherhead's successful promotion winning side from last season has joined Steve McKimm's Longmead revolution, or should that be evolution? With emphasis being made that some of the youngsters from the reserve team will be given an opportunity next term, I would think we now have enough to put out a team.

Thursday, 5th May: Bidding au revoir to Chris Piper, Mark Lovell and Louis Cumbers from Longmead is countered with the signing of Tommy Whitnell, a striker who plied his trade at Dulwich Hamlet last season. Pipes and Loves departures are to be regretted but McKimm is slowly but surely putting together a brand new squad that is creating a feel good factor for the new season ahead.

Tuesday, 3rd June: Gillingham's third signing of the summer is an exciting one with Jermaine McGlashan arriving on a free from Cheltenham Town. A pacy winger with more than a few tricks in his repertoire, from my memory he will thrill and frustrate in equal measures. But, that said, I would put him in the good signing category.

Monday, 2nd June: Jerome Sobers, a 28-year-old central defender, arrives at Tonbridge from Maidstone United. Proof, at least, that the A26 is not a one-way street.

Thursday, 29th May: And he's back! Two spells as manager, one as director of football, a million games for the club, Mr Gillingham, Andy Hessenthaler, returns as assistant manager to Peter Taylor.

Taylor's first player signing of the summer doesn't suggest "competition for Stuart Nelson". Glenn Morris, 30, arrives from Aldershot as the back-up goalkeeper.

Two Morris' arrive on the same day, Aaron Morris, a 24-year-old defensive midfielder, arrives from AFC Wimbledon.

Wednesday, 28th May: Faversham Town have announced the departure of Brendan Cass and Aaron Lacey to Tunbridge Wells. Brendan was a firm favourite with Tonbridge supporters during his spell at the club and has pretty much scored goals wherever he has played. Lacey comes to the club with a huge amount of experience, making a record near-250 appearances for Maidstone United. Two excellent signings for Martin Larkin.

Sunday, 25th May: The door at Longmead is most definitely marked In as the Steve McKimm revolution continues. Midfielder Lee Carey, who spent a period on loan at the club back in 2008, returns to Tonbridge and a player that won a Sky talent contest in 2005, Dee Okojie, a winger, joins from Kingstonian.

Friday, 23rd May: Good news that, with the signing of Kyle Merson, a 21-year-old goalkeeper from Staines Town, Tonbridge now have enough players for a 5-a-side team. It is said that he is the son of Paul Merson, but I cannot find any evidence to back-up the rumour.

Thursday, 22nd May: A welcome to Tonbridge Angels for James Folkes, Ben King and Harry Harding.

Wednesday, 21st May: Fond farewells are bid to Adam Birchall, who has signed for Bromley and Tunbridge Wells' Andy Irvine who is "seeking a new challenge".

Tuesday, 20th May: Bayo Akinfenwa opts to refuse his contract offer and leave Gillingham. He has been the best hold-up player with his back to goal that I've seen at Priestfield. He will be missed, his partnership with Cody McDonald was second to none, but it is definitely time to move on.

Sonny Miles confirms he will play for Maidstone United next season. Enough said.

Friday, 16th May: Sonny Miles and Henry Muggeridge have declined their new contract offers. Muggeridge is said to be waiting to see what offers he might get, but McKimm has withdrawn the contract offer, whilst Miles is definitely seeking pastures new.

The Southern Counties East have decided, not before time, that their league will next season increase to 20 clubs with the addition of Erith and Belvedere (relegated from Ryman South), Crowborough and Lingfield moving across from the Sussex County League and Croydon from the Combined Counties League.

Thursday, 15th May: Gillingham announce their retained list and nine players will leave the club after not being offered contract renewals. The big names on the list are Steven Gregory, Myles Weston, Charlie Lee, Craig Fagan and Adam Burchill. Gregory and Weston may come as a surprise to some supporters. Chris Whelpdale and Adebayo Akinfenwa are considering contract offers with Whelpdale attracting interest from Stevenage and Bayo a return to Northampton.

Tonbridge have made contract offers to Chris Piper, Sonny Miles and Henry Muggeridge.

Monday, 12th May: Danny Kedwell signs a new two year contract. Great news and proves most rumours are what they are ... rumours. Along with every other Gillingham supporter, the two names we wanted tied up were Kedwell and Nelson. All done and dusted, eight days from the last game, for the rest we can be a little more patient.

Meanwhile at Tonbridge, the first name to put pen to paper under the Steve McKimm regime, is long-term servant, Jon Heath.

Sunday, 11th May: Pre-season friendlies: I'll keep the list updated on this dateline.
Gillingham:
Friday, 11th July Folkestone Invicta (a) 19:45
Tuesday, 15th July: Bromley (a) 19:45
Saturday, 19th July: Welling (a) 15:00
Tuesday, 22nd July Dartford (a) 19:30
Tuesday, 29th July Dover (a) 19:45
Saturday, 26th July Ipswich Town (h) 15:00
Saturday, 2nd August Ebbsfleet (a) 15:00

Tonbridge
Tuesday, 15th July Dover (h) 19:45
Saturday, 19th July Eastbourne Borough (h) 15:00
Tuesday, 22nd July Stevenage (h) 19:45
Saturday, 26th July Ramsgate (h) 15:00
Tuesday, 29th July Farnborough (h) 19:45
Saturday, 2nd August Walton Casuals (a) 12:00

Tunbridge Wells
Tuesday, 8th July Rusthall (a) 16:45
Saturday, 12th July Eastbourne Town 15:00 (at Hayesbrook)
Saturday, 19th July Crowborough (h) 15:00
Tuesday, 22nd July Ramsgate (h) Cancelled
Saturday, 26th July Folkestone Invicta (h) 15:00
Tuesday, 29th July Lydd (a) 19:45
Saturday, 2nd August Maidstone United (a) 15:00