Saturday 25 June 2022

FROM AVELEY TO CANVEY ISLAND - NEW SIGNINGS FOR THE ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION TEAMS PART ONE

AVELEY 
Tom Stephen has joined from Bowers & Pitsea where he helped the club to the Isthmian North title and their historic FA Cup run to the First Round last season. He made 126 appearances for Bowers over four years with the club. The central defender has also played for Redbridge, Concord Rangers and East Thurrock United. 

Defender/Midfielder Jamie Dicks has rejoined the club from Bowers & Pitsea where he had spent five seasons making 151 appearances. He has also played for Romford and Thurrock.

Defender Ben Steward is the third player to move swap The Len Salmon Stadium for Parkside this summer. He played in the under 23 side for Bowers before playing 27 Isthmian Premier Division games last season. 

Benas Vaivada has signed from fellow Isthmian Premier Division Margate. A exciting and talented midfielder he scored four goals in twenty starts for The Gate last season. He is one of a number of players to recently move up the pyramid from Step Five side Tower Hamlets last season. 

Defender Emmanuel Dasho has signed from Isthmian South-East Division side Sittingbourne. He counted Sevenoaks Town, Glebe, Walthamstow and Witham Town.

Many of last season's North Division title winning squad have signed on for the Premier Division season including Harry Gibbs, Jon Nzengo, Marlon Agyakwa, Kenny Aileru, Alex Akrofi, George Sykes, Brendon Shabani, Connor Weatherspoon, Manny Ogunrinde and Garret Kelly

Two players departing Parkside are Rob Strachan and Billy Crook

Stratchan has joined National South side Welling United. He had been with The Millers since December 2021 when he was released from Sky Bet Championship side Millwall. He made 14 appearances in the Isthmian North last season. Crook has signed for fellow Isthmian Premier Division side Cray Wanderers with details shown below. 

BILLERICAY TOWN 
The Blues have made a number of very impressive signings as they look to show some bouncebackability and challenge for the Isthmian League title for the 22/23 season after relegation from the Vanarama South last season. 

Goalkeeper Harry Seaden, 21, moves from League One side Derby County. He came through the academy ranks of Southend United and spent time on loan with Colchester United, Cambridge City, Great Wakering Rovers and Dagenham & Redbridge whilst at The Shrimpers. He has International caps for England at under 16 and under 27 level. He Roots Hall in February and has been with Derby County since. 

Midfielder Montel Agyemang, 25, has joined after spending last season with Margate. Prior to his spell with The Gate he played for Welling United, Wealdstone, East Thurrock United, Maldon & Tiptree and Fisher FC. He started his career with Leyton Orient where he spent time on loan with Royston Town and Grays Athletic. 

Another Midfielder in Bradley Stevenson has joined from National South side Welling United. He counts Herne Bay, Hastings United, Cray Wanderers, Tonbridge Angels, Margate and Chelmsford City as former clubs after coming through the academy ranks at Gillingham. 

Winger John Ufuah has also signed. He spent time with Margate, Carshalton Athletic, Mertsham and Cymru Premier side Connahs Quay Nomads last season. He has also played for Dartford, Leatherhead, Three Bridges and Whitstable Town. 

Henry Burnett was with League Two side Crawley Town last season spending time on loan with Welling United. He has also played for Dagenham & Redbridge and Southend United. 

BISHOP'S STORTFORD 
The Blues were an incredibly strong team last season especially in the second half of the campaign losing only 5 of their 42 league games played. 

Their Manager Steve Smith has strengthened an already top squad so there is no doubting they will be one of the teams challenging for the title in the 22/23 season. 

Left Back Jay Porter has signed from National South side Braintree Town. He has previously played for Margate, Enfield Town, AFC Hornchurch and Thamesmead Town. 

Tosin Olufemi who was top scorer at Haringey Borough last season has joined Stortford. He can play at right back or going forward on the right wing. He has also played for Concord Rangers previously. 

Another former Enfield Town and AFC Hornchurch player has signed from Braintree Town. Midfielder Matt Johnson, 32, was The Iron's Captain last season and returns to The Blues were he made 141 appearances with 15 goals in a previous spell from 2012 to 2016. 

Right back Johnville Renee, 25, who was a first team regular with the club last season has left the club. 

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN 
Not much news of any new players in at Nyewood Lane yet. One who has left is defender Joe Cook, 22, has moved to National League side Chesterfield. He joined The Rocks from Havant & Waterlooville in 2020 after two loan spells. 

One player who stood out for the Sussex club last season was 19 year old forward Nathan Odokonyero. He joined from Lincoln City last summer and scored 22 goals over the course of the season. He recently spent time with the full Ugandan International side who were in England on a training camp. Standing at 6feet 6inches tall he has a massive future in the game. I'm unsure if he has committed to the club for the 22/23 season. 

BOWERS & PITSEA 
It will be a real new look Bower's side for the 22/23 campaign as Manager Rob Small and many of last season's squad have left The Len Salmon Stadium.

New Boss James Collins has begun the start of the new-era for the Essex club making three new signings so far. 

Defender/Midfielder Jamal Allen has joined for North Division side Tilbury and has also previously played for Hullbridge Sports.

The club's website has also announced the 'provisional capture' of Midfielder Freddy Moncur who was with North Division side Grays Athletic last season. He has played in the Premier Division for Margate, Wingate & Finchley and Bishop's Stortford. He came through the academy ranks at West Ham United.

Defender Dexter Peter, 26, has signed after spending time with Wingate & Finchley last season. He has payed in Essex before for Hullbridge Sports, Grays Athletic and Coggeshall Town. He was sent off on three occasions for Wingate in the 21/22 campaign versus Horsham in November, Folkestone Invicta in January and Brightlingsea Regent in February. 

BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT 
Brett Munyard has been busy making some signings for his first full season in charge of Regent. He has returned to his former club White Ensign to sign forward Luke Woodward who scored 18 goals for the Essex Senior League side last season. 

Attacking Midfielder Ollie Sotoyinbo has also joined from Southern Counties East Premier Division side Welling Town. He has also played for Hullbridge Sports where he was part of their Essex Senior League title winning squad in 2018/19 as well as Eastbourne United, Leatherhead and Haywards Heath Town. He scored 17 goals in 27 league and cup games for Welling Town last season. Sotoyinbo is likely to be a big fan's favourite with the Regent faithful. 

Striker Michael Salako has also stepped up from the Essex Senior League having played for Stansted last season. He has previously played for Hullbridge Sports, Tilbury, Maldon & Tiptree, Tooting & Mitcham, Walton & Hersham, Bowers & Pitsea and Tilbury.

Winger/Attacker Samuel Jeremiah has also signed up - He played some games for Basildon United last season and counts Walthamstow as one of his former clubs. 

Another attacking player who plays on the wing is Harrison Carnegie. He is another former Walthamstow player who has joined Regent. He is known as "the step over king" and played 43 times for The Stow last season scoring 9 goals.

One player leaving the club is defender Wyan Reid who has moved to National South side Cheshunt. He joined Regent for Concord Rangers in February - He made 18 appearances for The Beachboys last season. 

CANVEY ISLAND 
The Islanders return to the Premier Division for the first time since the 16/17 season. 

They have announced the signing of defender Reiss Chandler from Southend United where he played at u18 and u23 level. He played 3 games on loan for Aveley last season and 8 games on loan for Bishop's Stortford last season. He also played on loan with Harlow Town in the 19/20 season. 

Teddy Perkins joins from Tonbridge Angels. He is also a defender and played youth football for Leyton Orient as well as Burnley and Watford in the u23 squads. He has also played for Chipstead and Welling United. 

It was originally announced that Striker Evans Kouassi who was player of the year last season had departed from Park Lane. He scored 31 goals for the club last season and has now signed on for the 22/23 Premier Division campaign along with many of the squad who won promotion via the North Division play-offs. 

One player has made the switch from Island rival's Concord Rangers. Central Midfielder Odei Martin Sorondo played on a dual registration basis for the Canvey Island last season and was a stand out player. He has now signed on a permanent basis. 

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