FAVERSHAM TOWN LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK WITH SOME EYE-CATCHING SIGNINGS

Sammy Moore switching the Potters Bar Town hotseat for the Manager's job at Faversham Town in November made the non-league headlines as at the time The Scholars were top of the Isthmian Premier Division and the Kent side were bottom of the South-East Division. 

The arrival of the former Concord Rangers boss along with a raft of signings including former Wycombe Wanderer's forward Adebayo Akinfenwa couldn't prevent The Lillywhites from dropping down to Southern Counties East League Premier Division for the 23/24 season - It will be the first time since the 09/10 they have played at Step Five. 

Club Chairman Gary Smart issued a statement on the club's website after relegation was confirmed which stated "Personally I take full responsibility as mistakes were made over the season. Mistakes that we will all learn from and work even harder to put right over the close season to bounce back for the 23/24 season. The True diehard Faversham Town supporters understand the journey we are on, and the project ahead of us.  Trust me when I say that everything will be done from now and over the close season to put us back on track with the project. It may just take another year longer. "

A number of eye-catching and impressive signings have been made by the club already. 

Defender/Midfielder Matt Newman has joined from Isthmian Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta where he has spent the last ten seasons . He made a total of 362 appearances for Invicta across two spells with the club. 

Midfielder Sam Hasler has also signed and counts Herne Bay, Folkestone Invicta and Cray Valley PM amongst former clubs. He has been with Hastings United for the past two seasons whom he helped to promotion from Step 4 to Step 3 in 2022. 

Mo Kamara has signed having previously represented Concord Rangers and Potters Bar Town amongst other clubs. He also played for Enfield Town last season and has a reputation as a hard working box to box midfielder with a real eye for goal. 

Another defender to make the move from Folkestone Invicta is the highly experienced Josh Vincent - he made over 600 appearances for Invicta. 

Striker Gary Lockyer has dropped down from Isthmian South-East Division side Ashford United. He has scored 38 goals for The Nuts & Bolts over the past two seasons. 

Jake McIntyre joins from another step four side in Ramsgate. The defendder has been Captain for The Rams over the past 3 seasons. He is another former Ashford United player. 

Midfielder Billy Bennett who helped Sheppey United win the Southern Counties East Premier Division title in 21/22 and then moved to Chatham Town midway through the 22/23 season. He was with the Isthmian South-East winner's from December to March and then joined Erith & Belvedere who won the Premier Division and were promoted to Step Four. 

Striker Ashley Miller has returned to the club he played for between 2017 to 2019. He has recently been playing for Ramsgate where he scored 16 goals last season. 

Jefferson Aibangbee has signed on a season long loan deal from Sheppey United. As well as representing The Ites last season he played on loan for Whitstable Town betting 9 times in 17 games for the SCEFL Premier Division side. 

Another player moving from Sheppey United is striker Warren Mfula who joins as Faversham Town's record 'undisclosed record signing'. He had been with The Ites since December 2021 and helped them to promotion from Step Five. He scored 28 goals for the Isthmian South-East Division side last season and 34 in their 21/22 SCEFL title winning season. 

Planning permission has also been granted for a state of the art 3G pitch and construction is well underway which should hopefully be in place for the start of the season. 

With a striker partnership of Mfula and Lockyer along with the impressive signings made The Lillywhites will start the 23/24 season as strong favourites for the Southern Counties East Premier Division title.

Despite being in the relegation zone throughout last season the average attendance at Salters Lane was just over 300 with 671 seeing their local derby game against Sittingbourne in March which coincided with Akinfenwa making one of his two appearances for the club. 

I'm sure they'll be some big crowds next season too! 

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