Gills new signing hoping for successful season
Ben Strevens says he is delighted to have signed for the club after agreeing a one-year deal following his release by Wycombe Wanderers.
The 32-year-old has had spells at Barnet and Dagenham and Redbridge in the past but teams up once more with Martin Allen who he played for while at Underhill.
The forward scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory against Dartford on Saturday in a pre-season friendly, and he’s hoping his goals during the league season can help the Gills achieve promotion to League One.
Speaking exclusively to the club’s official website he said:
“I’m delighted to have signed - I’ve been down here for a few days now. I’ve got to know the boys and the set up and thankfully everything got done Friday and I’m really happy.
“I’ve only seen it from afar for the last couple of years but I thought Gillingham were one of the stronger teams so hopefully I can add to that.
“There will be a couple more signings coming in and hopefully it will be a good year. The Chairman and Manager are both ambitious so fingers crossed this is our year.”
Strevens said as soon as he heard the club were interested he wanted to sign, but now says he needs to work on his fitness to match the condition of other players in the squad.
He said: “I’ve played against the club a few times now and I’ve enjoyed playing at the ground. I know the gaffer from my time at Barnet a few years back so when the opportunity arose I said straight away it was something I wanted to do.
“I had to come in and prove my fitness but it all went OK and I’m happy to have signed.
“The boys have been out in France doing a lot of hard training so myself and a few of the other lads have done a bit extra to try and catch up and that will probably be the case over the next week.
“I can’t wait to get cracking now, I’ll train hard next week and we’ll go from there.”
The former Brentford striker described what fans can expect of him when he’s in action.
He added: “I like to link play up – I can play up front, on the wing and in midfield. I spent the majority of last season playing on the left or right for Wycombe but I’m one of those guys who gives his all, I have always worked quite hard and I think that’s been the stand out part of the way I have played.
“Along with a few goals hopefully it will help the team to achieve some success.”
Strevens admitted it had been a tough off season for him, but now he has committed himself to a club he can’t wait to get started.
He said: “It’s been a frustrating summer to be honest –I’ve wanted to get going for the last couple of weeks. I’ve seen other teams return for pre-season and obviously I’ve been waiting thinking `What am I going to do? `
“I’m champing at the bit, I’m lucky to have met the boys so I haven’t come in not knowing anyone. I’ve played with a few of them in the past so I can’t wait.
“All of the hard training starts now; hopefully I’ll play well in pre-season and hopefully be in the first 11 for the first game of the season.
“All of the boys have been very welcoming – it’s part of the way Martin is, he tries to make you a very tight group with a good team spirit. I know Ross Flitney and Barry Fuller from my time at Barnet and also Lewis Montrose from Wycombe.
“We had a good year together and got promoted out of this league so fingers crossed we can do it again this year.”