Further news on a number of former players
THIS WEEK…A number of our former players made their debuts for their new sides during the first week of the new Football League season.
On Saturday Gavin Tomlin started for Port Vale in their opening League One fixture at home to Vale Park – the game ended 1-1.
Down in League Two Patrick Agyemang put Portsmouth in front against Oxford United at a sell-out Fratton Park but Oxford United fought back to spoil the party winning 4-1, also starting for Pompey was Andy Barcham.
Central defender Bondz N’Gala, who had recently been on trial at Priestfield before signing a one month loan deal with the south coast outfit, remained on the bench at the weekend but played in Tuesday’s cup defeat at AFC Bournemouth where Danny East also started.
Meanwhile Ryan Williams, the winger who came to Gillingham on loan from Fulham last season but failed to make an appearance, was an unused substitute for the U’s at Portsmouth but he made his debut in the 4-0 cup reverse at Charlton on Tuesday.
Last week Williams had moved to the Kassam Stadium on loan until January which followed him representing Australia three times at the summer’s Under-20 World Cup in Turkey.
Andy Frampton (above), Barry Fuller and Callum Kennedy made up three of AFC Wimbledon’s back four in their 1-1 draw at Torquay United for who Dale Tonge, who played three times for the Gills back in 2006-07, debuted.
Up at Scunthorpe Deon Burton made his first start as United beat Mansfield Town, who were returning to the Football League for the first time since May 2008, 2-0 at Glanford Park.
Michael Richardson (above) made his debut for Accrington Stanley in their 4-1 defeat at new boys Newport County. The 21-year-old Newcastle United midfielder joined James Beattie’s side on a one-month loan last week. He made two appearances for the Gills last season while on loan from the Magpies.
Midfielder Ollie Lee, the former West Ham loanee, made his debut for Birmingham City as a late substitute in their midweek Capital One Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle.
IN GERMANY…
Eintracht Braunschweig, Simeon Jackson’s new club, were the first top-flight side to tumble out of this season’s German Cup last weekend when losing 2-1 to Arminia Bielefeld from the division below.
Braunschweig who are preparing themselves for their first Bundesliga season since the 1984-85 campaign have recently lost 3-0 at home to West Ham but beaten Hull City in friendly matches. Other shock exits from the competition included Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
TRANSFERS…
Swindon Town winger Luke Rooney, now 22, has joined League One rivals Crawley Town on loan until January where he joins former Gillingham team-mate Connor Essam. Luke has struggled for first-team football ever since joining Paolo Di Canio’s Robins in January 2012 and has been on loan at both Burton Albion and Rotherham United. He made his debut for the Sussex side as an extra-time substitute in their 4-3 loss at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Former Arsenal youngster Rene Steer, who played five times for the Gills back in 2009, has been on trial back at Woking, another former club, playing in the Cards pre-season games with AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham.
Much-travelled experienced striker Leroy Griffiths, scorer of two goals in 25 games for the Gills after Mark Stimson brought him to the club in November 2007, is another to have joined a new club recently. The 36-year-old, who played at Redhill, Thurrock and Sutton United last season, has signed for Ryman Premier League Harrow Borough and he scored twice in a 3-3 pre-season friendly draw with a Crystal Palace XI.
26-year-old Tyrone Berry, the winger who made six appearances for the Gills back at the start of the 2008-09 campaign, has joined Skrill South Farnborough Town after impressing during the Hampshire clubs pre-season campaign.
YOUNGSTERS…
Four of the Gillingham’s former youth team members will all be starting the 2013-14 season at pastures new.
Striker Tommy Murphy has signed a one-year deal with Skrill South Dover Athletic having impressed boss Chris Kinnear during pre-season scoring against both Billericay and Whitstable Town. The 21-year-old has played for a number of clubs since departing Priestfield including Margate, also under Kinnear, last season.
Joining him at the Crabble will be midfielder Ashley Carew who has also signed a 12-month deal. The now 27-year-old was with Ebbsfleet United last season.
Former full-back Danny Walder, who had joined Tonbridge Angels in May 2010 after a spell at Dover, has been on the move once more joining Ryman League Division One South Herne Bay.
Young goalkeeper Dan O’Neill, who left the Gills last season, has agreed terms for 2013-14 with Ryman Premier League Margate where he is likely to be understudy to joint-manager Craig Holloway.
He has impressed during pre-season games against Chatham Town, Ramsgate and Welling United after Holloway spotted him at a PFA scouting event.
OTHER FORMER TRIALISTS…
Mark Hughes, the former Barnet midfielder who was on trial with the Gills last season before joining Eastleigh, has been on the move once again joining fellow Skrill South side Chelmsford City managed by Dean Holdsworth
Wycombe Wanderers goalscorer in their 1-0 home win against Morecambe on Saturday was winger Paris Cowan-Hall where team-mates included captain Stuart Lewis in midfield and Leon Johnson in central defence while Jo Kuffour was on the bench. Cowan-Hall, who spent last season with Plymouth Argyle, had been on trial with the Gills during Andy Hessenthaler’s second spell as manager at Priestfield.