Friday, January 2, 2009 13:38
Faversham Town's leading goal scorer Damian Abel has rejected the offer of Ryman League football and has opted to remain at Salters Lane under Manager Justin Luchford.
Abel was, this week, the subject of an approach by Ryman South's Folkestone Invicta but will remain a Lilywhite despite the fact that the 25 year old striker lives only yards away from the Buzzlines Stadium.
A relieved Luchford told www.favershamtownfc.co.uk " I am absolutely over the moon that he has decided to stay. This really does show commitment to the club and shows how far we have come as a club over the last 12 months.
Damian is enjoying his football more now than for many a year and that is showing in his performances. It would have been very easy to go back to Folkestone as he lives there and has just had a new born baby, so he had to take into consideration the traveling etc. But he plays for Faversham Town and he wants to stay at Faversham Town. It is fantastic news, it must have been a tough decision, but we get on well and he enjoys it here."
Currently the Kent Premier League's joint leading goal scorer with Ross Cable on 13 goals Abel will go head to head against the former Town striker Cable this weekend as the Lilywhites play host to Tunbridge Wells at Salters Lane where Cable returns along brother Rikki and former Town skipper James Holder.
Damian Abel - going nowhere
Saturday's fixture will also allow Luchford to unveil his latest signing to the Salters Lane faithful as Dave Botterill, a 21 year old midfielder, joins from Chatham Town.
Luchford continued " I am delighted to announce that we have today signed Dave Botterill (pictured left) from Chatham Town. Dave is currently top of their goal scoring charts for the 1st team and is a left footed midfielder.
It is a big signing for us to get a player from a higher level but Dave can see what we are trying to do here and also was impressed with the facilities we have at the club. I asked Clive Walker what he thought about Dave as Clive does some work up at Chatham and he told me he was a decent player.
I've had him watched a few times and I liked the reports I have seen back on him. He is pretty much the final piece of the jigsaw. I have been looking to strengthen the midfield for a while now and bringing in Dave and Tom Hickman, gives me plenty of choice in there. It does mean that there is competition for places now, which is a good thing. We are covered fully across the whole pitch now and so I am very happy with the squad. It's now my job to keep us all together and build and move forward like we have in 2008."
The Lilywhites kick-off against Tunbridge Wells tomorrow (Saturday) at 15:00