Wednesday 18/6/08

‘Cords’ go for experience with new man Haule. 
 

With just two players departing the succesful Staines Town camp over the summer, Manager Steve Cordery is clearly largely happy with his squad as they attempt to go one better and finish top of the pile in the Ryman Premier in the coming season. None the less, the odd new face was always expected and ‘Cords’ has considered his options carefully before naming the experienced Davis Haule from Hendon as his first new recruit. 
Haule, now aged 32, transfers to the ‘Swans’ from last season’s Premier Division ‘surprise package’ Hendon, where he enjoyed a consistent season scoring eight times from thirty-six appearances, largely as an attacking midfielder, but sometimes as an extra striker. At over 6’ tall, he’s a commanding presence and has great strength and skill. With a wealth of experience behind him, Davis has previously played for Yeading (winning the Ryman League title in 2007,) Harrow Borough, Wembley and a spell in the Conference with Woking, whilst also enjoying some overseas professional football in the United States and Finland. Signing a contract at Wheatsheaf Park on Wednesday evening (18/06) Haule said “I’m really looking forward to the new season, I was very keen when Steve approached me as I know the Club well from playing here recently. The pitch is looking in excellent condition and that’ll suit my style of play, I like the ball on the ground and I’m hoping to settle in quickly and help the side improve on what was a brilliant campaign last time ‘round.”
Upon confirming his signature on a one year contract, a delighted Swans Manager Steve Cordery added “Davis is an experienced addition to the squad, a player I’ve admired and been keen on for a little while now. He’s a big lad and as strong as an ox, he’ll retain the ball for us in the middle of the park and bring other players into the game. Even then, we can also throw him up front and he’ll bag us a few goals.” 
 

Stuart R. Moore
18th June 2008

Monday 16/6/08

Awards for Staines Town

The annual Ryman Presentation Dinner was held on Saturday June 14th, and we were amongst the winners, scooping four awards for our historic 2007/08 season. The awards won are as follows:

The outstanding contribution to the league 2007-08

Best programme award 2007-8 - Third place 
 

Top goal scorer in the league 2007-08 goes to Mark Nwokeji

League runners up 2007-08

Reserves runners up 2007-08

Thursday 12/6/08

New signings imminent

Swan's boss Steve Cordery will reveal the first of his summer signings in the next few days and will make the signing of an experienced midfielder, cum-striker who has played at a higher level his first acquisition.

A couple more should follow to add to an already capable squad ready to mount another challenge next season. 
  

The full retained list is:

Goalkeepers: Shaun Allaway (new contract signed) and James Courtnage
 

Full Backs: Jake Newton, Marcel Nugent, Dave Sargent, Jon McDonald, Chris Robinson

Central Defenders: Matt Flitter, Danny Gordon

Central Midfielders: Gareth Risbridger, Andre Scarlett, Dean Thomas (plus 1 x imminent signing?)

Wide players: Lewis Cook, Howard Newton and Leigh Mason
 

Forwards: Richard Butler, Marc Charles-Smith and Elliot Onochie.

Meanwhile Adam Thompson has departed to Kingstonian

Friday 30/5/08

‘Daggers’ are out for Golden Boot, Nwokeji

Anxious Staines Town fans were merely expecting the inevitable in respect to star-striker Mark Nwokeji, and the Ryman League’s top-scorer has today sealed a dream move into the full-time game, signing for League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge.

‘Nokkers’ was a huge favourite at Wheatsheaf Park and had only two weeks ago scopped a ‘Player of the Year’ double at the end of a truly memorable campaign for both him personally and the Swans. The 24 year-old law student now seems set to put on-hold his studies, for two years at least as he penned a contract with the Essex side at Victoria Road this afternoon.

The hugely popular striker had signed for the Middlesex club back in February 2006 following a brief spell at St Alban’s City, having earlier played for Walton & Hersham and Chesham United, where he’d first caught the eye as a natural striker with blistering pace – a former National Schools sprint champion, no less! In this last season, Nwokeji really took the eye with 37 goals in 56 appearances for the Wheatsheaf Park club, including two league hat-tricks and the memorable goal which dumped neighbours Woking out of the FA Cup back in October. To say the star-striker will be missed is an understatement, but since his dramatic exploits throughout the campaign, all concerned at Wheatsheaf Park have expected his departure and it’s pleasing at least that the player will be plying his trade in the Football League and the very best of luck to him.

Stuart R. Moore

Thursday 29/5/08

Cup hero Toppin departs Wheatsheaf Park.

Following a memorable and record-breaking season at Staines Town FC, 'Swans’ manager Steve Cordery was under no illusion that his best players would be highly-prized commodities during the summer and with the Ryman League’s ‘Golden Boot’ Mark Nwokeji seemingly set to go pro’ in the Football League any day now, influential midfielder Adrian Toppin has been the first to confirm his departure from the Middlesex club.

Twenty-five year-old London fire-fighter Toppin had joined the ranks at Wheatsheaf Park only in July 2007 and made an instant impact, scoring on his club debut in front of a four-figure crowd as the ‘Swans’ opened the pre-season campaign in raditional fashion against Brentford. Quickly establishing himself as a midfield enforcer and making the No. 8 jersey largely his own, 6’2” Toppin went on to make almost 50 appearances in League and Cup, netting seven goals, surely the most memorable of these being a terrific, reaction header as the ‘Swans’ took the lead at home to Stockport County back in November – an historic night as the Swans went on to defeat the League Two side on penalties and dump them out of the FA Cup.

Toppin’s decision to leave was a mutual one, following recent discussions with Manager Cordery and so he leaves to join Conference South club Bromley, much closer to his home in south London and he goes with the best wishes of all ‘Swans’ fans who’d enjoyed tremendously his all-action and committed performances throughout this last season. He also made an impression off the field, where his open and friendly approach to all, endeared him to many.

Stuart R. Moore