We're pleased to announce that the club has now confirmed our pre season fixtures for the forthcoming season.

We start at home to Ebbsfleet, subject on the Maidstone Road pitch being ready by July 21.  We then travel to Kent League runners up Herne Bay, before facing the Essex Senior League Champions Stansted at Maidstone Road.  Hythe Town's Reachfields Stadium is our next destination, before we finish pre season with home games against Tonbridge, Welling, Maidstone and Folkestone.

Its an attractive set of friendlies we hope you'll agree - a set that will test Paul's new look squad all the way to the new Ryman League season which begins on Saturday August 21st 2010 - whatever division the club ends up playing in!

The full details of pre season are as follows...

We are delighted to announce that new Chats boss Paul Foley has confirmed to the CTFC official website that he has made six more new signings, as well as inviting back nine of last season’s squad for pre season training that begins in a little under three weeks time.

The latest batch of planned signings, all of whom have followed Paul from VCD, are defenders David Hunt, George Mitchell and Jack Asbury, midfielders Lee Maskell (who returns to Maidstone Road) and Kevin Winchcombe and exciting teenage striker Uche Ibemere.

Paul has also confirmed that Richard Avery, Rob Denness, Ryan Laker, Ben Payne, Brad Potter, Ashley Probets, Ryan Restell, Michael Scott and last but by no means last seasons Player of the Year Matt Solly, have all been invited to join pre season training on July 3^rd.

Paul told the CTFC website, “I have asked a number of players who were here last year to come back for preseason training on 3^rd July when we can have a good look at them in some of the excellent friendlies we have lined up. Last year’s captain, Richard (Avery) is considering a couple of offers from other clubs. Richard is a player that I would like to keep and I made that quite clear to him but I fully respect his decision to keep his options open. Either way I would have appointed Danny Penny as the new captain as he epitomises the character I look for in a captain, Pens is fierce competitor and he is an out and out winner. Ash, Matt, Brad, Michael (Scott), Ryan (Laker) and Ryan (Restell) were all in attendance at the get together held over the weekend at Princes and they will all be there for training on 3^rd July. Rob (Denness) had a prior arrangement and Ben Payne was on holiday but both players have also been asked back to the club for preseason training.”

Introducing the new signings, Paul told us, “The next batch of player’s joining from our old club (VCD) are excellent acquisitions for Chatham Town. Winch and Hunty are, like Gary Ward and Danny Penny before them, VCD stalwarts and it will be a big wrench for them both to leave the club with over 600 appearances between them but they both feel ready for a new challenge. Winch is extremely versatile with two good feet and has been one of our best players over the last three seasons while Dave is a natural defender who enjoys the art of defending and who finished the last season really well at centre half. Jack Asbury was a real bonus for the squad last year as he came with a few other lads from Ebbsfleet to sign for Ricky Bennett’s reserve side. He looked extremely capable when asked to make the step up and he is a player we are very keen to continue to bring through and become a regular. Lee is someone who the Chatham fans will know from a couple of seasons ago and they will know what a good footballer he is. Lee was excellent for us when he signed and played a big part in winning the Kent League. He has suffered with his groins but he now has a new pair courtesy of Mr Gilmore so he should be flying coming 21^st August. George and Uche are two players who we really believe in and two who have a real future in the game. They were both integral parts of the squad last year at VCD but this year they will be pushing for regular starts this season as they more than proved they were ready. George reads the game very well and is rarely flustered at the back while Uche has every attribute to be a top player. Having marked him a couple of times in training I can assure you that defenders will not be looking forward to playing against him this season that’s for sure!”

We will have further player signings later this week as well as, with the League AGM taking place this weekend, the very latest on the decision to possibly move the Chats back into Ryman League Division One North for the coming season.

Below are the player profiles (courtesy of the VCD website) on the Chats latest signings…

Kevin Winchcombe – Defence/Midfield - Kevin joins the Chats from VCD Athletic having also played for Thamesmead Town in the Kent League and Erith & Belvedere where he gained considerable considerable Southern League experience. A fierce competitor and excellent ball striker ‘Winchy’ was an integral part of the VCD’s success of recent seasons as he is comfortable in a number of positions on either side of the pitch. Played over 339 games for the Vickers scoring 33 goals and was part of the VCD team that finished runners up on the final day of the season in 2002, being pipped to the title by Maidstone United, captained by a certain Paul Foley. ‘Winchy’ ended the 07/08 season as full back and continued in that position for the 08/09 season putting in some fine performances earning him two player of the year awards in the double winning campaign. Deployed in midfield last season at Oakwood he earned a place in the “Non League 24 Ryman side of the year”

David Hunt – Full Back/Centre Half – Dave is another who made the trip from Oakwood to Maidstone Road following manager Paul Foley in the summer of 2010.  David picked up all three Player of the Year trophies at VCD in the 07/08 season and was regarded as one of the best natural defenders at the club. Good in the air for his height, he has been at the Crayford club since youth level playing in the same teams as Gary Ward and Kevin Winchcombe amassing . ‘Hunty’ is a versatile defender who can play either side as full back but played the majority of games in the title winning campaign at centre half picking up where he left off on his excellent season the year before. Dave amassed 297 appearances for the Crayford club and finished the last campaign in the Ryman North playing in the heart of defence where he put in some fine performances.

George Mitchell – Defence – George is a product of VCD’s youth system who came through the ranks making his full debut against Greenwich Borough in the vital 4-0 win at Harrow Meadow during the Vicker’s title winning campaign. Previously with Ebbsfleet, George decided to join the Vickers to play for the U16s with the promise of 1st team football from Paul Foley in 2-3 years and he fulfilled that promise in quick time making his debut at the age of 17. Calm and assured with experience beyond his years, George is a player that the management have high hopes for. Strong in the air, an assured passer and dangerous from attacking set pieces, George stands over 6 foot tall.  George has represented Kent County at schoolboy level winning the FA County Youth Cup for the Kent County Representative side. George was also called up for England Schoolboy trials last season.

Jack Asbury - Defence/Midfield – Jack is yet another product of the fine Vickers' youth academy having signed for Ricky Bennett's u18s side from Ebbsfleet and progressing to become captain of the U21/reserve side while still only 19 years of age. Made his debut as a second half substitute in the 4-2 Kent Senior Cup win over Thamesmead Town at Oakwood and went on to become a valuable squad member making his first start in the 0-0 draw at home to Redbridge in March 2010. Jack is an assured full back with a wise head on young shoulders and is highly thought of by the first team and reserve team management. Can also play wide right or as a wing back.

Lee Maskell – Midfield – Lee joined left Maidstone Road at the end of 2008 to join VCD in January 2009 but returns to Chatham following the manager’s switch from VCD. Lee is a former full time player having signed forms with Ebbsfleet before dropping down the pyramid to gain regular first team football with Ryman South Margate and Chatham Town. A composed footballer who is 6 foot 3 and a very good passer of the ball, Lee played 40 games at Oakwood scoring four goals helping the Vickers to the Kent League title in their remarkable run of wins in the second half of the 08/09 season. Lee has been forced to undergo surgery on small tears to each groin in each of the last two seasons but now fully fit once more, the management feel that twenty one year old Lee will play a big part in the coming season at Maidstone Road

Uche Ibemere – Forward – Uche is another product of VCD’s youth system having played in the same U16 side as fellow teen prodigy George Mitchell. Uche had spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall but returned to VCD where his pace, skill and strength proved to be a major asset for the club. Uche is a player with huge promise and the management have high hopes for this talented teenager who finished last year’s campaign in the Ryman North having appeared 37 times (13 starts) and scoring 7 goals with 4 of those coming in the last 8 games when he became a regular starter. Uche is over 6 foot 4 inches tall but possesses sublime skill and blistering pace that can leave often defenders in his wake. Uche has represented London Schoolboys for the last two years and has attracted the attention of professional clubs. Followed manager Foley to Chatham in the summer of 2010. Still only 18 years old.

Chatham Town FC invite Boys and Girls aged between 6-14 years to take part in a Soccer school.  Running the courses will be qualified coaches.

The course runs from Monday 16th August to Friday 20th August and then Monday 23rd August to Friday 27th August at a cost of £35 per person per week.

Each day will be from 10am to 3pm.

Click Here for more details.

New Chats boss Paul Foley has confirmed to chathamtownfc.net his first player signings since taking over as manager.

Paul has already confirmed that KEVIN WATSON has signed up new Player Coach, and we are delighted to confirm more signings today.

Goal keeper JAMES TEDDER returns to Maidstone Road, and he is joined by striker DANNY PENNY (who will also be the Clubs new captain), midfielder GARY WARD who will be the club’s vice captain, winger NICK HEGLEY who was VCD’s top scorer last season, and the vastly experienced full back JASON BARTON.

Paul told us, “I’m delighted to be able to formally announce this first batch of signings.  James has signed for us in preference to an offer he received from another Ryman side – he has been my first choice for a keeper since the day I took over and I am very pleased he decided to turn down a very good offer from elsewhere.  Danny was my skipper at VCD and is a strong and skilful forward who will give the side its focal point, bringing others into the game.  Gary will be Danny’s vice captain and is an extremely hard working and skilful midfielder who played over 300 times for the Oakwood club.

Heggers was one of the first to agree to come to Maidstone Road despite having other offers on the table.  Not only was he VCD’s top scorer but also the Players’ Player, and is really up for the challenge.  Nick is a locally based player from Maidstone that should probably be playing Blue Square South football and in fact a club from that league tried to sign him last season. He cannot commit to that amount of travelling though due to work and anyway, he loves it with us!  Last but not least, Jason has one of the best attitudes around and will do a fine job for us as he has at every club he has been at, I’m delighted that he has signed as I know there were other clubs looking to get his signature. 

All in all, I’m delighted to have with the first foundations of the squad, and am looking forward to meeting with the rest of the squad, especially those who played for Chatham last year over the weekend.   We have asked some of the squad from last year to come back for preseason training and hopefully they’ll like what we have to say and again put pen to paper for the club. I can confirm however that there will be more new signings to come, as well as the lads we want to keep on. These six will be the first of many to wear the red of Chatham Town for the first time and I am happy with how the squad is shaping up. Obviously we will be looking to retain players like Ashley Probets, who I know well from his time at VCD, and the likes of Matt Solly and Brad Potter among others but we should be able to confirm all of these soon.”

We hope to have details of those potential signings on the official club website early next week!