Ks recruit striking legend

Non-League legend Gary Abbott will be on the touchline next to Alan Dowson next season after taking over as the assistant manager at Ryman League Kingstonian.

Abbott, pictured, is a direct replacement for Dowson's departed assistant Mark Hams and will also work alongside Sky Sports commentator and Ks coach Martin Tyler at the Premier Division's Kingsmeadow.

Now 49, the former Engand semi-pro forward was widely hailed as one of the most lethal strikers to ever play in Non-League during a career that took in Barnet, Enfield, Aldershtot and Welling United. As a coach, Abbott has already worked at Fisher, Braintree, Sittingbourne and most recently at Hastings and Cray Wanderers.

Dowson said: "It was important after Mark Hams' departure that myself and Martin Tyler could add somebody of Gary's calibre to the management team. I'm sure that most non-League fans will know of Gary and he brings a massive wealth of experience and knowledge about the game.

"There weren't many better players than him in his prime and even last season he pulled his boots on to play against us for Cray at the age of 49! That's the kind of quality and dedication you want passed through to your players."

* Kingstonian striker Andre McCollin and midfielder Matt Pattison have both agreed new deals for next season while defender Kieran Murphy has been called up to represent Great Britain at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia.

Murphy, who is at St Mary’s University College, has previously represented GB in the 2011 Universiade in China where the team won silver. Team GB's squad were due to play their first game on Friday night.