A Hamlet catch up

The Pitching In Isthmian AGM on 20th June confirmed our new member clubs, which allows us to catch up on their summer news so far. We start with our friends in pink and blue.

Cem Tumkaya has joined Hamlet from South East side Cray Valley PM. Defender Cam has been an enormous part of the Millers success over the last few years, helping them to promotion to our level, reaching the FA Vase Final, and of course impressing during their run to the First Round of the FA Cup during the covid-hit 20-21 campaign. He made his Millers debut aged just sixteen, and leaves the club after playing two hundred and thirty six times in green.

Midfielder Anthony Jeffrey comes in from Billericay Town. Normally a winger, he made forty appearances for the Blues last season, and has no shortage of experience. A former Arsenal youth, he has also turned out for Stevenage, Boreham Wood, Wycombe Wanderers, Welling United, Concord Rangers, Forest Green Rovers, Sutton United, Dover Athletic and Wrexham.

Michael Chambers returns to the club from Billericay Town. Michael, a centre back, stared his journey with Hamlet more than a decade ago before being snapped up by Crystal Palace. Whilst with the Eagles he had loan spells at Harrow Borough, and Welling United, joined United permanently, then returned to Champion Hill to be a big part of Hamlet's Isthmian promotion side. He moved on to Wrexham and Bromley, before heading to Billericay, where he has spent three years. He made forty five appearances last season.

Jerome Binnom-Williams, a left back, came through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace, and had loan spells at Forest Green Rovers, Southend United, Burton Albion and Leyton Orient whilst an Eagle. He went on to play professionally with Peterborough United and Chesterfield, and has since played for Halifax Town, Barnet and, most recently, Maidstone United.

Mark Ricketts, another defender, came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic but first came to prominence at Ebbsfleet United, winning the FA Trophy. He moved on to Woking, where he made nearly two hundred and fifty appearances, before moving on to Boreham Wood, playing two hundred-plus times and famously scoring an FA Cup winner at AFC Bournemouth during a seven year spell.

Striker Adrian Clifton isn't entirely new to our league, although he hasn't been here for quite a while. More than a decade ago he played for Romford, Waltham Forest and East Thurrock United, and later for Staines Town, but most of his experience has been at a higher level, most recently with Maidenhead United. He spent some of last season on loan at Hampton & Richmond Borough, and has also played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Boreham Wood and Bromley.

Midfielder Ryley Scott won't be entirely new to eagle-eyed Isthmian watchers, as he made four appearances for Lewes last January, on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge. The player made his isthmian bow aged eighteen when he joined North Division side Bury Town on loan from Ipswich Town, and went on to play on loan for Leiston- by then in the Pitching In Southern League. Prior to playing youth football with the Tractor Boys he had also been part of the Academy setup at West Ham United, and after leaving Sussex he spent time in Portugal with Farense.

He has also had loan time at Concord Rangers.

Defender Jeremiah "Jerry" Gyebi is next up, and you might remember him from his time at Enfield Town. Jerry played youth football with Yeovil Town, and then did some globetrotting, playing in Slovenia for NK Ankaran, and in Sweden for IFK Mora, before his time at Donkey Lane saw him play six times during the rather short 20-21 campaign and thirty nine times during 21-22. He then spent time with Hungerford Town.

Craig Braham-Barrett moves to Champion Hill from Tonbridge Angels, where he has spent two seasons. The defender, who played briefly for Hamlet much earlier in his career, played youth football for Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday, and has also played any a higher level for Peterborough United, Macclesfield Town and Cheltenham Town. Amongst his other clubs are Farnborough, Havant & Waterlooville, Chelmsford City, Dartford and Welling United.

Read more about these arrivals here.

Retained players: Sanchez Ming, Danny Mills.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.