Tanners ahoy!

By Ian Townsend

More new arrivals for Leatherhead


It seems we spent the second half of last week writing about Leatherhead departures, but there were also a collection of new players, and a positive result yesterday at Carshalton Athletic- although the visiting fans will have been disappointed that it was one point instead of three.

Hamilton Bunga is a defender who has played, well, just about everywhere, His clubs include Thurrock, Barkingside, Staines Town, Kingstonian, Ware, Arlesey Town, Peacehaven & Telscombe, Northwood,and Bedfont Sports, Hythe Town, Canvey Island, Leiston, Basildon United and Coggeshall Town.

Jordan Johnson moves over from Hornchurch, where he has played four times since moving from Tunbridge Wells. He has also turned out for Glebe, Ramsgate, SE Dons, Herne Bay, East Grinstead, Ashford United, Hythe Town, Guildford City, Met Police, Molesey and Hastings United.

Matt Bentley, who scored today, has recently been with Dover Athletic and previously played for Hornchurch, but he has spent most of his career so far playing rather successfully in the USA, particularly with Missouri State Bears.

Zak Guerfi has recently been with Cray Wanderers, but he has only been there since last month. He played three times for Sevenoaks Town in the South East Division last season before the pandemic got in the way, at which point he stepped up two levels to sign for Tonbridge Angels in National League South.

Whilst he was playing for Oaks he was training full time with Dover Athletic- but couldn't get into the squad there- however Oaks manager Micky Collins recommended him to Steve McKimm at Angels, explaining that he was "a bright player who should be playing at a higher level."

He came through the Academy at Stevenage, played for Bodens BK in Sweden, US Monastir in Tunisia, and has also played for Bishop's Stortford and Braintree Town.

Today also saw a very successful Tanners debut for forward Michael Bakare, who scored twice. Michael probably didn't notice the cold, as he has recently been playing in Iceland, but he's played for a collection of clubs, including Witham Town, VCD Athletic, Bury Town, Tonbride Angels and Bishop's Stortford, as well as Hereford, Wrexham, Dover Athletic, Chelmsford City and Macclesfield Town.

The Tanners have already used fifty three players this season. Hopefully they won't use too many more as we can't keep up!

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