Faversham Town boss Tommy Warrilow on the arrival of former Rotherham United forward Darnelle Bailey-King from Fisher and teenage Dover Athletic loanee Archie Hatcher
Published: 05:00, 22 March 2024
Updated: 12:00, 22 March 2024
A player with Championship experience has joined Faversham’s promotion push.
Forward Darnelle Bailey-King has linked-up with Tommy Warrilow’s Southern Counties East Premier Division Lilywhites from Fisher.
The former Fulham youth-team player made his professional debut for Rotherham against Hull in 2016, and featured for more than an hour in Town’s weekend 3-2 win at Erith Town before a shorter substitute appearance in Tuesday’s goalless draw at Holmesdale.
Warrilow said: “He has played in the Championship for Rotherham.
“He’s a lad we got made aware of. He has caused a lot of problems with his pace and skill.
“Everyone knows we have got quite an elderly squad but, at 26, he’s at his peak.
“On Saturday, he came on and did all right again on Tuesday. He had a one-on-one (against Holmesdale) that he’ll be disappointed he didn’t finish, but he made a nuisance of himself.
Town midfielder makes team of the week
“He has been brought up the right way at Fulham and then Rotherham. He lost his way a little bit but, hopefully, we can get him back on the right path.
“If we can, he will be a fantastic signing for Faversham.”
Another new face at Faversham, Archie Hatcher, made his debut off the bench in midweek. The 18-year-old attacker has joined on loan from Dover on an initial one-month deal.
Warrilow, who discussed the loan with Whites boss Jake Leberl’s No.2 and club Academy manager Mike Sandmann, said: “I know there were a couple of Isthmian Premier clubs who wanted to take Archie on loan.
“He’s technically very good.
“He will be an asset.”
Substitute Jake McIntyre netted a late winning goal for the Lilywhites at Erith Town, with the match level at 2-2 after midfielders Billy Bennett and Billy Bingham had struck in either half.
But there was no way through at Holmesdale.
Warrilow reflected: “We totally dominated the whole first half, but we didn’t cash in on it.
“We should have gone in, in front. I said to the players at half-time ‘Don’t go gung-ho and get caught.’ Their goalie made some fantastic saves.
“We got in some good areas - not as much as the first half - but just couldn’t find a way through.
“I don’t think my goalie (Jacob Russell) has made a save all game! It’s a frustrating one.
“But like I keep saying to the players, even after Saturday, you cannot get too high.
“Tuesday is two points dropped, but it’s not a catastrophe.”
Faversham will host struggling Rusthall this Saturday. The match will start at the usual time of 3pm, although tenants Faversham Strike Force are also scheduled to be in action from 11am on the same day as part of Non-League Day.
“We have got to keep chipping away,” said Warrilow. “That’s the most important thing.
“There’s going to be some frustrating times in football.
“If anyone thinks this is a bad time, they have not been in football long enough! We’re in the play-offs with seven games to go.
“It’s Non-League Day on Saturday. Hopefully, there’s a nice, big, crowd and we put on a performance that makes them want to come back.”
With the deadline for the Lilywhites to sign players on the horizon, Warrilow has again been in talks with at least one man this week who he’s considering signing.
He revealed: “I was on the phone, having a chat with a lad at 8.30am on Wednesday morning.
“I got a message from him late on Tuesday.
“I’m going to have another chat with him and see what we’re doing.
“He’s an experienced player in an area we might need a bit of cover in. If someone says ‘No’ at this stage (to adding to their squad), I think they’re being a bit naive.
“We have only got until March 30 so there’s only a couple of days for us to put seven-dayers in for players. But we had an overspill on Saturday.
“Since I came in, it’s the first time I’ve had everyone fit and available for selection. We know the squad is fairly big. I left two players out of the squad on Saturday.
“In truth, I’m not a big lover of big squads. It’s hard enough to keep the bench happy!
“But if someone comes up that will improve us, of course, we’ll have a look.”
Former striker Luke Harvey will rejoin the club as manager of their under-14s side next season.
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Thomas Reeves