Men's football news
Written by: John
Midfielder and winger sign on as Tom Phipp and Deshane Dalling join The Rooks
Tony Russell has bolstered his squad ahead of a busy fixture period with the signings of Tom Phipp and Deshane Dalling.
A strong and technical midfielder, Phipp started his career as a 17 year old with Ebbsfleet and went on to play for Maidstone, Margate and Tonbridge Angels before taking a break from football to study for a degree in marketing. After a spell at Crowborough Athletic, Phipp joined Tony Russell at Cray Wanderers in the summer of 2018 and was an integral part of the team that won the Isthmian South East title in 2018/19. Phipp joins the club from Herne Bay who he joined in May 2021.
Manager Russell said: “He is someone who I have worked with before and that’s so helpful as he knows what is expected of him. Phippo is 6’2ft, very good in the air and on the ball and has a brilliant football brain. I am over the moon to have him with us, he understands how I want to go about breaking down formations so it will be like having a coach out on the pitch”
Wideman Dalling started his career at Queen’s Park Rangers and spent time on loan with Cork City and Wealdstone whilst with The Hoops. After leaving QPR, Dalling had a short spell at Hemel Hempstead and then joined Dartford at the start of the season.
“Me and Joe went to watch a game a few years back when the league was stopped and he was playing in the game for QPR” said Russell. “He was the best player on the pitch and me and Joe didn’t stop talking about him after the game. We have been tracking him just like we do many others, so when we heard he didn’t have a club, we went out and got him. He, like many young lads who get let go by a pro clubs, will need time for us to build his confidence back up but that is what Joe and I pride ourselves on so we are both excited to work with him”. Tony added “I’m sure you can see a pattern developing here; we want the best young players coming to Lewes and Deshane fits that bill”.
Both Tom and Deshane will go straight into the squad for today’s match at Bowers & Pitsea.