Marlow sign ex-Palace, Stoke, Bury, Sheff Wed, Charlton, Wimbledon, Stevenage, Hibs player Tom Soares, scoring on his debut.
Tom Soares joined the Isthmian League South Central Division outfit along with Cameron Forde-Brown, becoming the latest additions at the Alfred Davis Ground.
The promotion-chasing side sit 4th in the table with 41 points from 22 games played. Northwood, Walton & Hersham and Basingstoke it above them. Marlow are nine points behind the league leaders and have a game in hand over some of those above them.
Manager Mark Bartley, said: “Tom is someone that I know personally, and so when I heard that he had moved back to the local area, it was a priority for me to try and get him on board.
“Having someone with his experience and quality for the second half of the season will be hugely valuable to us and give us a better chance of achieving our goals.
“There aren’t many teams in our league who will have an ex-Premier League player amongst their group, so its clearly a big plus for us.
“He’s a leader and a winner, and so I’m delighted to have him on board.
“In addition to Tom we have, fairly recently added midfielder Cameron Forde-Brown to the squad.
“Cameron is a midfield player who came through the ranks at Southend United, having also appeared for Millwall.
“Cameron was recommended to me by Lee Flavin at Non-League Chance, and after looking at him in a couple of sessions it was clear he was going to be able to help us this season.
“He’s a technically gifted midfielder, who has yet to make an appearance for us, but completes our options in the midfield area.
“I’m sure you will all join me in welcoming them to the club.”
– STATEMENT ENDS –
It didn’t take long for Tom Soares to find his first goal, netting in what was said to be an ill-tempered 3-2 win at Guernsey over the weekend.
His previous manager, Robbie Herrera said when Soares signed for previous club Dorchester Town last year: “It’s a fantastic acquisition for the club. He obviously brings experience and loads of quality, and he’s going to be invaluable to us not only off the pitch but on the pitch too – he’ll bring calm and he’ll be great for the younger players.”
“He’s already mixed in brilliantly with everybody and the lads have all taken to him, you can see he can play and he’s kept himself in good shape.”
“It’ll be great for the younger lads to listen, learn and take advice off him – we haven’t got that much experience in the squad and he’ll provide us with something on the pitch as we can only do so much from the sidelines, so it’ll be great to have him in and around the place.”
🤯 Sam Murray’s bicycle kick 🚴♂️
⚽ All the goals and reaction from Guernsey FC’s game against Marlow. pic.twitter.com/GSDj6c9O1E
— BBC Guernsey (@BBCGuernsey) January 29, 2023
Soares’ playing career
Youth career
2000–2003 – Crystal Palace
Senior career
2003–2008 – Crystal Palace – 162 games (12 goals)
2008–2012 – Stoke City – 13 games (0 goals)
2009 → Charlton Athletic (loan) – 11 games (1 goal)
2009–2010 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 26 games (2 goals)
2012 → Hibernian (loan) – 13 games (2 goals)
2012–2017 – Bury – 187 games (22 goals)
2017–2019 – AFC Wimbledon – 72 games (2 goals)
2019–2020 – Stevenage – 20 games (0 goals)
2021–2022 – Dorchester Town – 25 games (1 goal)
2023- Marlow – 1 game (1 goal)
International career
2005–2007 – England U21 – 4 games (0 goals)
Lovely 25 yard curler by Tom Soares to put Wimbledon up 2-1 over Charlton. #AFCW pic.twitter.com/AZLIBF4vxQ
— Matt ❎ (@MattMaginniss) September 4, 2018
This is what fans said as Marlow sign the ex-Palace, Stoke, Bury, Sheff Wed, Charlton, Wimbledon, Stevenage, Hibs player…
@PaulDenney7: Wow Tom Soares. Great signing. Really good at Palace
@rkyson99: Incredible signing
@scottrees_1989: Such an amazing signing, and such an amazing character, will help the younger lads massively, they need to be pulling him for advice
@mattitude_29: Tom Soares joins Marlow 😳
@PhilBrownyp: 🔥🔥
@foreverayellow: blimey, didnt see this signing coming, massive for marlow
Wayne Lee Samuel: Awesome 👍
Tony Foster: Go get us that promotion lad, so close yet so far
Chris Tomlinson: Nice
Paul Michael Denney: Brilliant signing
Wayne Riley: Well this is a huge boost to Marlow, a signing thats bound to turn heads, might even increase the attendance too, Marlow deserve promotion
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