Kingstonian

HOLLI-GONE, BUT NOT YET!

Gavin Holligan has sealed his dream move to West Ham - but he won'tleave Kingstonian until they are knocked out of the FA Cup.

The Premiership club will pay an initial six-figure fee for the18-year-old striker and the Comet understands the final figure could riseto £500,000 if the teenager prospers at Upton Park.

Ks' manager Geoff Chapple confirmed Holligan, who has scored 11goals in just nine full appearances this season, will be available for theFA Cup Second Round tie with Leyton Orient on Sunday, December 6.

And if Kingstonian win that game, he will still be at the club for thecrunch clash with Woking on Boxing Day before the third round is played onJanuary 2.

Chapple said: "This is an excellent deal for all. I'm delightedfor the boy and I will enjoy sitting back and watching his progress.

"I've got to get a replacement now but it will be on the cheapand everybody is looking for strikers. I've not been told yet if Ican use any of the Holligan transfer fee to buy a replacement."

Kingstonian return to Conference action for the first time in three weekson Saturday when they entertain Northwich Victoria at Kingsmeadow.

Since drawing at Southport on November 7, Ks have advanced to the secondround of the FA Cup and the third round of the FA Trophy.

They currently lie fifth in the Conference and will be looking tocomplete their first double of the season after winning 3-2 at Northwich'sDrill Field ground at the beginning of September.

Tarkan Mustafa, Colin Luckett and Scott Corbett were on target to securevictory in a pulsating game which should ensure an entertaining spectaclein Saturday's clash which is the last chance to see the Ks beforenext week's FA Cup tie with Orient.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes tip Rushden & Diamonds for promotion at odds of11-10 with Cheltenham second favourites at 7-4 and Kingstonian rated 16-1shots for the championship.

Geoff Chapple organised a game with Gravesend on Tuesday night so hecould assess the form and fitness of several of his first team players andreserves.

He indicated that he would put Dave Leworthy, Scott Corbett and promisingprospect Dean Thomas through their paces.

The depth of Ks' squad will be tested as Conference games arerearranged because Cup and Trophy games take precedence.

Leek Town, who were due to visit Kingsmeadow on November 14 when BurtonAlbion were the opposition in the first round of the FA Cup, will now comesouth on February 23.

And the Conference game at Forest Green Rovers, scheduled for December 5,will also be postponed because of the FA Cup tie with Leyton Orient.

FA Cup and Trophy

Season ticket holders must buy their tickets for Kingstonian's FACup Second Round game against Leyton Orient by Tuesday.

They will be given priority until then but, if their tickets are notclaimed, they will go on general sale before the big match which will bescreened live on Sky TV at 1pm on Sunday, December 6.

Ks managing director Chris Kelly said all seats for home supporters,except those reserved for season ticket holders, have been sold whileOrient have taken 2,000 tickets split between seats and terracing.

Terrace tickets for the FA Cup game priced £8 (£2 reduction forchildren) are available from Kingsmeadow on 0181 547 3335.

Kingstonian have been drawn at home to fellow Conference high-flyersKettering Town in the third round of the FA Trophy following Saturday's2-1 win at Gloucester.

Kettering are third in the table, a couple of places above Geoff Chapple'smen, and the Ks slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Rockingham Road on September19.

Simon Harris conceded a penalty which led to Kettering's second goalin one of Ks' most disappointing results of the season.

That was Kingstonian's last league defeat and they will be lookingfor revenge in the FA Trophy game on January 16.

They may be four points ahead of Kingstonian but the Northamptonshireside's position looks slightly false because they have played threemore games.

Because Conference clubs entered the FA Trophy a round earlier than usualthis year, 64 teams are still left in the competition.

Ks' quartet for England squad

A quartet of Ks' players have been selected for an Englandsemi-professional squad which will play a trial game against the IsthmianLeague next month.

Central defender Matt Crossley (left), midfielder Gary Patterson (right)and strikers Eddie Akuamoah (far right) and Gavin Holligan (see story andpicture above) are all in manager John Owens' 16-man squad for thegame which is due to be played at Harrow Borough on Wednesday, December 9.

They will join up with players from Farnborough Town, Hayes, StevenageBorough, Woking and Yeovil who are also in the squad.

An England semi-pro team is also due to play against a Southern Leagueside at Bath City on Tuesday, December 8.

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