Steve Portway

[FleetFanatic]

GREENE TURNS TO PORTWAY - 22/01/2003

 

Dave Greene, manager of Ryman League Premier Division club Heybridge Swifts, has turned to one of the most prolific scorers in non-League football in an attempt to keep his team away from the relegation zone.

 

Greene has confirmed the signing of experienced goal-getter Steve Portway, well known in non-League circles, to add a different style of striker to the squad, and one who will perfectly complement and help the current striking trio of Paul Abrahams, Akpo Sodje and Neil Cousins.

 

Portway (pictured) has enjoyed a well-travelled career. He spent his early days with Dagenham, Walthamstow Avenue, Bishop's Stortford, Brentwood, Witham and Boreham Wood but began to attract attention through his goals after joining Barking.

 

He then broke all sorts of records for Gravesend which eventually earned a £17,500 transfer to rivals Gloucester City in 1994.

 

Sadly, a career-threatening eye injury severely restricted his spell at Meadow Park. However, he made a successful comeback with Romford and then had spells with Purfleet, Collier Row, Erith & Belvedere, Gravesend again, Billericay Town, Fisher Athletic and Chelmsford City.

 

He re-joined Fisher at the start of the 2001/02 season and then switched to Dr Martens Eastern rivals Tonbridge Angels in August 2002.

 

Portway will step straight into the squad to face Canvey Island on Saturday.

 

Greene is also talking to a number of other players and clubs and hopes to be able to add at least one further new face to the squad over the next few days.

Whilst it is important to have some continuity within the team, Greene is fully aware of the need to add some strength in depth to the squad and he will continue to bring in and try, and if neccessary release players until he finds the right blend to improve the playing squad and take Swifts forward.

 

[Wobbly Wayne rides again]

If they had wanted to avoid going down, they shouldn't have let us have their best strikers.

 

Simon Parker ( since left but not forgotten ) and Budgie...