First team Player Pen Pics 2024/25

CRAY VALLEY (PM) FC – PEN PICS as at 1st June 2024

STEVE McKIMM (Manager)
Steve was appointed Cray Valley first team manager at the beginning of June 2023 bringing with him his assistant Barry Moore. They had worked together at Tonbridge Angels for eight years and the season before at Carshalton Athletic. The managerial duo of McKimm and Moore guided the Angels to an Isthmian League Premier Division play-off semi-final spot in 2015/16 before promotion to the National League South was secured via the Isthmian Premier play-offs in 2018/19. His first season at Valley brought immediate success winning the Isthmian South East Division meaning the club will play at step 3 for the first time. A knack for cup runs over the years, last season saw Valley reach the FA Cup first round proper, going out to Charlton Athletic in a replay.

MICHAEL ADEMILUYI
Michael now 28 joined Valley in July 2023 having represented Cray Wanderers and Faversham Town the season before. An attacking wide player, he has a wealth of non league experience. Former clubs include Bowers & Pitsea, scoring 12 times from 45 appearances in season 2021/22 and Haringey Borough where he was a member of their Isthmian North Division promotion winning 2017/18 season. Last season he made 43 appearances for Valley scoring 7 goals.

JULIEN ANAU
Born and brought up in Paris, Julien now 29 has played in France, Spain and Ireland as well as spending time at English clubs Queens Park Rangers, Whitehawk, Dover Athletic and Welling United. After suffering a number of injuries and having a period out of the game the midfielder joined the Millers in October 2022 and has now made 49 appearances, scoring three times.

CLEMENT ASIEDU
Clement now age 21 a left sided defender joined Valley in July 2023 from Horsham YMCA where he made 52 appearances including 34 last season in the Southern Combination premier division at step 5. A product of the Volenti Academy he represented Crystal Palace as a youth player. Yet to score his first goal but made 36 appearances last season.

MARCEL BARRINGTON
Striker Marcel now 28 re-joined Valley in November 2023 from Erith & Belvedere. He originally became a Miller at the end of April 2021, making 44 appearances and scoring 24 times before joining then newly promoted Isthmian Premier side Herne Bay in July 2022 where he made 38 appearances scoring 16 goals. Earlier in his career netted twice in 5 international appearances for Guyana, and won promotion from the National League South with Braintree Town in 2017/18. Last season made 21 appearances scoring 5 goals.

SONNY BLACK
Former Crystal Palace youngster Sonny joined The Millers in July 2022, winning Managers Player of the Year in his first season. He has now made 87 appearances for Valley scoring 11 goals. The 27 year old central midfielder joined from VCD Athletic and previously spent two seasons at Westfield after winning promotion from the Isthmian League South East Division with Walton Casuals in 2017/18.

TOM CHAMBERS
Left sided defender / wing back Tom joined The Millers in the summer of 2022 and has now made 77 appearances scoring 6 goals. He joined from SCEFL Division 1 side Lewisham Borough after a spell at Whyteleafe. The 23 year old was a youth team graduate at Dulwich Hamlet – winning the Player of the Year award in 2018/19 before joining Fisher on loan.

ADAM COOMBES
Signed for Valley in the summer of 2022 experienced striker, 32 year old Adam, has now made 79 appearances scoring 36 goals. A product of the Chelsea academy and former England Under 16 striker Adam joined from Tonbridge Angels. During a career disrupted by injury, Adam has enjoyed goalscoring success at Welling United and Billericay Town among others.

LYLE DELLA-VERDE
Versatile attacking player, now 29, who joined Valley in July 2023 from Isthmian Premier side Enfield Town where over two spells he made 102 appearances for the Towners scoring 29 goals. As a youth he signed for Fulham at age 17 where he stayed for 4 years, he also represented Bristol Rovers, Fleetwood Town and Crawley Town before moving into non league football playing at Braintree Town and Welling United amongst others. Despite missing a chunk of last season through injury he still managed 24 appearances scoring 5 goals.

CALVIN EKPITETA
Calvin an attacking player now 28 joined Valley in September 2023. Last season he made 32 appearances scoring 3 goals. Started as a Dartford youth player. Vastly experienced with numerous past clubs at Isthmian Premier and National League South level. In season 2022/23 he played under Steve McKimm at Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian Premier Division making 48 appearances and scoring ten goals.

DENZEL GAYLE
Jamaican born Denzel now 31 years old is currently the club's longest serving player who up to the end of last season had made 289 appearances, scoring 65 goals since joining from Erith & Belvedere in 2017. A pacy right sided raider vice captain Denzel now has two championship medals for the Millers, adding last seasons Isthmian South East to his SCEFL Premier one in 2018/19. He also appeared at Wembley in the FA Vase Final that season against Chertsey Town.

JENSEN GRANT
An experienced central midfielder who can also play in defence, Jensen now 33, joined Valley in July 2023. Unfortunately injury brought his season to a close after just 8 appearances in which he scored 3 goals. Prior to that, four seasons at Chipstead saw him make 95 appearances scoring 8 times. Prior to that he notched up 58 appearances for Three Bridges and 77 appearances for Whyteleafe spending three seasons at each club.

HASSAN IBRAHIYM
Former Barnet youngster Hassan joined The Millers from Ashford United in November 2019. Now 30 years old the London born midfield powerhouse has made 130 appearances scoring 21 times. Last season after being spotted playing for the Millers in the Charlton Athletic FA Cup game he was asked to attend a training camp with Sudanese National Team and was a squad member for two friendlies in Morocco.

ARTHUR LEE
Arthur now 31 joined Valley in July 2023, making 43 appearances, all as captain, scoring twice. A no nonsense central defender who has twice reached the Isthmian Premier League Playoff Final, firstly as captain of Hendon in 2017/18 when they lost on penalties to Dulwich Hamlet and then as part of the Tonbridge Angels side that won promotion under Steve McKimm in 2018/19. Has also played for Hornchurch and was captain, again under McKimm, at Carshalton Athletic.

KYRELL LISBIE
Kyrell now 20, initially signed for the Millers as a 16 year old where he played for the U23’s and made 2 first team cup appearances at the end of Covid season 2020/21. An attacking wide player with an eye for goal he went onto play for both West Ham and Watford U18’s. He joined Welling United in January 2023 from where he re-signed for the Millers in August 2023. Last season he made 44 appearances scoring 29 goals, picking up the Millers top goal scorer and young player of the year award.

KIKI OSHILAJA
25 year old defender Kiki joined Valley in the summer of 2022 and has now made 78 appearances scoring twice. He joined from VCD Athletic after making 50 appearances in two seasons and being named as their Player of the Year in 2021/22. The Dulwich Hamlet youth product also previously played for Carshalton Athletic, Thamesmead Town, Sheppey United and Beckenham Town.

MAX OVENDEN
Goalkeeper Max now age 28 joined Valley in September 2023. He did in fact make a couple of Velocity Trophy appearances for the Millers back in 2019 before making 35 appearances for Punjab United in season 2021/22 and played 14 times for Isthmian Premier side Haringey Borough including the London Senior Cup Final which they lost to Charlton Athletic. Last season he made 35 appearances for Valley keeping 16 clean sheets.

FREDDIE PARKER
23 year old striker Freddie Parker joined Valley in July 2023 last season he made 37 appearances, scoring 16 goals. He was previously at Sevenoaks Town who he joined at the end of February 2022, making a total of 46 appearances with 21 goals over a season and a half.. Previous clubs were Isthmian Premier sides Lewes and Cray Wanderers along with Millwall U18's.

CEM TUMKAYA
Versatile defender Cem now 26 made his Millers debut as a 16 year old. At the end of last season he had amassed 256 appearances scoring 16 goals for the Millers. After a brief spell with Dulwich Hamlet at the start of last season he returned to the Artic Stadium and added a second championship winning medal to his collection. The isthmian South East being added to the SECEFL Premier one earned in season 2018/19. Cem also played at Wembley in the FA Vase final that same season.

MATTHEW VIGOR
Matthew Vigor now 20 joined Valley in July 2023 from Crystal Palace a product of their academy appearing for their U18 and U21 sides. A creative central midfielder he made 49 appearances for Valley last season scoring 14 goals. He received the young player of the year award for his efforts. The season before during a 5 month loan spell with Isthmian Premier side Carshalton Athletic he made 25 appearances scoring 5 goals.

DANNY WALDREN
35 year old versatile defensive midfielder who signed for Valley in Nov 2023 and went on to make 28 appearances scoring 10 goals. He brought with him a wealth of experience. Joined from Beckenham Town where he was club captain and a member of their promotion winning side in 2021/22. He has also enjoyed promotion with two previous clubs Bromley, where he made 188 appearances, to the National League in 2014/15 and Billericay Town in 2017/18. Other past clubs include Dulwich Hamlet, Welling United and Romford.

BARNEY WILLIAMS
29 year old defender Barney joined the Club from Barking in May 2022 and has now made 83 appearances scoring 5 goals. He was a model of consistency last season picking up managers, players and supporters player of the year awards. He also won goal of the season for a stunning volley at Broadbridge Heath. Made over 70 appearances in the National League for Welling United and Braintree early in his career, Barney also spent four successful seasons at Cray Wanderers – winning promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2018/19.