Kedwell, Magri and Drury make Havant move
Havant & Waterlooville have made two important additions to their squad as they prepare to mount a challenge for an immediate return to the National League.
Coming in from Ebbsfleet United are Danny Kedwell, Sam Magri and Adam Drury.
The 35-year-old Kedwell is known for being one of the most lethal strikers in the Non-League game over the past decade, where his success saw him play in The Football League with Gillingham.
Kedwell scored the winning penalty in the 2011 Conference Premier play-off final for AFC Wimbledon against Luton Town at the City of Manchester Stadium to send Wimbledon back into the Football League as a phoenix club.
His successes at Kingmeadow saw him earn the move to Priestfield and to Gillingham where he enjoyed four years at the Gills, scoring 40 goals in 119 appearances.
Danny’s next move would see him join Ebbsfleet where he scored 56 goals in 163 games, helping them to promotion into The National League as well as getting into the play-off semi-finals a year later before securing a top ten finish last term.
He will be the Havant & Waterlooville Captain.
His farewell post on Instagram read:
“It’s time to say goodbye to Ebbsfleet United… getting into three play-offs, and getting promoted in one as captain of the club which I’ll never forget. I would like to thank my ex-teammates, they have all been a credit to work with day in, day out. I made some great friends and I wish them all the best for the future and I’d like to thank all the fans for your great support, you’ve been brilliant.”
The 25-year-old Portsmouth born defender Magri began his career with his home town club before moving to London with QPR and later Crystal Palace.
In 2015 Magri moved into Non-League with Dover Athletic, where he made over 50 first team appearances, before moving onto the Whites’ Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United.
Magri’s move to Havant comes after his departure from Fleet was announced a few weeks ago.
The versatile defender will also bring international experience to West Leigh Park, having picked up seven caps for the Malta national side.
Magri, who had previously represented England at youth level, opted to switch his allegiances in 2016 when he made his Malta debut in a European Championship qualifying match against Slovenia.
Speaking to the club’s official website, manager Paul Doswell said, “It’s a great signing for both parties.
“From our perspective we’ve signed a 25-year-old Maltese International who I thought was one of the best centre-halves in The National League last year and consistently one of the best over the last few seasons.”
“And when the chance came for the Hawks to get Magri, it was one too good to let go.
“When we knew he hadn’t been offered a new contract we moved quickly knowing that Sam was a Portsmouth lad.
“From Sam’s perspective he has a new young family and with the project that we’ve sold to him, the ability to be closer to home to his family it suited both parties.”
Drury operates as a winger and attacking midfielder and has the versatility to mix between a number of different roles.
The 35-year-old has been a stalwart of the Non-League game since making his debut for Sittingbourne back in 2001.
His previous clubs include Ebbsfleet United and its predecessor club Gravesend and Northfleet, Lewes, Stevenage Borough, Luton Town and a two-year spell with then Championship club Ipswich Town between 2011 and 2013 after being signed by Paul Jewell.
