Faversham Town striker 'The Beast' Adebayo Akinfenwa reveals how Town boss Sammy Moore tempted him out of retirement

Adebayo Akinfenwa has revealed how Faversham manager Sammy Moore convinced him out of retirement.

The popular big striker was playing in League 1 for Wycombe last season but his Town home debut certainly didn’t go to plan on Saturday at Salters Lane.

Sittingbourne substitute Harrison Pont - a defender by trade who replaced keeper Harley Earle after the teenager injured himself when fouling Lilywhites substitute Matt Parsons for a late penalty - saved Akinfenwa’s stoppage-time spot-kick as Town lost the Isthmian South East derby 1-0.

Akinfenwa played at AFC Wimbledon with Moore, who tempted “The Beast” to put his boots on once more.

He told KentOnline: “I’ve known Sammy and his family for years.

“Our kids know his kids and he knew that I’d been retired and knew about my knee, but he said ‘Is there anything you can do?’.

“I think, when he asked me, he didn’t envisage I’d miss a last-minute penalty!

“But because we are close, he convinced me to come and try to give a little something back.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I wanted in the first home game but there’s five cup finals to go.”

Another with previous connections to Akinfenwa is coach Darren Hare, who worked with him at Gillingham.

“He’s another good person and I always say it’s about energy and frequency,” said Akinfenwa.

“Tomorrow isn’t promised so, when you do meet good people, it’s important you do try and stay in touch, and that’s what I have done.”

Akinfenwa has enjoyed being part of the Town changing room but concedes he’s struggled to deal with the knee issues which caused him to hang up his boots.

He said: “It doesn’t matter what level it is, there’s always a togetherness and an energy - and that’s what a changing room is.

"For somebody who is a