Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell tells how he finally landed 40-year-old striker Chris Dickson and hails the impact of summer signing Gavin Hoyte

Ryan Maxwell has finally got his man after bringing evergreen striker Chris Dickson to Sittingbourne.

Dickson, 40, has joined the Brickies after firing Horsham to the Isthmian Premier title last season.

He scored 20 goals for the Hornets in all competitions, including 14 in the league, and a hat-trick on his 40th birthday.

The ex-Ghana international, whose former clubs include Charlton and Gillingham, has been a long-time target of Maxwell’s.

He’s tried to sign him several times in the past, without success.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said the Brickies boss.

“It was a chance phone call because I didn’t see him leaving Horsham.

“He dropped me a message, we had a chat and, thankfully, we were able to come to an agreement and he’s a Sittingbourne player at last.

“I don’t think we were that close previously, if I’m honest.

“I think last season’s achievements (Isthmian South East play-off finalists and FA Trophy quarter-finalists) have helped get him in.

“He’s keen to win a league again and that’s the main reason we’ve got him.

“He knows what his role is here and he knows what we’ve done since we tried to sign him.

“He joked about the fact that he went to Erith & Belvedere when he didn’t sign for us previously and we beat them 6-0, which he didn’t enjoy, and he remembers that.

“We weren’t particularly close that time but this time I knew right away, once we’d spoken, that we had a great chance.

“He had other options, some of the bigger clubs in the league above were in talks with him, but he felt this was the right time for us to work together and achieve what we all want to achieve and get promotion.”

Dickson made 52 appearances for Horsham last season, including 22 starts, proving his fitness.

He’ll be a major asset