The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Baboucarr Camara
28 July 2011
Gambian international Cherno Samba’s search for a new club could finally be over after it emerged that the striker could sign with English non-league side Forest Green Rovers after playing the whole game and impressing in the team’s 3-1 preseason defeat to Championship (second tier) side Bristol City on Tuesday Observer Sports can reveal.
The Gambian will be given another look on Saturday when they take on Edrissa Sonko’s former team Hereford United before a decision would be made.
Manager Dave Hockaday said on the club’s official website on Saturday that he is set to announce two ‘big’ signings later this week after watching his side turn in an encouraging performance against the Championship outfit.
Hockaday refused to be drawn on his potential targets, but FGR website understands the Rovers’ boss is in talks with an experienced center-back and proven striker. But according to multiple sources, the forward in question is understood to be the former Liverpool and Manchester United target, Samba.
Hockaday said: “We are working hard to bring people in and it’s a bit teething, but we’ve said that the next two or three are going to be big signings.
“So we’re working at them and we are getting there and we’ve got Al Bangura to come back and two or three more to that and we’ll be well happy.” Hockaday was enthused by his side’s showing against Keith Millen’s City, he added:”That was a good workout, against a championship team and we’ve acquitted ourselves pretty well so lots of things to work on, the main thing is touch wood I don’t think we’ve got any injuries.
“We lasted the game quite well which is what we’re about – we’re about getting up to speed for the 12th, so that’s where we’re looking for. “Rovers included the 25-year-old Gambian international in the game and the former Millwall star looked off the pace largely due to match fitness but Samba who had represented England at every youth level before switching his allegiance to The Gambia in 2008 has been training with championship side Crystal Palace towards the end of last season.
The much-travelled Samba has also played for Spanish side’s Cádiz and Málaga . He returned to English football with Plymouth. He made his Football League five years ago as a second half substitute at the Ricoh Arena against Coventry City, and within eight minutes he scored his first League goal in a 1-0 win for Argyle.
In January 2007, he joined Wrexham on loan for a month, but returned to Plymouth before sigining an 18-month contract with Finnish side FC Haka. In 2009 he returned to England on trial with various English clubs including Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth.
The Canaries (Norwich City) passed the chance to sign him and he was very close to getting a contract with the Rovers until the club’s decision to sack then Manager Paul Ince scuppered the deal. Samba also impressed in trials with Pompey but his chances of a permanent stay were dashed by the premier league’s then transfer embargo on the south coast outfit. He then signed a two-year contract with Greek Second Division club Panetolikos last February.
The club was founded in 1890 as Nailsworth & Forest Green by the local Non Conformist Church Minister. The club would go on to become founder members of the Mid Gloucestershire League in 1894. The club moved to the newly formed Stroud & District League in 1902 where they remained for 32 years, also playing in the Dursley & District League. Rovers won the Dursley & District League in 1903 and this was the clubs first ever silverware.
They were founder members of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League in 1922 alongside Cheltenham Town and the club were to win the league three times in 1938, 1950 and 1951.
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