Teenage defender Alex Green has handed Deal a big boost by committing to the club - but boss Steve King hopes it’ll be a largely quiet summer.

Green, who will turn 20 in June, proved a big hit for the Hoops, joining permanently at the start of March after a successful loan spell from Dover.

And he will remain with Deal for their 2023/24 Southern Counties East League Premier Division promotion push.

King said: “We’re looking for a pretty boring and uneventful summer, to be honest.

“We’ve had some big news with Alex Green committing for next season. That’s a big boost because he’s been outstanding.

“We have targeted two or three other players that we feel can strengthen us. But we finished 20 games unbeaten in the league. The vast majority of the squad will stay.

“If we can add in one or two areas, that’s, ideally, what we want to do.

“I don’t think there will be a huge amount of news coming up from us over the summer, which will be a great thing for me.”

Green was sent off in Deal’s Kent Senior Trophy Final defeat to Punjab, though, and therefore will have a one-match ban to serve at the start of the new season.

While Deal’s first-team came third, narrowly missing out on promotion, and suffered cup final heartache, the reserves have enjoyed success too.

They will face Rusthall Reserves at Sheppey in the Kent Intermediate Cup Final next Wednesday, May 10 and King, who also leads Deal’s Kent Youth League under-16s who won their league, won’t be afraid of looking at any of those players in pre-season if he thinks they’re good enough.

“That’s really important to me,” noted King, who brought reserve player Josh Byford off the bench for a goalscoring debut during the last league match of the 2022/23 season against Sutton Athletic.

“I run the under-16 Kent Youth League side every week. I watch their (the reserve) sessions and I’ve worked with a lot of the players in the past.

“I will be there to support them in their Final, as will a lot of the first-team players. At the end of the day, we’re one club. We’re all linked together.

“Those players, if they perform to those levels, they will get their opportunity. The same with the under-16s that have been in the Kent Youth League but maybe next year will be a bit early for them.

“That’s how I work. The club’s in a really good place. When we reflect on the season, there’s so much to be proud of. But anyone that knows me knows I’m already planning for next season.

“The league will be incredibly strong so they will have to up their performance levels again if we’re going to be at the top.”

Deal Town’s award ceremony took place last Saturday.

Supporters voted for Tom Chapman as their player-of-the-year while Jack Penny was named manager’s player and players’ player. Aaron Millbank took the golden boot award while Green picked up the young player-of-the-year trophy.

Deal had a big boost in attendances, with an average gate of 455 at the Charles Ground - up 44% on the previous season.

Awards were also handed out to the reserve and women’s team. Josh Byford was named reserve manager’s player-of-the-year and he was also the golden boot winner.

Kieron Harris took the accolade for goal of the season. Supporters’ player went to Danny Maslak while Harry Andrews was the young player and Charlie Groombridge the players’ player.

Women’s team player Stacey Rye was named the manager’s player-of-the-year and players’ player while also winning the golden boot award. Cally Evans won the young player award and Ant Leo was most improved.

The club person award was handed to Fiona Richards while Dan Levey took the chair’s club person-of-the-year accolade.