It's All Change at FC Romania

After a break of several months, Pitching In Southern League Division One Central club FC Romania have announced that manager Ionut Vintila has returned.

Vintila’s first objective is to save the club from relegation, after which we they will look with optimism to the future, where we are convinced that FC Romania will have an ascending course.

Vintila, who was both chairman and manager, left in August 2020 after 14 years with the club, stating the reason for quitting was the lack of sponsorship and people to assist behind the scenes.

Vintila was key in propelling the club from Hackney Marshes in 2006 all the way to the Isthmian League in the summer of 2018 after a successful promotion from the Essex Senior League.

And Vintila has wasted no time in bolstering his squad with a plethora of arrivals, being grateful to ground landlords, Vanarama National League South outfit Cheshunt, for allowing FC Romania to dual register some of the new recruits.

One of those is Carlos Lyon, who has only recently signed for the Ambers.

The 27-year-old Londoner began his career as a youth with Brentford, before joining Billericay Town, where he proved to be a regular marksman.

He then had a spell with Southend United and also had a loan spell with Southern Premier Division South side Hayes & Yeading United before moving to Scotland and joining Alloa Athletic when they were in the Championship.

After a brief return to Billericay and then Grays Athletic, his stint `north of the border` continued with Brechin City, in their Championship season, and then on to Stirling Albion, Stranraer, Peterhead, Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath.

In early January, he signed for Cheshunt.

Another joining FC Romania on dual registration from Cheshunt is defender Ebenezer Addo Kufuor.

The 20-year-old from Ghana signed for the Ambers in the summer of 2022 from Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side Brimsdown Rovers.

Midfielder Ernold Haxhiu is another to make the move but remain on the same pitch.

The 22-year-old signed for Cheshunt in late October 2021 from their former Isthmian League Premier rivals Carshalton Athletic.

He joined the Robins in September 2019 after impressing in pre-season.

Prior to heading to Colston Avenue he was with League Two Leyton Orient, where he came through the youth ranks.

In 2018/19 made 2 appearances on loan at Isthmian South East side Sevenoaks Town and also played one match for Isthmian North outfit Tilbury in 2018/19 and another in the Isthmian South Central for Hertford Town, making it a full set in the league!

Midfielder Jamie Reynolds also makes the switch to the Wolves from the Ambers on dual terms.

The 23-year-old joined Cheshunt in early December 2019 from then-National League South side Billericay Town.

He had been with Billericay since September 2019 having spent twelve years with Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, coming through the ranks to the under-18 and under-23 sides.

After being released by Spurs at the end of the 2018/19 season, Reynolds trialled with Sunderland before heading back to Essex to join Billericay.

Reynolds is joined by another Cheshunt team-mate, Mo Camara.

The 27-year-old utility player, equally at home at centre-half or central midfield, is a Parisian, starting his career in Les Pavillions-sous-Bois, in the Ile de France region near to Ibs.

He signed for the Ambers in the summer of 2019.

Forward Zach Davidson arrives at Theobalds Lane from Essex Senior League side Sawbridgeworth Town, for whom he made 24 appearances and scored 4 goals prior to moving.

He was previously with Buckhurst Hill.

Midfielder Serghei Maximov re-joins the Wolves from Essex Senior League side Redbridge.

The 33-year-old had originally signed for FC Romania in the summer of 2017.

He played for CSF Speranta and Spicul in Moldova before having a short spell with AFC Rushden & Diamonds after coming to England prior to joining FC Romania.

Narcis-Florin Filip is a 27-year-old striker is another to return to the club having been a free agent following Harlow Town’s resignation from the league.

He had signed for Harlow in July 2022 after being with Isthmian League Premier Division side Cray Wanderers since February 2022.

He had previously been playing for Cray’s league rivals, Haringey Borough.

He made 7 appearances for the Boro, and prior to his time with Haringey, he played for FC Romania and for Spartan South Midlands Leaguers Hoddesdon Town.

Goalkeeper Lee Axworthy joins from league rivals Barton Rovers.

The 21-year-old had moved to Sharpenhoe Road in November 2022 from another league rival, Hertford Town, where he had been since December 2021 after arriving from Southern Premier Division Central side Kings Langley.

He had only been with Kings for a month or so after arriving from Spartan South Midland League Premier Division outfit Holmer Green.

He came through Brentford`s scholarship programme and represented the club`s under-19 side, was involved in a number of under-23 squads and trained with the first team on a number of occasions.

After being released by the Bees, he had spells with Hendon, London Colney and Holmer Green and had a stint at Metropolitan Police in February 2020.

Alexandru Dubniuc is a 22-year-old midfielder who re-joins FC Romania for a second spell.

He had left FC Romania’s for league rivals Aylesbury United in January 2022 and played against the Ducks in the Wolves’ Southern League Cup victory at The Meadow.

The central midfielder is a Moldovan Youth international and played for the youth teams at Zimbru Chiinu of the Moldovan National Division before moving to England to further his career.

After playing just the one game for the Ducks, he went on to have spells with MK Irish, Leighton Town and Colney Heath.

FC Romania Web Site