Sheppey United newboy Briggs Ojemen believes the club is the perfect fit for him.

The left-footed centre-half has fitted in well at Sheppey, helping them to an opening day draw at Broadbridge Heath in the league and a 3-0 win over Midhurst & Easebourne in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Ojemen started out as a junior at Dagenham and then turned pro at Bromley after working his way up from their under-23s. The Covid pandemic disrupted his time at Welling United and since then he’s been looking for a place to settle.

“I feel like Sheppey’s the perfect place for me,” he said. “I hope to start games and will work hard to cement my spot in the starting line-up and keep playing.

“It was a no-brainer to join, especially with how they play football, it suited my style of playing.”

Ojemen linked up with The Ites in the early weeks of pre-season, quickly forging a good partnership at the back with last season’s ever-present man Lekan Majoyegbe, before signing on just before the campaign got started.

He said: “I was on the lookout for a club that suited my style of play. Sheppey get the ball down and play and one of my friends was there, Eddie Allsopp, who I was with at Herne Bay. He spoke to the manager about me and I was asked to come and play.

“Since I have come in I feel like I have fitted in like a glove. It’s a great club, with great fans, and a great set-up.

“I didn’t know Lekan beforehand but once we played together we just gelled. I feel like everyone could see that. It is good to have a centre-half partner who you get to know and can build chemistry with.”

It’s helped to have fellow newcomer Maliq Morris at the club, along with keeper Aiden Prall, friendly faces that can share the driving to games and training.

Ojemen said: “Playing with friends makes it easier when joining a new club but even without them, I have been welcomed with open arms, by fans and players, I do really appreciate it.”

Director of football Ernie Batten remains in caretaker charge while the club decide on who to appoint as their new permanent manager. It’s a situation that Ojemen insists isn’t a problem for the players.

He said: “The boys put that to the side, what happens in the background is what it is, and our main focus is on playing.

“Ernie has been a manager, he has that experience, he has great responsibility and a say in the club, he has respect from the players and the fans, and is a top man.

“When I met with Ernie we talked about personal and club goals. Last season the team were just edged out of the play-offs and I feel we are better this season, I feel we can definitely get play-offs, minimum.

“Ernie drums into us the style of play, to get the ball down and play, through the thirds, and the phases, that is what we try and implement in our game.

“Our performance in the first game wasn’t us at our best but we still got a draw and our next game, in the FA Cup, it was a comfortable win, we should have beaten them by more.”

Dan Bradshaw netted either side of the break in the 3-0 FA Cup win and Allsopp added a third late on. They have been drawn at home to SCEFL Premier Division side Kennington in the first qualifying round, scheduled for Saturday, September 2.

The Ites are at home to Phoenix Sports on Saturday (3pm) and then face local rivals Sittingbourne away on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ojemen added: “I am carrying a bit of a knock but hopefully I can be fit to play. I am just looking forward to getting my head down this season.”

Monday’s match at Sittingbourne’s Woodstock Park ground is all-ticket and purchases must be made online due to limited allocation. It’s a 1pm kick off.