Marquee signing for Peterborough Sports

Football - Kettering Town to visit the Bee Arena in the FA Trophy

Peterborough Sports have landed a marquee signing in the shape of former Newcastle and Portsmouth striker Tresor Lomana LuaLua.

DR Congo international Lua Lua (38) has been training at the Bee Arena for the last fortnight while awaiting international clearance.

It’s more good news for Sports who were already celebrating an FA Trophy draw against local big guns Kettering Town. Sports earned the glamour tie against the Poppies by outclassing Whitby Town at home in the second round last weekend when goals from Mitch Griffiths and Avelino Vieira secured a 2-0 win.

The city side have an attractive Southern Premier Central Division game against fellow high-scorers Bromsgrove Sporting at the Bee Arena this Saturday, but many eyes are already on a potentially moneyspinning tie against Kettering.

The Poppies play in the National North League, one division above Sports, and have enjoyed an upturn in results since former Mansfield and Barrow boss Paul Cox took charge of team affairs.

Sports are confident of attracting a new club record gate. The city side set a new best of 435 when beating Guiseley in an FA Cup tie last month.

“It couldn’t have been a better draw for us,” Sports manager Jimmy Dean said. “They are local, they have big support for this level and it’s the chance for another giant-killing. And we will fancy our chances of beating them if we play like we did against Whitby. We controlled a game against a club with 27 contracted players from start to finish and we did it despite the absence of some regulars. We were very good and it was the best we’ve played for a while. The boys are buzzing about the draw, but they will be focussed on Bromsgrove on Saturday.

“They beat us twice last season in two intense games although we went on to win the league. It probably won’t be as intense this season as neither of us is expected to win the league this time.

“We have almost identical records apart us having a game in hand. We are joint top scorers in the division so it should be cracking game.”

Sports centre-back Richard Jones is out for a month because of injury.

Jimmy Dean: “If we play like we did against Whitby we can beat them”

Peterborough Sports have signed Tresor Lomana LuaLua, pictured here playing for Olympiakos