After plenty of speculation over this off-season and pre-season, the Club can announce that our number 9 and talisman Kabongo Tshimanga has today decided to join our National League rivals Chesterfield FC for an undisclosed fee, after they activated a verbal agreement he had with the club.
Kabby arrived at Meadow Park in the summer of 2019 from Oxford City as part of a summer rebuild across Luke Garrard’s squad following a disappointing 20th placed National League finish during the 2018/19 season.
Kab’s joined us with a growing reputation as a striker and a great goal scoring record in the National League South with Oxford City, having scored 37 goals in his only season with the Hoops during the 2018/18 season. It was in fact this goal scoring form which saw Wood come calling, as we fought off a clutch of other National League and Football League interest, to win the race to Kabby’s coveted signature, thus giving him the perfect chance to showcase his talent and cultivate his game at the next level with regular football.
In his two-seasons at Meadow Park, the Club has experienced resounding success, with Kabby at the forefront of club expectations with his goal scoring exploits. During the 2019/20 season, the front man’s 19 league goals helped Wood reach the semi-final of the National League play-offs before bowing out to eventual promotion final winners Harrogate Town.
In the 2020/21 season, Kabby picked up exactly where he left off, again bagging another 19 league goals, albeit with a more mid-table Wood side, although he helped propel the Wood into the 3rd Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time ever in the Club’s history.
It was these goal scoring exploits which earned Kabby back-to-back National League Team of the Season accolades, demonstrating his talent was not only acknowledged by Non-League pundits and fans alike, but also among his footballing peers.
Upon Kabs joining the Spireites, Wood Chairman Danny Hunter said, “He’s an outstanding young man and this club is in a better place now than when Kab’s arrived. The next stage of his footballing journey now begins and I wish him nothing but success”.
Following two-years of working closely with Kabby and overseeing his development on the pitch, Gaffer Luke Garrard commented, “In truth, I fully expected this day to come, especially after the two seasons Kabs has had with us here at Meadow Park. I honestly feel his time here at the Club has been Kabs’ most consistent period over his short career and we’ve played an integral role in his development.
“I genuinely wish Kabs all the best in the future and I’m sure he will achieve his dream of playing in the EFL and beyond. I will have many fond memories of his time at the Club, as I’m sure he will too and he knows I’m always a phone call away if he ever needs any advice… Thank you, Kabs.” Garrard concluded.
Upon leaving Meadow Park, Kabby’s record stands at 41 league and cup goals in 88 total appearances in a Wood shirt, amongst the best goals-per-game ratios across the top five divisions in English football.
On behalf of the Wood Army and everyone at Boreham Wood FC, we genuinely wish Kabby the very best of luck at Chesterfield FC and will follow his career closely as he embarks on the next chapter of his footballing journey.
Good luck, Kabs!
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
