Thamesmead Town vs Lewes by Jamie Barwick

FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER KICK-OFF 3:00PM

THAMESMEAD TOWN v LEWES

THE MEAD 04

> CONTENTS

ISSUE 04 Welcome

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the greatest cup Competition in the world, and our first Emirates FA Cup tie at our new home. At this stage of the competition, every single team playing this weekend dreams of a First Round tie hopefully against a Football League club! For us of course, last year’s defeat at Merstham in the Third Qualifying Round was the furthest the club has ever gone, but our friends from Lewes have reached the promised land on three occasions… In today’s copy of THE MEAD, we’ve the pictures from our two contrasting games

over the weekend and we speak to the man who skippered the Mead into FA Cup history last season at Guernsey. And there’s all the usual news from the Chairman’s office and the Gaffer’s desk… Don’t forget next weekend, we all get a Saturday off as our Bostik South game with Sittingbourne is on Sunday afternoon with a 2:00pm kick off – please note the early kick off. But first enjoy the Magic of the Greatest Cup Competition in the World as the March to the Arch continues this afternoon, and have a safe trip home! Greenie

THAMESMEAD TOWN FC KEY PERSONNEL

Hon President: Albert Panting Honorary Vice-Presidents: Gareth Connaleigh, Terry Hill, Alan Martin, Eddie McCann, Keith McMahon, Peter Tiernay, Alan Woodward Chairman & Club Owner: Paul BowdenBrown Vice Chairman: Richard Bowden-Brown Directors: Paul Bowden-Brown & Kai Isaksen General Manager: Ian Docker Club Secretary: Mike Green Boardroom Hospitality: Sue Dingwall

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Press Officer: Mike Green Club Photographer: Allen Hollands

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT

First-Team Manager: Tommy Warrilow First-Team Assistant: Alex O’Brien First-Team Physiotherapist: Carly Payne First-Team Coach: Craig Gibson Academy Manager: Ian Docker Academy Coacher: Steve Quashie & Steve Rouse Kitman: Terry Sedge

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Editors: Jamie Barwick & Mike Green Designer: Jamie Barwick Email: jamie_barwick363@yahoo.co.uk Print: Darenth Print and Design

GROUND ADDRESS Princes Park Grassybanks Dartford DA1 1RT

THE OFFICIAL 2017/18 MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

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THE CHAIRMAN <

PAUL BOWDEN-BROWN THE CHARIMAN

May I welcome the Officials, players and supporters of Lewes to Princes Park for this round of the FA Cup played at our new home for the next five years. And after an enjoyable game have a safe journey home! Well, here we are once again entertaining a club at our level in the Emirates FA Cup. Our last round in this season’s FA Cup was well documented by many sports institutions for the result of 8-0 against a very lively East Preston side. Unlike the score suggests they did play football, it was just on the day, everything clicked for the club and its team resulting in a very enjoyable afternoon and I wish East Preston the very best for the forthcoming season. Well this afternoon I feel will be a more difficult game against a very strong Lewes side, but hopefully we have recovered from our match against VCD where we as a team literally gave the opposition the result. I was there watching and to be honest after a great result on Saturday against Horsham

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THAMESMEAD TOWN V LEWES

everything went out of the window.

reasons I moved the club from Thamesmead.

I thought I was watching a Sunday Football team making schoolboy errors. I know how well our squad can play and I personally feel that there is no reason for them to give a display as they did.

I have offered a number of initiatives to try and rectify this trend and I am glad to say that at our last home match the paying gate was 74 – some of the readers might say that is terrible, but bearing in mind that during our last season at Thamesmead we were averaging 40 paying supporters on match days.

Of course we do not have the God given right to win every game, and of course we will lose games, but it’s the way we lost that game that really annoys me by giving them three goals on a plate, something we must get out of our system quickly, something Tommy hopefully will have dealt with before today’s match. I have written previously within my notes welcoming our new and old supporters to our new home of Princes Park, because as it is well documented that we as a club do not have many supporters, one of the

So I would like to thank all of OUR supporters for their continued support – remember I may be the owner and the person that pays all of the bills, but please remember I am only running this club for the community. The minute the community decides they do not want to support this club then I will walk away without doubt. I do not think that statement

> THE CHAIRMAN

is rash for the last three years I have been funding the operations of this club and for what? We went out into the community and the schools offering free of charge coaching and, although the teachers and pupils loved it including their free of charge day at a match days, we never saw their parents at a match, we were just treated as baby sitters for their children. Therefore, this season as well as allowing the club’s £30.00 Community Season Ticket that allows a FAMILY OF 4 TO ALL THE CLUBS HOME MATCHES to continue, I have also offered an initiative for our Landlords

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Supporters, all those that cannot join their team on a match day. Our entrance to a game is £10.00, but I am offering the Dartford Supporters to join the Mead Card for the sum of £5 that allows them to watch our Home matches. Furthermore all those supporters over the retirement age can come in for £2.50, so I am sure you will agree the options are well worthwhile, so please tell all your mates how enjoyable an afternoon is watching the Mead let’s try and get the number up to 100 by Christmas, that would prove to me that I have made the correct decision!

Finally, although many key businesses have agreed to become partners of the club I would love to see more join this proud group of businesses, I am sure they will benefit from being involved and they would certainly be made very welcome. Now let’s enjoy a great afternoon of football in what is still the greatest cup competition in the world and hopefully have our name in the draw next Monday. Enjoy the game and have a safe journey home. Paul Bowden-Brown Director and Owner

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THE MANAGER <

TOMMY WARRILOW THE manager

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Princes Park as we go back on the FA Cup trail. With the great run we had in the competition last season still fresh in our minds and of course the record breaking result, we had in the last round two weeks ago, whoever said that there’s no magic left in this great competition really hasn’t been around the Mead over the past twelve months or so.

chance to match some of the backing that the Chairman puts into our club, by winning some much-needed prize money for the coffers.

From Guernsey to East Preston, we really have taken this great old cup to heart.

Our weekend seven days ago was mixed to put it bluntly, but doesn’t it just highlight the highs and lows of football and how things in this game can change so very quickly.

Last year was a great run that took us from the Channel Islands first ever cup-tie to Merstham via Chertsey and Hanwell, and to play so poorly in the Third Qualifying round twelve months ago is still so disappointing. I was unhappy because as this competition is one of the few ways that the players have a

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THAMESMEAD TOWN V LEWES

That said, how can any of us involved last season forget our run as it was the first time in the club’s history that the Third Qualifying Round had been reached – a real achievement!

We did many good things in both games, but it is important for us over the coming weeks and months that we learn from mistakes that we have made. I’m obviously pleased with the start that we’ve made and

with our position in the early league table that hopefully will be a great base to build on. In welcoming Lewes to Princes Park this afternoon, we’re welcoming a historically wellrun club who are always well organised opponents on the pitch. Let’s hope then that we get a repeat of the start that we had last Saturday against Horsham when we started as hot as the weather, and carried on the form from the last round two Saturdays ago when we paid our opponents and the competition the greatest respect to earn our place here in the First Qualifying Round this weekend. It always nice to get over the first hurdle without taking anything for granted which is something that we would never do as one thing that I

> THE MANAGER

learned very quickly is that noone should take their place in the competition for granted as no one’s place is guaranteed. We’ve got a busy few weeks ahead of us – starting on Wednesday with potentially either a League Cup game or a possible replay of today’s tie and so I hope that you’ll continue to get behind us as you have done brilliantly so far as we continue forward in our new home, Thanks as always and see you in the bar after the game, Enjoy the game! Tommy Warrilow First-Team Manager

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> THE CAPTAIN

LEON SMITH THE CAPTAIN

Hello everyone and welcome to Princes Park, where we take on Lewes in the FA Cup. It was a busy weekend last week with two games in three days.

We made three mistakes and were punished all three times with a goal.

We had another good win on Saturday against Horsham with five goals and a clean sheet.

Alex continued his goal run and scored our goal, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all frustrated by the result.

We were sharp from the whistle, and that paid off with a goal in the first minute closely followed by another three inside the first twenty minutes and we went in 4-0 up.

We need to pick ourselves up and get back to working as a team and win our next match today as its probably the biggest cup in the country and is a massive pleasure for us all to play in.

We probably took our foot off the gas during the second half, but another goal and another hat-trick for Alex Teniola sealed the win. After that excellent win, we suffered a loss on Monday to VCD. As a team, we never really got off the ground, took our chances or settled down.

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We need to push on now; keep our fitness and team spirit going and get the wins under our belt and hopefully progress in this great competition! Thanks for your support as always, Leon Smith First-Team Captain

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MEAD MATTERS <

THAMESMEAD TOWN

mead matters POSSIBLE REPLAY If today’s game ends in a draw, the replay will be at Lewes’ Dripping Pan Ground (post code BN7 2XA) on WEDNESDAY – September 6th – kick off 7:45pm.

LEAGUE CUP We have scheduled our Velocity Trophy (formerly the Alan Turvey Trophy or the Isthmian League Cup) First Round tie with PHOENIX SPORTS for this coming Wednesday here at Princes Park with a 7:45pm kick off. BUT if either today’s game is drawn or Phoenix’s ties with Eastbourne Town is drawn, then the League Cup game will be postponed.

HERNE BAY PENCILLED IN Our home game scheduled for Wednesday 13th September has been postponed because of The Bay’s progress in the Kent Senior Cup. The game has been rearranged for WEDNESDAY 18th OCTOBER here at Princes Park – kick off 7:45pm

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THAMESMEAD TOWN V LEWES

MOLESEY STILL TO BE REARRANGED We still don’t have a new date for our trip to Molesey that was due to be played today. We’ll keep you posted and hopefully be able to confirm the date next time.

YOUNGSTERS HEAD FOR THE SEASIDE

> MEAD MATTERS

In the FA Youth Cup, our youngsters have been drawn away to face MARGATE. The game will be played this coming Tuesday – September 5th – with a 7:45pm kick-off at Hartsdown Park.

SUNDAY KICK-OFFS CONFIRMED A reminder of something that we mentioned on Wednesday – our home League game with SITTINGBOURNE on SUNDAY 10th SEPTEMBER will have a 2:00pm kick off, and we hope that ALL games we play here at Princes on a Sunday will begin at the same time – 2:00pm.

SPONSOR A PLAYER We’re looking for individuals, groups of supporters or companies who’d like to sponsor your favourite Mead player! Be it Paul Vines, Lewis Carey, Richard Butler or even the Gaffer himself, simply see Greenie or the Chairman and they’ll happily talk you through the details…

WE NEED YOU We’re still on the look-out for eager people to join our match-day operations. If you’re interested or just curious, have a word with anyone in the Mead Suite at the Car Park end of the ground…

FINALLY Happy birthday Dane; we’d all like to send birthday wishes to DANE LUCHFORD who’s birthday it is today…

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> THE ACADEMY

IAN DOCKER

THE Academy Hello, and here’s hoping for a successful season for Tom and the lads in our first year at Princes Park. Good luck to Tom and the lads and here’s hoping all connected to The Mead go home today awaiting the next round draw which I understand is on Monday morning! Talking of draw’s, this coming Tuesday sees our academy lads enter the FA Youth Cup and a trip to play Margate at Hartsdown Park (kick off on the coast will be at 7:45pm). It will be a good test for our lads but our coach Steve Quashie will ensure that the players give 100% to progressing through to the next round. Once again, this season we will be competing in the National League under 19 Alliance League this season. It will be a great chance for the players to show if they have what it takes to step up into our first-team,

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so please look out for our boys this season. Our division in the league consists of ourselves, Fulham Sedgehill, Brentford Bees, Bromley Whites, Charlton Athletic Trust, Crystal Palace FA, Dartford Reds, Dulwich Hamlet, Maidstone United Blues, Millwall Lions and Phoenix Sport’s. We are currently looking for sponsorship and if anyone is interested, please contact me at Academy_ thamesmeadtownfc@ outlook.com Yours in sport Ian Docker Academy Manager

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> THE PHYSIO

CARLY & RHYANNA THE physios

Good afternoon all and welcome to Princes Park for another home game of the 2017/2018 season. Most of you will be aware of Rhyannas presence in the dugout for most of last season and I’m pleased to confirm she’s agreed to stay with us again this season as my assistant.

starting line up.

Her help for me is invaluable and I for one am delighted to have her on board again.

There were a number of players with little niggles during pre-season which is to be expected after the break and with a few carrying a little extra weight we’ve worked them hard in gruelling one to one sessions to shift the pounds and get fit.

We’ll mix things up this year with both of us providing updates on injuries and any squad news. So it’s been a busy pre-season for Rhyanna and myself, we’ve had our work cut out getting Vinesy back fit after his knee injury in the back end of last season. It was a tough two months, but we’re pleased to have him back in the squad and competing for a place in the WWW.TTFCOFFICIAL.ORG

He’s worked hard not only in rehab sessions with us, but also putting in the work himself to get into shape and ready.

We’ve come into this season with a different mindset, for us it’s all about making sure the boys are taking care of themselves away from the squad.

eat correct, to self manage injuries and niggles and we’ll be regularly weighing the boys ensuring they’re maintaining a healthy weight especially when injured. We want to help them help us and in turn we hope to see a reduction of injuries this season. We saw Bode come off injured in our final pre-season game against Folkestone, luckily is wasn’t anything too serious and we’re hopeful he’ll be back within the next week. That’s all from us and hopefully these notes from us will be kept short and sweet from now on! Good luck today lads!

We want to educate the boys to be preparing right before games etc making sure they

Carly & Rhyanna First-Team Physios

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> MATCH REPORT

5 THAMESMEAD TOWN Teniola (1, 7, 55), Kinch (12), Anidugbe (18)

Saturday 26th August Princes Park Attendance: 105 Bostik League South

0 HORSHAM The Mead moved into second place in the early BOSTIK South table with another impressive performance and a near perfect start. In front after barely a minute, and four up inside the opening twenty, there really was no way back for the first Saturday league visitors at Princes as the Hornets from Horsham received a real sting in the tail following the Mead rather limp exit from the Kent Cup in midweek. Alex Tenolia again stole the headlines with his second hat-trick in a week, with Scott Kinch and Bode Anidugbe giving scoring support, but this was all about a stunning opening burst giving a near perfect start to a terrific team performance. How different to the Mead’s first home game of the season which was edged with almost the final kick of the game against Hythe Town. Alex’s partnership with Tashi-Jay Kwayie seems to be bringing the best out of each other, and it was Alex who duly completed his treble just before the hour courtesy

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of two terrific crosses from Harvey Brand (a great early birthday present for the Mead full-back) and a magnificent drive that flew into the top corner of the Horsham net after only seven minutes to double the lead that Alex had given the home side in the opening minute as he rammed home Harvey’s brilliant ball into the box. Kinchy then was on hand to bravely head home Ellis Green’s corner to make it three in only twelve minutes, and when Bode fired home gloriously from the angle still inside the opening 20 minutes, the game was won

with out any doubt. Full credit to Horsham though who kept at it, but even their most staunchest of followers were resigned to an afternoon in the sizzling Dartford sunshine as the Mead made it five early in the second half when Alex again was on hand to bury the chance that Harvey’s fine ball in had created. It could have been more as Alex himself, Tashi and Tom O’Connor all went close, but in the final analysis a glorious win in glorious sunshine - not a bad way to start a Bank Holiday weekend.

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MATCH ACTION <

MATCH ACTION VS.

HORSHAM

Pictures taken by club photographer Allen Hollands

The Mead form a huddle before the game gets started

It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long, but Teniola had his second after just seven minutes

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The man of the moment Alex Teniola gets the scoring underway

The goalkeeper could only watch on and admire

> MATCH ACTION

Scot Kinch puts the Mead 3-0 up after just 12 minutes.

Lewis Carey punts the ball upfield

Bode Anidugbe gets in on the scoring as The Mead go 4-0 up after 18 minutes

Teniola completes his hat-trick after 55 minutes to complete a 5-0 win

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Job done and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Teniola time once again

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HEADLINE MATCH ACTION OF PAGE< IN <

MATCH ACTION VS.

VCD ATHLETIC

Pictures taken by club photographer Allen Hollands

Here come the teams led out by the officials

Luchford looks like heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to open the scoring

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THAMESMEAD TOWN V LEWES

Dane Luchford battles for possession

...but is denied and shows his frustration

> HEADLINE > MATCHOF ACTION PAGE IN

Ellis Green in full flight for during the match

The Meadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jake McIntyre

A Mead corner caused all kinds of problems

Lewis Carey makes a stunning save for The Mead

Alex Teniola continues his superb from with a goal, but it proves a consolation in a 3-1 defeat

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THE OPPOSITION <

INTRODUCING

lewes Attentions now turn to the FA Cup, with Thamesmead Town hosting Lewes. Lewes are currently flying-high in the Bostik League South having picked up 10 points from their opening four games. The club remain unbeaten, having overcome Herne Bay, Guernsey and Hastings United, while drawing with Sittingbourne United, too. Both Thamesmead and Lewes had contrasting results just in reaching this stage.

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While The Mead strolled through with a 8-0 victory, an impressive comeback from Newhaven saw Lewes throw away a three-goal lead in the FA Cup Preliminary Round at the Pan, with a hat-trick from Lee Robinson earning the visitors a well-deserved replay. In the replay, however, a professional performance saw Lewes progress into the first qualifying round of the FA Cup after a comfortable 4-1 victory at Newhaven in their Preliminary Round replay at the Trafalgar Ground.

CLUB GUIDE Nickname: The Rooks Founded: 1885 Chairman: Stuart Fuller Manager: Darren Freeman Last Season: 9th Ground: The Dripping Pan Capacity: 3,000

> THE OPPOSITION

LEWES

CLUB HISTORY Lewes Football Club was formed following a meeting at The Royal Oak pub on 23 September 1885. For the first eight years, the players wore light green shirts which were designed to reflect the scenery of the surrounding South Downs, but black and red finally became the club colours in 1893. The club has played at the Dripping Pan ever since, apart from a couple of seasons prior to the First World War when the club was banished to the adjoining Convent Field. The early years of the club produced only mediocre results and successes were few and far between. In 1920, Lewes became founder members of the Sussex County League. Progress was slow and despite four runners-up places, by the 1960s Lewes had only one Sussex RUR Cup win to their name. In 1965, the club’s fortunes changed dramatically, winning the County League title for the first time with a massive nine-point lead over runners-up Lancing, as well as both the RUR and Sussex Senior Cups. Lewes became members of the Athenian League and after winning the Division 2 title in 1968, promotion to the Premier Division was gained just two years later when the Division 1 title was snatched from Boreham Wood, with a further Sussex Senior Cup triumph added in 1971. Six years later, the club entered the newly expanded Isthmian League. Promotion to Division 1 soon followed although two sixth-place finishes in 1982 and 1989 were the highest positions attained in Division 1. During that time, Lewes reached the final of the Sussex Senior Cup on three occasions, and won the trophy in 1984/85. Disaster struck in 1990/91 when Lewes were relegated for the first time in their history. An immediate return as runners-up to Purfleet followed,

but that success was short-lived and relegation in successive years meant that by the 1994/95 season the club was down in Division Three. The slide continued and the first season in the basement division would have been the last in the league if it hadn’t been for Cove who conveniently propped-up the league and saved Lewes from automatic demotion. The club survived rather than thrived until the 1998/99 season when Jimmy Quinn joined as manager, and at the first attempt missed out on promotion by just one place. Midway through the 1999/2000 season Martin Elliott and a new board of Directors stepped in and immediately the fortunes of the club began to improve, with the capture of the Sussex Senior Cup in 2001 following victory over Bognor Regis. There was mixed news on the pitch. The pinnacle of the Men’s team’s achievement, and what a pinnacle, was to gain promotion to the top of the non-League pyramid in 2007/8. However, the Rooks only lasted one season in the top flight as the Global Credit Crisis hit and funds dried up. The Rooks’ new economic reality saw them drop down the divisions. However, a brand new Women’s team was started by Jacquie Agnew and underwent a dramatic rise form park football to the Women’s Combination. Behind the scenes, a group of six supporters calling themselves Rooks125 were working hard to take the club into community ownership having witnessed the serious financial problems that had befallen the club, despite the owners’ best efforts. Finally on July 8th 2010, Lewes FC was officially transferred out of private ownership into a massownership Community Benefit Society called Lewes Community Football Club, consisting of benefactors and

members of the former Management Committee. The six members of Rooks125 formed the inaugural Executive Board, working as volunteers to install improved working practices and procedures during the season before planning to open up the wider ownership of LCFC to all the club’s supporters in 2011/12. The first chairman of the Community Club was appointed in 2013 with club legend Terry Parris taking up the position. Terry was succeeded by Stuart Fuller in 2015. All Board positions now are elected by the whole Ownership base. On the pitch, restricted resources saw the team drop two Leagues, down to the Ryman League South (now called the Bostik League). The Women’s team enjoyed a meteoric climb up to the FA Women’s Premier League (South), gaining promotion from the Combination League by winning every match but one, which they drew. The Men’s team are now brilliantly led by Darren Freeman and, after a consolidating season in the Isthmian South League are set to rise back up the ladder. The Women’s team continue in the Premier League and are now pushing for promotion to the WSL2, Women’s Super League. The club is building a solid foundation on which to build for the future. It has around 1,200 Owners and has gained a great reputation for all its community work and stand-out marketing. In July 2015, the club opened a state-of-the-art 3G all-weather facility adjacent to The Dripping Pan, for the whole community to use as well as all Lewes FC teams to train on. Planning permission has also been gained to build a new Community Clubhouse inside the Pan and the estimated £1.5m required is all that we need!

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PLAYER INTERVIEW <

FEATURE INTERVIEW:

SCOTT KINCH

In the next of our features with the Mead’s first team squad, this afternoon we speak to the skipper behind the club’s best ever run in the greatest cup competition in the world twelve months ago who has this season been appointed as player coach. Today Greenie talks to Kinchy – SCOTT KINCH

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> PLAYER INTERVIEW

We’re always on about “the Magic of the FA Cup”, but we wanted to know exactly what it’s like to play in the competition, and Scott was in no doubt. He told us, “Playing in the FA cup is THE biggest tournament that you can play in; its where you can have a good run and get drawn against a number of big clubs and really make a name for yourself!” We then wanted to know exactly what the Gaffer is like to play under?: “It’s only been for two clubs, but that’s enough,” Kinchy said smiling. “He just goes about everything in the right way and wants it done to perfection. “He wants the best for you and will always push you to make you a better player and backs his players. He’s spoken to me about becoming player coach because he didn’t have Sedgey to pick up the cones and do the water bottles also just to help with sessions, give feedback, do warm ups, cool downs etc.” We then spoke about last season: “Last year was very disappointing as we didn’t seem to get the rub of the green,” Scott admitted. He went on: “Everything went against on and off the pitch we had a great squad and things didn’t go our way. Where we finished in the table was not good enough and very disappointing.

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“We should have done so much better as it showed what we did in December we shouldn’t of been where we was in the league!” We then asked Scott where he thought the best football was played – north or south of the Thames? “I would say that I have played my best football when I was in the Blue Square South with Welling United” he said. “The first year we lost in play off final and the second year we won it. Would also say when I won the Ryman Premier with Tom and OB at Tonbridge Angels. The three seasons went really well!

was disappointing where we finished. “This year, I think we have got off to a good start, but I always think we can do a lot better just need to cut out sloppy mistakes. There is no reason why we can’t go all the way. “I all always start the season off expecting to win the league, if not should be finishing in the play-offs. I think playing here will help us with the way we want to play, but can also go against us when other clubs turn up and see how nice the set up and everything is. Away teams always tend to raise their game!”

“I was playing regularly without any knocks and niggles. But feel that I have got off to a good start this year, and so hopefully that will continue, keep away from injuries and add more silverware.”

Finally, our “Five First’s” as we ask everyone the same five questions…

“I think the north is more physical where as in the south the teams like to get the ball down and play more. I think the south will be harder with more teams wanting to play but feel it will suit as more this year.

First album/CD owned? No idea.

“We should have done a lot better last year we had the right balance we could get the ball down and play but we could also do the other side and battle. Which is why it

First football kit bought (either for you or by you)? Arsenal kit bought for me.

First football match attended? Arsenal vs Millwall at The “Old” Den in my Arsenal kit in the Millwall end! First car owned? Fiat Punto (Sport) First foreign holiday? Gran Canaries

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CRAIG’S CORNER <

CRAIG GIBSON THE coach

Welcome to Princes Park our new home - Jamie and Greenie have finally let me write some words for the programme, so here goes! So here we are and another FA Cup tie, hopefully we can win through what will be a tough tie against Lewes as we look to surpass last season’s achievements. Since the last notes we have had a mixed bag of results, losing at home to Cray Wanderers in the County Cup, destroying Horsham in the league and then being defeated in the local derby at VCD Athletic. Looking at our Kent Cup game, it was personally a delight to see Max Ovenden make an

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appearance in goal and he put in a very good performance with some smart saves to keep us in the game for long periods. The first goal was a great strike that was hit low & hard through a crowd of players, which is always difficult for a keeper. The second took a wicked deflection and the third a penalty, so no fault with the goals. The gaffer was well pleased with Max’s contribution and Lewis, rested for the night was very supportive & complimentary

about his replacement as were the rest of the squad. This shows the great team spirit in the dressing room we have. In the heat of Saturday at Princes Park last weekend, the Mead literally came out on FIRE against Horsham and quickly burnt out the Hornet’s nest, with four goals inside the first twenty minutes, WOW! Adding only one more was a little disappointing, although you cannot complain about a 5-0 victory can you? Well I can since I missed three of

the goals and that was with my contact lenses in, I looked away on those three occasions to speak to someone else on the bench, how is your luck!

> CRAIG’S CORNER

We had our club photographs taken before the game versus Horsham, you really should have been in the dressing room it was like a Paris fashion show. I shall not name any individuals suffice to say there was a lot of posturing with questions being asked about the hair and “does this shirt fit OK”, “are my shorts too tight”, “Oooh I’ve a ladder in my socks”. I have never witnessed anything like it. I was a bit disappointed with my photograph, as I really do not think Alan the photographer caught me in the best light and if he had given me a few moments I could have done something with my hair haha! And then to the Bank Holiday Monday derby at VCD. I thought we started very well, we looked confident and really should have been two nil in front after twenty five minutes, to end up losing 1-3 was a disappointment but not the end of the world. It is easy when you are winning, but winners really show through when the going gets tough so now it is up to the players to prove a point & be positive in the next set of games we have in front of us. Enjoy the game, and let us hope we are not going down to the Frying Pan – whoops Dripping Pan – for a replay and we are in the hat ready for the next round. Craig Gibson First-team coach

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