Aaron Perry relishes new challenge at Tudor Sports

TUDOR SPORTS have confirmed that Aaron Perry has been unveiled as the club’s new manager.

Perry, 30, who was previously the manager of Milton & Fulston United, but has previous Ryman League coaching experience at Margate, Ramsgate and Sittingbourne, was unveiled as the club’s new manager tonight.

He said: “It will be an interesting challenge.  I’ve had a year out to be with the family and the baby, I’ve just had a little boy whose five months old.

“The job came up and we sat and spoke about it.  I wasn’t really looking for a specific job, but after speaking to the chairman, he spoke well about the club and where he wants to go with the club and we’re excited about the new challenge.”

The New Eltham based club finished in 12^th place (of fifteen) in the Haart of Kent County League Premier Division table last season and Perry wants to be higher up in the table next steason.

“To be honest, we’re looking top four,” he said. 

“I haven’t seen the league or who’s going to be in it or the quality of the teams but we’ll bring some players in with us to strengthen what we’ve already got.

“I don’t really know too much about the players we’ve inherited from last season but the first year is jut about building as a club.

“For us, we’re going to bring some players in. It’s going to be a busy pre-season, looking at new players. Hopefully we won’t have to rebuild a whole squad which will make it a bit easlier.

“Having spoken to players, they’re keen.  Being in the London area it’s a lot easier to attract players than being in Whitstable, Herne Bay or the Kent area.

“I’ve moved back to (live in) Margate.  I’ll be travelling with some players from down this end and working in Maidstone as well it breaks up the journey a little bit.

“It’s like everything isn’t it? When you’ve been out of it, I’m still looking at what’s been going on and I’ve watched a few games.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a new challenge. I don’t know too much about the Premier to be honest with you. When I was at Milton we’ve played a few sides in the Premier and there wasn’t much difference between us.”

Perry confirmed that the club cannot stage Kent Invicta League football at the STC Sports Ground, but his chairman is looking to progress.

He said: “We’re pleased with the way the club have been. The club have been brilliant. The club wants to move forward as a football club and hopefully we can lead them to where they want to be.

“The chairman’s full on. He wants to move on. Where we are the sports ground we play at, we can’t play in the Invicta where we are. I believe he’s building new dressing rooms to make it a better place.

“But he tells me when we are challenging for the Invicta, he’ll get a ground ready for the Invicta, so he definitely wants to go that way.”

Meanwhile, Forest Hill Park, who finished third-from-bottom in Division One West, are searching for a new manager.

Club secretary Clayton Walters said: “It’s an opportunity for an ambitious committed manager/coach to be a major part in an FA charter standard club with FA Step Six ground facilities at Ladywell Arena.

“The candidates should be available for midweek evening training sessions in south-east London, as well as Saturday afternoon match-days.

“The candidate ideally should have FA coaching qualifications and/or experience at this level of football.

“Access to players of County League standard and above and an appreciation of the club’s footballing philosophy, will be extremely beneficial to aid in the club’s progression.”

To apply, please email Clayton Walters info@fhpfc.co.uk.

Meanwhile, Bexlians have confirmed that their first team will be playing all their home games at on the grass pitch at Crown Woods School, Bexley Road, Eltham – which meets Kent County League Premier standards – next season.