Becks facing race against time (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Beckenham Town face a race against time to get their Eden Park Avenue ground up to Ryman League standard, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

The club, second in the Kentish Observer League table, are fighting it out with leaders Maidstone United to see which club lands the title.

 
They can go top if they win at strugglers Sevenoaks Town on Tuesday night, but the Stones will return to the summit if they win at VCD Athletic on Thursday night, which should attract a big crowd to Greenwich Borough’s Harrow Meadow ground in Eltham.
 
Beckenham have until April 1^st to get the work done but secretary Peter Palmer insists everything will be in place before that deadline and improvements, costing around £60,000, will get underway this week.
 

A new turnstile block and public address system have already been installed at the ground, which is a goal-kick away from Eden Park train station.

 
The club have a 35-year lease on their ground and have been told their dressing rooms and floodlights meet the requirements.
 
However, they must build a new 150-seater stand that must replace their current wooden one and build a covered stand for 100 standing.
 
Two new dug-outs, which must seat between eight to ten people must be built, which replace the current ones, which only seat five.
 
The club have also got to improve the “tunnel” from the dressing rooms onto the pitch as well as have a 1 metre pathway around the entire pitch and stop people looking into the ground from outside.
 
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk, Palmer said: “Well the works starting, so I’m told, this week.  I’ve been asked if I could do the changing room area and various works on the pitch, that I can do.
 
“The bigger jobs, like the stand and the covered walkway for the referee’s and the players will hopefully be finished within two-three weeks.  Once there done I think we will be accepted for the grading anyway.
 
Beckenham Town have two years of their five-year FA competitions ban left to run, but Palmer doesn’t think the FA will hold that against them in their promotion bid.
 
“They couldn’t hold that against us,” the stalwart insisted.  “They’ve already said if we finish the work, and finish in the top one or two, you will go up if you get your ground done.  The FA ban doesn’t come into it at all.”
 
Palmer asks for “leniency” from football’s top brass to allow them to compete in the FA Cup and FA Trophy next season – if they’re playing Ryman League football.
 
Beckenham, under the leadership of player-manager Gavin Rose, play football the way it should be played – on the floor.
 
And this “total football” has seen a rise in attendances and 125 were entertained during their 3-0 win over Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.
 
But with Bromley, Cray Wanderers, Croydon, Croydon Athletic and Dulwich Hamlet and League clubs Crystal Palace, Millwall and Charlton Athletic within a short distance from their ground, Palmer insists the club will attract good crowds next season in the Ryman League – as their football does the talking.
 
“When you move up another standard you probably pick up an extra 20-25 and our crowds have nearly doubled this year because of the attractiveness of our football,” said Palmer.
 
“For a team that’s played 33 games, scoring 105 goals, anyone who watches non-league football will want to come to watch that.
 
“If we can pick up an extra 25-40 fans that would, in financial terms, be an extra £250 on the gate, which is a lot of money in this standard of football.
 
“Some (Ryman League Division One) clubs have got crowds of only 50-60s so if we can guarantee around 120, we’ll be really happy with that.”
 
Palmer insists the club can follow in the footsteps of their former Kent League rivals Cray Wanderers and Ramsgate.
 
“We’ve got a team very capable playing in the league above,” he said. “With an average age of around 19-20, next year they’ll be 20-21 with a good year of Kent League football under their belt and I’m certain the management, if needed, will be able to strengthen the squad.
 
“I’m sure the nucleus of the side is a very good side anyway so if Gavin Rose decides to keep it as it is then good luck to him.

”We like the players, their good club members and hopefully we can keep the nucleus of the team for next year.”
 
Palmer, with 21-years loyal service to the club, admitted this current crop of players is the best ever to pull on the red shirt.
 
“This is the best team Beckenham’s ever had,” he insisted.  “We have supporters in the stand who are 60-70 years of age and they’ve been watching the club for 50-60 years and they’ve never seen a team like it.
 
“When we were in the Spartan League we never finished in the top two.  I think the highest we’ve finished in senior football is fourth and there’s no one who plays attractive football like us.
 
“If all goes well, within the next three to four weeks, the work will be completed and all we need to do then is to finish first or second.”
 
* Club’s have been granted permission to publish this article in their match day programme and or club websites, crediting www.kentishfootball.co.uk , but if you’re a newspaper and would like to publish this article, please click on “contact us” on the home page to discuss terms.