We don't want players who are here for a quick buck, says Bridon Ropes manager Mark Murison

BRIDON ROPES manager Mark Murison says he wants to gate crash the top six teams in the Pain & Glory Sports Kent Invicta League table.

 

The Charlton-based outfit are in ninth-place in the table on 36 points from 21 games after thrashing sixth-placed Gravesham Borough 5-1 on Wednesday night.

The Ropes’ eleventh league win of the season has put them four points adrift of sixth-place.

“You say bigger clubs (are above us) and at this moment in time they are but we’re trying to get to that point to prove that they’re not,” said Murison.

“Since October 31^st, which was the time we lost to Thame in the FA Vase, I set our boys a little challenge to keep pace with what’s going on at the top of the league and keep the points difference and we have.  We’ve not gained but we’ve not dropped off either so our forms up there with the top boys and that’s pleasing.

“I just want to continue for the rest of the season. I would like top six.  I think that would be a great progression for the team from where the team was last year under the old regime.

“Since I got here I said two years. First year building, getting a team in ready to compete at the top of the division and that’s still our goal. Whether or not promotion will come but I want to challenge at least.

“I want to be up there and be fighting with those boys and I think if we had the team we’ve got now at the start of the season we would be, so that’s really the aim - and hopefully some silverware.

“We’ve got Gravesham Borough in the Quarter-Finals (of the Challenge Trophy) in a couple of weeks. We were unlucky to lose to Glebe on penalties on Saturday (in the London Senior Trophy), penalties are a bit of a lottery and unfortunately we came out second best.  We didn’t’ even put one in the net!”

While players at some National League clubs can collect over £1,000 per week, Bridon Ropes’ players contribute through bringing in sponsorship.

“It’s been tough, we don’t pay players at all, we haven’t got a budget at all, which I know some clubs do benefit from,” said Murison.

“Most clubs in this division if they don’t pay they don’t allow their players to pay but our players don’t pay a weekly sub but they do have to create money and bring sponsorship into the club.

“If they don’t, unfortunately we don’t play them, no matter how good they are.

“We’ve got the right boys in who either want to pay for me or Bridon or both because they’ve got no interest playing anywhere else and that’s what we’ve been trying to do from the start.

“We don’t want players who are here for a quick buck or they get benched once and they cry off and bugger off!

“We’ve got some good lads here and it’s starting to show with the performances.

“I was under 21 manager last season for Bridon and that’s how I came in and how it was last year compared to what it is now, is a complete turnaround.

“The committee have been brilliant ever since the day I came into the club and the club are really in a good place and we want to build on that now and going forward and climbing up this league. I can’t see why not.”

Murison takes his side to Crockenhill tomorrow, a side now managed by John Bourke, following Liam Kelly’s decision to stand down last Monday.

Crockenhill  v  Bridon Ropes
Pain & Glory Sports Kent Invicta League
Saturday 13^th February 2016
Kick Off 2:00pm
At Wested Meadow, Eynsford Road, Crockenhill, Kent BR8 8EJ