Cosgrove: I won't fail getting Deres to where they should be - EXCLUSIVE

Monday 13th August 2007

Chris Cosgrove insists he's the man that takes Erith & Belvedere out of the Kent League - and into the Ryman Premier League in just two season’s, writes Stephen McCartney.

The larger than life manager wants to follow in the foot-steps of both Ramsgate and Maidstone United by winning the Kent League and Ryman League Division One South in just two seasons.

The Deres got off to winning ways with an opening day 4-2 win at Kent League newcomers, Holmesdale at Oakley Road on Saturday.

But the loss of influential midfielder, Austin Berkley, with the score at 1-1, was a big blow for Cosgrove, but it did spark the Deres into life as three goals were added just before the hour-mark.

“I’m pleased obviously with the three points, it’s a good away three points,” Cosgrove said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"It was a potential banana skin game, with Holmesdale coming up (but) we weren't at our best.

“We started slowly but we turned it on for a twenty minute period, but in that we scored four goals - we proved what we’re capable of.”

Berkley, who made over 150 appearances in the Football League for the likes of Swindon Town, Shrewsbury Town and Carlisle United, is expected to be on the sidelines for up-to six weeks, with ankle ligament damage.

But Cosgrove believes he has strength in depth to maintain the club’s push towards the title.

“It is a big blow, but we seemed to play football once he departed, the players upped their game,” he said.

Michael Gonzague, a big central defender who joined the club in March 2007 from Haringey Borough, needs to regain his fitness following his knee injury.

And striker, Steve White is struggling to shake off his hernia problem and is expected to be out of action for at least two weeks.

“Three big players there,” said Cosgrove. “Maybe if another team would have lost players like that, they would be weakened, but we’ve got players to cover.”

And the former Greenwich Borough boss warned his Kent League rivals that they won’t be getting in his way this season.

But he expects neighbours, Slade Green to raise their game when they play on the lush playing surface at Park View Road on Tuesday night.

“We went away to a banana skin game (at Holmesdale), an unknown quantity, and we showed for twenty minutes, how good we are,” said Cosgrove.

“We’re nowhere near our best yet, but the sign of a very good team is to win playing badly.”

“When we get to our full esteem, we’ll be unbeaten (when we) get our players fit.”

Cosgrove is confident that his players will live to their manager’s expectations and demands.

“I’m a big man, I’m there to be shot down,” he said. “But I will go along with what I will say - we will win the league.

“If I fail, I will fail and take it as a man. I am very confident in my ability that I won’t fail.”

He added: “We’re a sleeping giant, to be honest we should be a lot higher (than the Kent League). I want to win the league this year and win (Ryman One South) next year.

“We should be Ryman Premier with the ground we’ve got. There’s a good board there, everything’s in place.

“We’ve got a very good step-up behind us, a very knowledgeable chairman in John McFadden, a good board, and a good committee.”

Wayne Baldacchino, who left Erith & Belvedere to take over as assistant manager of opponents’ Slade Green during the close season, will add more spice to this local derby.

“I look to win every game,” said Cosgrove. “Their (assistant) manager has come from our club and they took some of our reserve team players so there’s going to be some rivalry, but we won’t take them lightly.

“They’ll come to our stadium and automatically raise their game.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match.

Visit club websites:

www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/

Erith & Belvedere v Slade Green
Kent League Premier Division
Tuesday 14^th August 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY

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