Don't write us off, warns Herne Bay chairman

HERNE BAY chairman John Bathurst has warned their Kent League rivals that his club will surprise many this term, writes Stephen McCartney.

THE ONLY WAY IS UP:  Chairman John Bathurst is looking forward to an improved campaign this term.
Photograph courtesy of www.hernebayfc.net

Bay opened their pre-season campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over Wembley at Winch’s Field last weekend and that performance has Mr Bathurst in an upbeat frame of mind.

There have been many comings and goings at Winch’s Field during the close season but Mr Bathurst believes this season’s squad will excel under manager Barry Morgan.

“Players have left the club and new faces taken their place,” Mr Bathurst told www.hernebayfc.net.

“With the movement of players, Barry has taken the opportunity to introduce a number of new faces and some older faces.

“These include a number of very promising youngsters who showed their ability playing for the first team at the end of last season.

“The young players are really pressing for regular first team places, so it really does bode well for the season and the future.

“I do believe we have made the right decision and these youngsters will provide the nucleus of a very strong Herne Bay club.”

Herne Bay impressed throughout their opening warm-up match against Combined Counties League opposition last weekend.

But they face stiffer opponents in the shape of Horsham, who visit Winch’s Field on Saturday.

The Hornets, who play two divisions higher than Herne Bay in the Ryman Premier League, will be groundsharing at Worthing this season, having vacated their dated Queen Street ground at the end of last season.

“I really hope the football played last season and as shown in the friendly match against Wembley continues through this season,” hoped Mr Bathurst.

“It makes it so much more enjoyable to watch and so much better when we win as well.”

The chairman ran down the players that have impressed him during the club’s opening match.

He said: “Up front we have Luke Harvey, Rhys Lawson, Rob Lawrence and youngster Joe Nelder. Others up front include Marc Jones. He reminds me of firthy (Aaron Firth, who signed for Ramsgate this summer), a raw talent. Keep your eyes on this player.

“In the midfield we have Danny Lawrence returning from his season at Whitstable. I believe the few first team starts given to Danny at Whitstable, and with brother Robert making regular first team appearances at Winch’s, helped him in his decision to return to us. I do believe he will become one of our best players.

“Along with Martin Chandler, Neil Perkins and new signing Darren Marsden the midfield looks very strong.

“Of the new faces we have Simon Moore, Lewis Taylor, Will Dunlop and another unnamed!, all defenders with good pedigree to play alongside Andy Forster and Aaron Burrett, Sam Kettle, Sean Bremner and Stephen Hanson, who have pledged themselves to Herne Bay.

“With these players the defence also looks very strong. In goal Shaun Smith, Brad Ashmore and another are all in contention.”

The chairman also paid tribute to the club’s ground staff for producing an excellent playing surface - especially as the ground will also be staging Norton Sports’ home games.

He said: “The playing surface is very good. There is more grass, and no sign of a weed! The pitch is better than we have ever had before.

“There were some areas that were very patchy so the contractors returned and added more seed.

“Unfortunately these areas were sprayed with fertilizer resulting in burning the grass. We are assured this will go but it doesn’t look that brilliant at the moment where the burning has occurred. The whole stadium looks resplendent.”

Mr Roy Vinter, the secretary of the Kent League, said this lunchtime that the Kent League fixtures will be published on it’s website “by the weekend.”

And Herne Bay chairman Mr Bathurst hopes his club get off to a flying start when the campaign gets underway on Saturday, 9^th August.

He said: “I just hope we start the season like we did last year. A good winning start will bring confidence to all the players and the club.

“We have been very fortunate by getting good draws in all the Cup competitions, so let’s make the most of it.

“I also hope the supporters start returning, we will be playing more local players than ever before. We have lost last year’s sponsor, but I am in negotiations with another sponsor and hope to make the official announcement shortly.

“I am not going to predict where we will finish at the end of the season, but an improvement on the last season’s sixth will surely put us in a chase for promotion.

“With what I have seen in the friendlies, we will surprise a lot of clubs!”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Herne Bay v Horsham
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 19^th July 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG