Farnie tells his players to fight for their shirts - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Stephen McCartney, Editor, reports from Culverden Stadium

On the morning of England’s heartbreaking World Cup exit, the players of Kent League side Tunbridge Wells reported back to pre-season training.

Eighteen players were put through their paces by coach Steve Gibbons during an 90 minute session.

But star signing, striker Paul McCarthy from league rivals Slade Green, walked into Cuverden Stadium after his new team mates returned from their session at the neighbouring school playing field.

Manager Martin Farnie, however, has high hopes for his new signing.

He told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: (He has) experience and good knowledge of the Kent League and a desire and an appetite to win - that’s what you’ve got to have at this level and he knows what it takes to win.”

Farnie, who lead the west Kent club to the Kent Senior Trophy final last season, before his side lost to VCD Athletic on penalties, explained what McCarthy will bring to the side.

“A bit of bite and arrogance around the football pitch and I felt we were lacking that last year,” he replied.

“He can be nasty at times and I think we lacked that at times as a side. Sometimes I think we’re too nice.  I’ve got that in one or two players but I just want it in certain areas, like up front.

“He’s going to give us a good edge up front. He’s got pace and power and I think he’ll be a good signing for us.”

Farnie, however, admitted the former Dartford striker isn’t a replacement for ginger haired 12-goal striker Dave Hassett, whose signed for rivals Greenwich Borough.

“He’s completely different to Dave,” he insisted. “Paul’s a wide player, he can play wide left, down the middle. I don’t see him as a replacement for Dave Hassett.

“Paul isn’t an out-to-out centre forward,” he added. “”He’s a wide midfield attacking player. I can play him behind the front two if I wanted to. Can play him down the middle, up front, left wing, right wing. I can play him anywhere I like really.

He added: “I always intended to go somewhere different up front this year - with a bit more power and pace than we had last year.”

With talented goalkeeper John Whitehouse currently in negotiations with several clubs, two goalkeepers are currently vying for his number one jersey.

Slovakian stopper Mikelle Czanner is no stranger to the Culverden Stadium outfit, having played two first team games last season and seven reserve team outings.

He has also played 14 times for Tonbridge Angels, switching between the two local clubs during last season. He has also played for Essex side Grays Athletic.

And former Dartford goalkeeper Jimmy Simpson, who played in the Syko Challenge in April after time out of the game, is giving Farnie plenty of options.

But Farnie wants competition, not only in between the sticks, but in all positions.

So who will be number one goalkeeper? “I don’t know yet - it’s down to them two,” he said.

“I’m going to give the pair of them pre-season and then I’ll make a decision on their performances to choose for the first league game. So it’s down to them.

“It’s like every player here. I’d probably say there’s two or three players who are cast in stone for me and the rest of them have got to fight and show me enough in pre-season to want a shirt.”

Farnie revealed Adrian Hatcher, skipper Jason Bourne, Andy Garrett and McCarthy will be the first names on his team sheet every week, but added: “So that’s four and the rest have got to fight for their shirts if they want to play.”

With six friendlies arranged, Farnie explained what he wants from his players before their Kent League campaign kick’s off on 12^th August.

“Competition,” he said. “Pre-season is all about the players. It’s not about a team or winning things.

“It’s about them. It’s their only time in their career as a footballer that you’ve got to be selfish and do things for yourself and work hard for yourself.

“Their fighting against all the other players to get into the side so they’ve got to push themselves as hard as they can and hopefully they will do that. If they don’t then they won’t be in the starting line-up.”

But Farnie, who revealed Garrett and Shane Hickmott were both “away” for their first training session, demands improvement on their tenth place finish last term.

He said: “Tenth wasn’t good enough for this club and hopefully we can have a better season in the league and some good cup runs.

But Farnie will be hotting up the training this week - with plenty of running in Maidstone at Moat Park.

“I expected people not to turn up on a Saturday morning to be honest. It’s a bit of a strange one because it’s only the last two-three years that people started training on a Saturday morning.

“That’s because everyone’s starting to get much more professional about this level of football”

Farnie revealed he will run with a 20-man squad next season, with the club’s most talented reserve and youth team players being given a place on the bench.

“There’s probably a nucleus of 15-16 and then four reserve team players floating, coming in and out,” he said. “We intend to use the good youth team players as subs sometimes.”

Aims for the new season? “Anyone who says their going to win the league this time of the year is foolish,” he said.

“There’s one or two (clubs) who think their going to do it, before they even start kicking a ball but I always think that’s foolish because you’ve got to see how it pans out.”

Tuesday 18^th July (a) Rusthall
Saturday 22^nd July (a) Chatham Town
Saturday 29^th July (H) Tonbridge Angels
Tuesday 1^st August (H) Dartford
Saturday 5^th August (a) AFC Totton
Tuesday 8^th August (H) Crowborough Athletic

Visit Tunbridge Wells' website:  www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk