Faversham aiming to break into top six

Paul Piggott insists Faversham Town's incredible revival is the only inspiration the Lilywhites need as they look to join the Kent League's elite next season, writes James Brown.

New Faversham Town coach Piggott is loving life back in football having accepted an invitation to join Paul Copley's backroom team in early May.

And the former Faversham goalkeeper, who played alongside chairman Bob Mason at the club in the mid-1990s, can scarcely believe Salters Lane's transformation from derelict wasteland to one of Kent's top non-league stadiums.

In fact, he believes the heroics of the born-again club's committee and their army of volunteers will be a huge motivating factor as Faversham look to become a genuine force in the Premier Division.

Piggott, 36, told www.favershamtownfc.co.uk  : "Bob has just been showing me pictures of how bad it got here three years ago before the new committee took over.

"The ground really was in a very sorry state so to see it now, looking so smart and impressive, is a tremendous achievement and a tribute to everyone involved.

"It makes you want to try even harder as a coach or player knowing how much effort has gone into getting this club back on its feet.

"It has all made Salters Lane a very special place to play football.

"Last season, I came back here with Lordswood for the first time since work started and was taken aback as soon as I walked through the gate.

"You can see instantly how much work has gone on - alot of man hours have been put in by a lot of people."

Piggott has many happy memories of Salters Lane under former boss Hughie Stinson, but it is no surprise to learn he has unfinished business at Faversham.

For his Faversham playing days were overshadowed by then chairman Sal Aisawi's infamous decision to replace the whole first team just minutes before a Kent League game.

Piggott, who never again played for the Lilywhites through loyalty to Stinson, recalled: "The club was struggling off the field as well as on it.

"It wasn't a good situation. As players we turned up that day to play football for Faversham Town. The chairman decided to intervene and did what he felt was right for the football club at the time, but we stood behind Hughie.

"Those were dark days for the club, but you can see that has all changed - you can tell there are alot more people pulling in the same direction and that is filtering through to the team."

Plumber Piggott, who lives in Rainham with his wife and five-year- old daughter, spent 11 years at Lordswood as both player and manager guiding the North Dane Way club to an unprecedented eighth place in the Premier Division in 2005/2006.

The former Sittingbourne and Chatham stopper, who is believed to have worked without a budget at the Lords, knows more than most about how hard it is to succeed against the Premier Division's big spenders.

But he is relishing the prospect of doing battle at the business end of the table, explaining: "I thought I'd done all I could at Lordswood and was glad of the opportunity to come here and do some coaching.

"I enjoyed my time at North Dane Way, but felt it was time to move on and find a new challenge.

"Coming here and seeing what I've seen and the buzz that's going round, there is no reason why this club cannot enjoy success.

"My first month has been great. In fact, the atmosphere has been spot-on right from the word go. I came along for the presentation night and could tell instantly that the club has a super feel to it. I've really enjoyed being involved.

"We're not going to start talking about winning things straight away but the impression I get is that we have time to build and I think that is the right way to go about things.

"You don't want to go throwing money around left, right and centre at players who think they can demand it.

"We're going to get the right players in for the right money and have a good go at getting into the top six.

"Because the top six is very hard to break into. I've been in and around the Kent League for a few years now and I've seen how difficult it is.

"If you can concentrate on cracking the top six then that is an achievement in itself.

"You get the ball rolling and see where you can go from there."

Piggott is hoping the drive and passion of everyone at Salters Lane will prove decisive when Faversham Town lock horns with the Premier Division's leading lights.

He said: "You look at some of the bigger clubs - the likes of Thamesmead and VCD - and it is hard to get amongst those boys.

"You have to have a good set-up and a good team. But, in fairness, most of the time it does come down to money.

"The league table normally tells you who has the money but I think we can prove the exception.

"We have a lot of local lads here, all determined to break through and play senior football. Fingers crossed, we can all work hard and see just how far we can go."

Faversham Town just missed out on topping the attendance table last season with an average gate that dipped just under the 200 mark as the campaign fizzled out.

But Piggott is looking forward to seeing Salters Lane bulging at the seams once more, revealing: "We were getting 30s and 40s through the gates at Lordswood but Faversham is different.

"We heard all about the gates at Salters Lane last year and it is important now we give those fans every reason to want to come back.

"All I'd ask is for the fans to be patient, get behind the team through thick and thin and I am sure they will be rewarded over the course of the season."

Piggott has enjoyed being back in the company of his old pal Mason who is combining his role as chairman with the assistant manager's job next season.

He has also struck up an instant rapport with boss Copley, revealing: "Bobby's an old friend who I got on with very well when we played in the same side here.

"He called to ask me if I would be interested in getting involved and after coming down and speaking with Copes for five minutes I knew we would all get along so I made my decision there and then, before I'd left the ground.

"Now I can't wait for the friendlies and the start of the season. We have big games coming up with us playing the likes of Rushden & Diamonds, Tonbridge and Sittingbourne.

"These are all big clubs and will provide big, big tests. But that is what we want - we want to be tested ahead of the new season.

"These are exciting times at the football club and it's great to be involved."

Article courtesy of James Brown - www.favershamtownfc.co.uk