We're going to work hard and we're going to bring a good brand of football to the club, says Faversham Town joint-manager John Embery

FAVERSHAM TOWN joint-manager John Embery says his preparations for the new season has been hectic but he asks for patience from the Salters Lane faithful.

Embery and Jermaine Darlington were appointed joint-managers at the Isthmian League South East Division club on 2 June after replacing Bowers & Pitsea bound James Collins.

“Hectic is the word I would use.  It’s just been a new change, a new board.  We got the job a bit late, so it’s just been trying to start a bit later than everybody else – but we’re getting there,” said Embery.

The Lilywhites kick-off their new campaign at home against newly-promoted side Littlehampton Town tomorrow, winners of the Southern Combination Premier and FA Vase runners-up last season.

“It is a tough game, they’ve done pretty well last year didn’t they and they got promotion and stuff,” said the former Herne Bay joint-boss.

“We’ve done a little bit of homework on them but like anything we’re a new side, we’ve been put together as well and it will take a little bit of time to mould that and get it right.

“We’ve made some new signings, which we’re pleased about but we’re still lacking one or two strikers and a centre-back as cover. We’re getting there, we’ve made a lot of progress this week so it’s going in the right direction.”

Faversham Town finished last season in 12^th place and when asked what his aspirations are for the season ahead, Embery replied: “We want to finish as high as possible.  It’s like anything, you’re always going to get bumps in the road.

“We didn’t get as many pre-season games in. We had a couple of games cancelled because of the hot weather and a team couldn’t play us because they had injuries so it kind of hampered our pre-season preparations.

“We feel some of the players are still not 100% fit and we’ve worked hard with them but we’re getting there.  Probably in two or three games time our fitness levels will be a bit stronger.  Once we get them there we will be in a lot better position.”

Embery had this message for the Faversham Town fans on the eve of the new season.

“Be patient. We’re going to work hard and we’re going to bring a good brand of football to the club. If they get behind us all, like the board have, we know the fans are a great bunch.  We’ve played against them and they’re always good fans.

“If they get behind us and the team and be patient good times will come.  Our attitude now is we’ve got to build something and it’s got to be progressive.

“We’re going to build something. We want to play the right way and pass the ball and play football the right way and when you’ve got a team that’s completely fit, it will take time to build it.

“We’ve got a nucleus of a very good side and it’s about bringing in the right players to compliment them and getting the whole thing to fit really.”

When asked what the pair have been up to since leaving Herne Bay, Embery revealed: “We’ve been doing private coaching and doing work for a few clubs in the player recruitment and doing scouting reports for Maidstone United.  We’ve been doing private coaching so we’ve been doing things behind the scenes and looking at different levels of football and reflecting on ourselves and how we can do things differently and make ourselves better.    We’ve done a lot of watching football and going to coaching seminars and just trying to make ourselves better as well.”

Faversham Town  v  Littlehampton Town
Isthmian League South East Division
Saturday 13 August 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND