Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey warns his side against complancency

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey has warned his side against complacency when they kick-off their Kent League campaign at Beckenham Town in fifteen days’ time, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Winch’s Field outfit have finished runners-up to both Faversham Town and Hythe Town in the past two years and with a new chairman at the helm, Herne Bay are tipped as favourites to go that one step further and secure a long-awaited promotion into Ryman League Division One South.

“I think we know where we should be, we know we’re a good footballing side and we should be playing football in the Ryman,” said Halsey, who lost the title on goal-difference to Scott Porter’s side in the last minute of last season.

“It’s only myself and the squad that I’ve put together can finalise that.

“This year a lot of people are putting us as favourites already.  If any of my squad want to get complacent thinking we’ve won the league already without kicking a ball they’re going to find it very, very, very, very difficult. 

“It will be a very hard year for us. There will be one or two teams who will surprise everyone.  It’s not going to be a forgone conclusion.  I like the way people like the way we play our football and expect us to win it, but it’s not a forgone conclusion.”

When asked which club’s will be challenging, Halsey replied: “I would say Erith & Belvedere and Fisher – that will be my tips to be fighting amongst it all.”

Herne Bay have got their pre-season campaign off to a flyer,  beating Bethnal Green, Hertford Town, Lewisham Borough and Faversham Town and they held Maidstone United to a goal-less draw on Tuesday night.

Halsey said: “It’s going very well.  I was away for the first three easier games but I came back last Thursday for the Faversham game and Maidstone on Tuesday night and we done very well in both games.

“I thought we passed the ball better against Faversham than we did against Maidstone, but that may have been because Maidstone were slightly better opposition and didn’t let us do it.

“Overall, I was very pleased with our passing against Faversham and keeping a clean sheet against Maidstone on Tuesday.

“It’s going well but I’m not reading too much of pre-season as a lot of players play with a bit of ease with no pressure on the games.”

Herne Bay welcome arch-rivals Whitstable Town to Winch’s Field to contest the Bruce Smith Shield tomorrow.

“The only thing I think may have taken the edge of it is there’s not the home grown players that me and Seags (Marc Seager) perhaps had down at Whitstable when we was there,” said Halsey, when asked whether the game will have a competitive edge.

“I don’t the Whitstable team will know what it’s all about really – they’re not all home grown lads.  It might have a bit of edge to it but I’m not anticipating it to be honest.”

Whitstable Town go into the game on the back of two defeats to Kent League sides Deal Town and Corinthian – but Maidstone based boss Peter Nott insists his side will be “up for it.”

The Oyestermen went down to a 2-1 defeat to Kent League side Corinthian last night.

“There were a few lads who needed the extra run out ahead of the weekend and others unavailable for tonight’s warm up game so I needed to freshen things up a bit,” Nott told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“As long as we are ready for the start of the league season I am not too worried about the scoreline.

“We looked at another keeper tonight and gave a few of the lads stepping up from the reserves a run out as I still want to look at all of the players we have both at under 18’s and reserves in a match situation.”

Looking ahead to the Herne Bay clash, Nott said: “We are ready for Saturday.  I know what my team will be and rest assured we will not be taking the game lightly, we will be up for it.”

Herne Bay then travel to Hythe Town to contest the Kent League Challenge Shield on Saturday, 6^th August, before welcoming Suffolk outfit Haverhill Rovers the following day, 3pm, as the two club’s both celebrate their 125^th anniversary, and it’s classed as a family day, with free admission.

Halsey said: “We’ve got Hythe in the Cup on the Saturday and then the players that get certain minutes will be a mixture of the first team and reserve players who will play Haverhill.

“I don’t really know much about them (Haverill) but there is a Cup at stake for it and hopefully we’ll have the same relationship as we do with Whitstable and perhaps go up there next season and play them at their place in pre-season and keep the Cup going between the two clubs each year.”

Winger, Michael Jenner, meanwhile, will not be available for selection until October.

“He’s bought a house and he’s done a bit of pre-season but he’s just found it too hard.  He’s a self-employed roofer, he’s on the roof all day and he’s going home to try to get the house done as quick as possible and he just cannot commit (to Herne Bay) until October.

“At least he’s being honest and not messed me around.  The door will always be open for Michael.  Hopefully come October when he’s done his house he will be back training and trying to get into my squad.”

Admission charges for the Whitstable game have been confirmed at £6 (adults) and £3 (concessions).

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

Additional reporting courtesy of Tony Rouse – www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk  

Herne Bay  v  Whitstable Town
Pre-Season Friendly – Bruce Smith Shield
Saturday 30^th July 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG