Holmesdale seek new owner to take club to next level

HOLMESDALE chairman Ray Tolfrey says he is willing to step down for a new man at the helm to take the Bromley based club onto the next level, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dalers moved into their present Oakley Road ground in 2000 and since them have climbed up from football obscurity and into second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League - just four points adrift of champions elect Hythe Town - with just three games remaining.

Last night’s 1-0 home defeat to Faversham Town may have dented the club’s title hopes - but Mr Tolfrey, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, admitted the club were not in a position to clinch the title - in only their second season at this level.

“I’ve said all the way we’re punching above our weight,” he said. “As a club we’ve been saying right from day one, we weren’t going to win the league, we don’t expect to be winning the league, we’re happy where we are.

“We was expecting, hoping to be midtable or better, wherever we finish, third or fourth, it will be a good season. I’d never have thought we’d win the title.”

Leading a club at Kent League level - and ill-health - has meant that Mr Tolfrey is considering stepping down after at least ten years in charge of the progressing club.

And with further ground improvements at the smart little ground in Bromley Common in the pipeline, Mr Tolfrey wants the new man to bring Ryman League football to the club.

“If there is a chairman out there or someone to come and take the club forward, I’d be willing to talk to anybody who’d be interested,” he said.

“We’ve got plans afoot to do some more work, we’re going back to the foundation to get some more money, but we do need someone who could take the club forward.

“Ground wise, we’ve got plans to hopefully change the stand to one of the pre-fabricated seated ones, cover an area behind one of the goals and to install the turnstiles so basically we would be ready for Ryman standard, but it will take a bit of time and a bit of funding.

“Mark (Hayes), the secretary, is just getting the quotes in as we speak. The drawings are up on the board in the clubhouse but Mark’s getting the quotes together at the moment.”

Mr Tolfrey - and goalkeeper Danny Harwood - revealed last night that the only financial gain that the players receive is only from win bonuses - and the chairman believes many of this season’s squad will depart for pastures new next season.

“I don’t expect a lot of these players to be here next year,” said the chairman. “I think a lot off them will move on, perhaps they’d be looking for money, which we don’t have.”

The chairman admitted semi-professional football has taken its toll on him, especially as he’s used to the “playing with your mates” mentality of amateur football.

When asked what he has learnt in the two years as a chairman of a Kent League club, Mr Tolfrey replied, “I’ve learnt that I particularly don’t like it! There’s no loyalty at this level of football. I don’t particularly enjoy it.”

And he added, “I’ve been unwell since Christmas, I’m thinking of moving away, a lot of it is down to health reasons.

“I think I’ve been chairman now for ten or twelve years and I think it’s time to take a back seat and someone else to take it forward.”

Meanwhile, Mr Tolfrey revealed that Holmesdale will have talks with troubled Kent League club Greenwich Borough to discuss a groundshare deal at Oakley Road next season.

Boro’, currently based at Eltham Green Road in Eltham, are due to be kicked out of their modest Harrow Meadow ground by their local council, who have sold the land for a new housing estate.

“They have approached us and we’ll possibly be speaking to them in the near future,” revealed Mr Tolfrey.

“Again, Mark or secretary has spoken to Herne Bay (who groundshare their Winch’s Field ground with Norton Sports) to find out about groundsharing.

“It’s all new to us, it’s only our second year, but they have been in touch and I think we will be having a meeting with them in the near future.”

Mr Tolfrey dismissed fears that Holmesdale’s title winning reserve side will be forced to split up.

“Mark has spoken to the league to see if it’s viable to do a similar thing to Herne Bay’s reserves, playing the majority of their games at home midweek.”

But he warned that fellow Kent League club’s will have to cut their cloths accordingly next season.

“It’s going to be hard for a lot of teams next year financially wise as it is,” he said. “I think there will be a lot of clubs in our boat who haven’t got the money to pay players so it may be a level playing field so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Visit Holmesdale’s website: www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Herne Bay v Holmesdale
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Good Friday, 10^th April 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG