I came to the club to get this team to the Kent League, says Hollands & Blair boss Paul Piggott

HOLLANDS & BLAIR boss Paul Piggott says he wants to go one better next season after losing out on the Kent Invicta League title to Phoenix Sports last week.



The Gillingham-based outfit pushed Phoenix Sports all the way by going on an impressive sixteen-match unbeaten run, which was ended by the champions who beat them 1-0 last Wednesday, thanks to Marcus Cassius scoring the only goal of the game.

Blair bounced back from that disappointment by coming from behind to beat struggling Meridian 2-1 at Star Meadow yesterday, courtesy of second half goals from Louis Valencia and leading goalscorer Ricky Freeman’s 37^th goal of the season.

They remain in second place with 71 points – seven points adrift of Phoenix Sports – and they complete their campaign with Crockenhill visit Star Meadow next Saturday.

“It just shows you how well Phoenix have done to get that many points,” said Piggott.

“We’ve scored quite a few goals and not conceded many through the year.  That’s credit to our players. They’ve worked hard all season, they always do.  They always give me 100%, especially the new signings.

“We looked strong this year but we’ve come up short so we have to look at that in the summer and see how we can put that right.”

When asked what his aspirations are for next season, Piggott inevitably replied: “Every year we want to win it!  Every year we want to get in the Kent League. That’s why I came to the club, to get this team in the Kent League.

“Behind the scenes (ground improvements) it’s not moving as quickly as we’d like it to be, but finances dictate that as every other club has the same thing but that’s what we want to do.

“We’re disappointed that we haven’t won the league and that’s always our main goal. We want to win the league. It’s nice to pick up a cup but cups keep people happy but they don’t keep me happy to be honest with you.

“We wanted to win the league and put ourselves in a position where we need people to make a decision whether they let us in the Kent League.

“The players gave me everything, so I can’t ask for more.”

Piggott revealed he will look from within to bolster his squad for a title push next season.

“Within our club we’ve got a decent set-up,” he said.  “We’ve got three or four youngsters in our reserves who have been there for two or three seasons now and they’ve been knocking on my door and maybe it’s time to give them a chance because I think they’ve earnt it.”

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website: www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

Hollands & Blair  v  Crockenhill
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 27^th April 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Star Meadow Sports Club, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN