I can't go on forever, says long-serving Vickers boss Ford - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Croydon are the first side to return to their ground - and long serving boss Martin Ford cannot wait.

But before their homecoming, Ford takes his depleted side to Southern Leaguers Bashley in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday looking to create an upset.

A resilient display, and a Stuart Abbott goal early in the second half, overcame a good Eastbourne Town side in their preliminary round replay at Park View Road, Welling.

But Ford will be without goalkeeper Grant Wallis, Kevin Winchcombe, Mark Horan, Lee Coburn, Gary Ward, David Hunt, Chris Whitehouse, Dean Burns and Danny Edwards for their trip to the new Forest.

Edwards suffered a badly broken leg in Vickers’ excellent 2-1 win at Beckenham Town on Tuesday night.

Edwards had given Ford’s side in the first half but sadly for the defender his horrific injury came right on the stroke of half time.

Danny Penny’s fourth goal of the season, scoring a brilliant 20-yard free kick put VCD into a 2-0 lead but Beckenham also scored direct from a free kick through Ashley Carew.

A statement issued by VCD Athletic this week said: “Danny is in Farnborough Hospital where his condition is comfortable.

“He has broken his tibula in four places and dislocated his ankle snapping the majority of his ligaments.

“Danny will be operated on and it goes without saying that everybody at VCD wishes him the best of luck for a speedy recovery.”

Ford, meanwhile, revealed after their win over Eastbourne Town, that he has backing at boardroom level to take the club higher up in the pyramid, with the Ryman League being his aim.

“The chairman we’ve got at the club is very ambitious,” said stalwart Ford.

“He’s backing me 100%, whatever I want he seems to give me at the moment and long may it continue.”

Ford, whose side have played at the Oakwood, Thamesmead Town, Lordswood and Greenwich Borough, whilst in the Kent League, revealed he had a £100 budget last season.

“Last year we had pocket money,” he EXCLUSIVELY revealed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Everyone said “you had money and bits and pieces” but in respect to last year our wage bill was £100 - I’m not lying to you.

“It was more or less peanut money for three or four of the lads.

“But I’m not prepared to run the team this year with only 3-4 players getting paid.

“We’ve tried to finance it, we beg, steal and borrow every week and it hasn’t helped that we cannot play at the Oakwood until 28 September because I’m certain we’ll have crowds of 200 at home.

“Once revenue and sponsorship come in hopefully the club can kick on from there.”

Ford, however, hinted he may even quit the club after his achieved his long term goals.

He said: “The chairman is very ambitious. Every game we win in the league he does that little bit more work on the ground.

“He’s a lovely feller as well. We’re both ambitious, I’ve been here for 14 years now and I want the club to push for the Ryman and then maybe a season in there I can leave happy.

“I can’t go on forever. I’ve been at the club a long while and wanted us to get back home.

“It’s a fantastic sight now when you drive into our car park and you see the facilities that we’ve got. We’ve probably going to have the best facilities in the Kent League.

“Whether I stay a year, a year after, a year after that I just want to leave the club to someone who can push it on and maybe another step than Martin Ford can because I can’t go on forever.”

But Ford has a passion for his club and will certainly feel emotional when he leads his team out at Oakwood on 28 September.

“We can’t wait to get back home,” he said. “Walking out that tunnel on our own pitch against Croydon will give us the buzz we need to really give it a go this year.”

Directions:

Take the A35 from Lyndhurst towards Christchurch, turn left onto B3058 towards New Milton. The ground is on the left hand side in Bashley village.

Visit VCD Athletic's website: www.vcd-athletic.co.uk