I'd like to take Erith Town up to the Ryman League, says Mark Tompkins

ERITH TOWN manager Mark Tompkins says he wants to clinch promotion into the Ryman League during his second spell in charge of the club.



Tompkins, 45, who now lives in Erith, became the club’s third manager of the season after James Collins was relieved of his duties inside Corinthian’s clubhouse following their 2-1 defeat at Gay Dawn Farm on 9 February.

The Dockers suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Lordswood on Tompkins’ return two weeks ago, before they held Beckenham Town to a 2-2 draw at Eden Park Avenue last weekend.

Tompkins has returned to Kent League football after turning Chipstead into a respectable midtable team in the Ryman League Division One South.

Reflecting on his time in Surrey, Tompkins said: ”We done well mate, obviously not a big budget club Chipstead, but we got them into two top ten finishes.  As I said to the papers over there, it’s like getting them into the play-offs.”

When asked why he has returned to Erith Town, the former Bromley striker replied, “I only live around the corner. I know the chairman (Albert Putman) quite well. He just rang me because they released the manager and asked if I was interested and I thought yes why not, it’s only local.

Tompkins inherited Collins’ unhappy squad for their 2-1 home defeat to Lordswood on 16 February, but brought in some new players in time for their 2-2 draw at Beckenham Town last weekend.

Tompkins said: “Well, it’s a bit awkward at the minute because it’s like doing a pre-season in a season at the minute.  There’s been such a turnaround of players.

”I’m the third manager this year, which isn’t ideal for any club. We just need to bring in some players and get a bit of stability to the club.”

Reflecting on their defeat to Lordswood, Tompkins said: “The first game I really didn’t know about the players’ I was playing. We should have won against Lordswood. We gave them two soft goals.”

Tompkins added: “We should have beaten Beckenham, especially second half.   We dominated most of the game.

”We could be sitting on six points, but we’re not. We’ve got one and we’ll build on that.

Tompkins has brought in Steve Newman, Kofi Quartey and Wayne Grizzle from his former club Chipstead, while four other players have come in from Kent based Ryman League Division One South clubs; Russell Bedford (Sittingbourne), Luke Coleman and Billy Parkinson (Whitstable Town) and Callum O’Shea (Chatham Town).

Former Hythe Town goalkeeper Dean Ruddy tops the list of four players that Tompkins has released from the club, the others being Aaron Dalhouse, Jordan Johnson and Carlton Murray Price.

He added: ”I’ve got a couple of others I’m enquiring about so I’m trying to get them in, but it’s not easy to bring players in because they’re settled now and seeing their  season out with their clubs.”

Erith Town are on a run of seven games without a win and have slipped down to fourth-place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League table with 39 points from 19 games.

The Dockers are 12 points behind leaders Erith & Belvedere – although they haven’t played Micky Collins’ side yet in the league.

When asked whether the title race is over for Erith Town, Tompkins said: ”Well people might say it is, but I’m not like that.  You know what I’m like. I won’t give up until its mathematically impossible. 

”It will be difficult because we’ve had such a turnaround of players.  We need a settled side to win the league. We won’t give it up. We’ll keep it going and see where it takes us. If not, we’ll build for next year.”

Sixth-placed Corinthian will move to within one point of the Dockers if Matt Longhurst’s side beat them on Saturday.

Tompkins admits he still needs to familiarise himself with his new rivals’.

He said: ”The reports I’ve had they’re quite a young side and they get the ball down and play so again, while I’ve been involved in the Ryman League in three or four years I’ve not seen a lot of Kent League football so I don’t really know a lot about the sides we’re playing at the minute.”

And when asked what his longer-term aspirations are, Tompkins said: ”I’d like to take Erith Town up into the Ryman really, that’s what the chairman wants. He wants to get into the Ryman League football. As long as he backs me then I think I can do it.”

Visit Erith Town’s website:  www.erithtown.co.uk

Erith Town  v  Corinthian
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 2^nd March 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Erith Stadium, Avenue Road, Erith, Kent DA8 3AJ