I don't fear anyone but I respect them, says Dockers boss Tony Russell

ERITH TOWN rookie manager, Tony Russell, 32, says he appreciated former Kent League manager Tommy Sampson picking up the phone on Wednesday morning to offer him some advice, writes Stephen McCartney.

And Sampson, who has extensive experience of Kent League football, was on the phone to Russell for 20 minutes, which the Erith Town boss would like to publically thank him for.

“I had a phone call from Tommy, just out of the blue,” said Russell.

“I never played under him; I knew him briefly, we obviously crossed paths when I played at Thamesmead and he just rang me up out of the blue and he introduced himself and basically just spoke about the interview I done on Kentish Football and just gave me a little bit of advice for me and asked me how I was going.

“I got off the phone to him and Googled him and looked him up and I didn’t realise he done it at Deal.  He’s told me he’s won it (the Kent League title) five times.

“It’s really good for someone to ring me to take time out and it means me and the club are doing something right.

“He spoke about how to deal with the pressure towards the end of the season and just little tips really, which were invaluable. We had a really, really good chat and he said he’s going to keep in touch and try and get to one of our games and spend some time together.

“We both said in football you meet people and they’re just friends for life and that’s what football people do.  He doesn’t know me personally, he got my number and it’s just so nice to talk to him.

“I’m in my first year as a manager so it’s still nice to pick someone’s brains who has been there and done that.  He wasn’t forthright in my opinions and he gave me tips here and there.

“It’s something to worth mentioning that he took time out to speak to me and it’s something I want to say thanks for.  What was said we’ll keep half private as I want to use some of his ideas.

“I’ve been reading about him and he’s a legend in Kent League football and for him to phone me, I really appreciate it.

“We was on the phone for about 20 minutes, he was just basically asking me what state we are in, how we’re finding the pressure.

“I mentioned Herne Bay and Hythe and he basically just said ‘don’t fear anyone and be confident in yourself’, which we are.

“I know he’s got a soft spot for Herne Bay.  I did have the impression if he had to chose between one of them, he would say Herne Bay!

“He was generally talking about as a manager you’re only as good as your preparation, to go and watch games.  We were bouncing ideas of each other, for me to go and watch games, don’t rest on your laurels and just do as much as you can as a manager to give your players every opportunity to win a game of football and some of the standards to accept and demand off players.

“At the end of the conversation, he said I reminded him of him twenty years ago, which is a massive compliment!  To say that from someone like him, if I do half as good as him, I’d be delighted!

Erith Town are two points clear of Sampson’s beloved Herne Bay, although Simon Halsey’s side have a game in hand, but Russell said his side are halfway through a run of tough fixtures.

The Dockers welcome fifth-placed side Beckenham Town to Erith Sports Stadium on Saturday – Jason Huntley’s side have only been beaten twice on their travels, a league game at Erith & Belvedere and a FA Cup defeat earlier in the season to Blue Square Bet South draw specialists St Albans City.

“We’ve got a run of games now, we’ve got Beckenham, Herne Bay and then we’ve got VCD, so after those three games get them out of the way and we’ll look where we are then,” said Russell.

“I’ve told them (my players) I’m not even thinking about the (winning the) league. 

“We’re all about boys relaxing and passing the ball and I thought against Greenwich Borough we were poor and we were tense and for the first time - having done so well to get up to the coattails of the leaders - suddenly get there and we’re tensing up and thinking about the league.

“I said ‘don’t!  Put the league to bed!, game after game just pass the ball and come and enjoy yourself and that’s what we talk about.”

Russell picked up the Kent League manager-of-the-month award for December/January. 

During this period he led his team to the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Trophy and recorded league wins against Tunbridge Wells (4-3), Sporting Bengal (9-0) and then leaders Herne Bay (4-1).

In addition, they won at Greenwich Borough in the Kent Senior Trophy and then knocked out Hythe on penalties after gaining a 1-1 draw following extra time.

Russell, who was pleased to avoid the manager-of-the-month curse, added: “Someone said it to me before the Boro’ game.  I’m not really a superstitious person.  I don’t even think about it to be fair.  You make your own luck.  If you work hard, you’ll be lucky more often than not.”

Speaking about the secret of his side’s success, the manager of the Kent League’s darkhorses added, “If you look at us, we haven’t got superstars or we don’t rely on one person to score all the goals.  What we do have is a team ethic, we work hard.  We always get the boys in for training, especially on a Wednesday, we get the youth team in and set up the youth team how the other team are going to play.”

Can Erith Town surprise many and clinch the Kent League title?

Russell cautiously replied: “To be fair, three games ago I looked at it, we had Hythe away, Herne Bay and Greenwich Borough and we’ve won all them so I knew six games ago we’re halfway through it and we’re unbeaten so I don’t fear anyone, but I respect them.”

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

Erith Town  v  Beckenham Town
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Saturday 12^th February 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Erith Sports Stadium, Avenue Road, Erith, Kent DA8 3AT