I'll be a stupid person to say we'll win the Kent League next year, says Cray Valley coach Joe Ford

CRAY VALLEY head coach Joe Ford says the club will be looking for improvement next season.


The Eltham-based outfit are presently in eighth-place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League table with 46 points.

They complete their campaign with a trip to Wembley bound Tunbridge Wells on Monday night.

It’s the last game that Martin Larkin’s side will play before their FA Carlsberg Vase Final against Spennymoor Town at Wembley Stadium next Saturday.

And with Larkin expected to make changes to the side that defeated Canterbury City 3-1 in Simon Austin’s last game in charge, Ford wants to end on a positive note.

Cray Valley defeated Greenwich Borough 3-1 last Wednesday and followed that up with a 6-1 win at Sevenoaks Town yesterday to move to within a place of Tunbridge Wells, who have three games left to play.

“We’re looking forward to the Tunbridge Wells game,” said Ford, 23.

“We were thumped by them at the beginning of the season 9-1 so we’re looking forward to bouncing back against them and put in a good performance.

“I don’t know if they’ll put a full team out, probably not knowing Martin. I certainly wouldn’t if I had a game coming up on the Saturday in the FA Vase Final.

“Tunbridge Wells is another game that we’re capable of going to win, but this (Cray Valley) team has been Jekyll & Hyde this year and everyone around the club will agree with that.

“We can go and beat the top teams and haven’t done so well against the little teams so we’ll be looking at Tunbridge Wells as a little perk for us to go and win and get maximum points and try and come away there with the right result.”

Steve Chapman’s Millers’ were rated to be a dark horse for the Kent League title during last summer, but this hasn’t materalised in only their second season at this level.

Ford, who is the son of Fisher co-manager Martin Ford, is looking forward to pre-season to get the team in shape.

“I’m looking forward to pre-season to be honest with you,” he said.

“Darren Anslow (now coach at Beckenham Town) done a great job in pre-season with these boys before I got here and they were all fit and sharp and I’m looking forward to putting my spin on things and getting back in with them.

“Next season’s aspirations are as far as I’m aware is to finish higher than we have today. I’ll be a stupid person to say we’re going to go to win the league because we know how the Kent League works and it’s not as simple as it looks, but we’re just looking to bring in a couple of more experienced players, add to the youth that we’ve got here as well and hopefully put in a better season than we have this year.”

Cray Valley have the potential to progress into the Ryman League and have some of the plushest facilities in the Kent League and a smart looking ground.

“When I first came here Steve Chapman told me their ambitions and that’s the reason I joined the club,” said Ford.

“As you can see the facilities here are second to none. The training facilities that we’re going to have will be great as well, so it’s exciting times at the club and it’s ready to move on to the next stage.”

Visit Cray Valley (Paper Mills)’ website: www.cray-valley.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells  v  Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Monday 29^th April 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SG