I need two strikers to stand and deliver, says Beckenham Town boss Jason Huntley

BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley says he is two strikers short to having a team that is capable of winning the Kent League title, writes Stephen McCartney.


Huntley was disappointed that his side finished in tenth place last season after being in the hunt for honours at Christmas, before they ended the season empty handed.

He fielded a team of trialists against Kent Invicta League neighbours Lewisham Borough last night and they came from behind to win 2-1, courtesy of a Badar Mohamed penalty and a Ibrahim Fusini volley.

And with striker Gary Gorman joining his brother, defender Danny, at haart of Kent County League Division One side Metrogas – three league’s lower than Beckenham – and Quentin Conteh seeking a deal elsewhere – Beckenham look lightweight up front, although Mohamed and the returning Fusini has knocked on the manager’s door after last night’s goals.

The Beckenham boss confirmed that he had 45 players at the club’s first training session and wants to work with an eighteen man squad this season.

“Obviously it needs to be done by Thursday night,” said Huntley, whose side welcome Kent Invicta League side Erith & Dartford Town on Thursday (second pitch, 7pm), before welcoming much-fancied Ryman League Division One South giants Maidstone United to the main pitch on Saturday (3pm).

“We need to concentrate on the first starting eleven and the five subs, obviously the two other lads will be squad players as well.

“We need to start getting our settled eleven, which will be looking to start our first game on August 13^th against Herne By, which will be a big game for us, they will be one of the favourites to win it this year and it will be good to have a good start against them and from Saturday we will be settling our team out, looking forward to our first league game.”

Huntley has strengthened his side during the summer, including box-to-box midfielder, Harry Draper, one of many players to quit Greenwich Borough and versatile defender Nathan Paul has returned from Maidstone United.

“As it stands now, I’m going to tell you we’re going to win it, if I get two strikers,” replied Huntley, when asked what his aspirations are for the new season.

“I’ve got a couple of lads who have come in this year who are very, very good. Little Harry Draper, I know he’s played here, he runs every blade of grass.  I know he can have a little bit of a fuse at times but I’ll get him out of that – but I don’t want to take too much part of his game away as you’ll take a lot out of his play.

“I’ve got Charlie Howard, we’ve got Nick Curran.  We’ve got James Lawson back now.   It looked like we were losing Lawson at one point but he’s a massive, massive plus for us and of course we’ve got Nathan Paul back – he’s one of the best players in the league, I would imagine.”

Huntley added: “I don’t think we’ll be far off, as I say, we’re lacking up front, but we’re very strong all over the rest of the pitch.  I’ve got some very, very good midfielders and wide players and I’ve got some decent centre halves as well so I’m quite happy with my defence and my midfield – it’s just upfront where I’m lacking at the moment.”

When asked what his budget was for the new season, Huntley replied. “Nothing!  We’re just good mates and that’s it!” 

The club are in the process of erecting eight tiny new covers for spectators around their Eden Park Avenue ground and Huntley revealed the stands have come from Fisher Athletic’s old ground at Salters Road.

“We’ve done some ground improvements down here now, there’s eight to go in, so we’re going in the right direction to get the ground improvements to what we need to do.”

Huntley added: “I’m actually involved with the guy who owns the (Salters Road) ground development, who is doing the development of it and I said to him the rest of the ground will be demolished so there was nothing wrong with these (the covers) – I used to play in front of these ones – The Dockers shelter these were called when these were up there.

“I went to see them the other week, they’re untouched, they were brand new almost so I asked them to take them down and he asked the guys to bring them down to us.”

When asked the latest on the dormant stadium, the former Fisher Athletic defender said: “As it stands at the moment there’s actually meetings in the next couple of weeks with what they’re going to do with the ground.

“They’ve got to rehouse Fisher, I’m not sure where yet but If I’m being honest I don’t know why they moved from there, they should have kept their ground for the last six years.  I don’t know what the thinking was going to Dulwich Hamlet, but it’s a fantastic ground, a lovely ground, a nice place to play in.

“I’ve not really got very much news on the outcome on that at the moment.  I’m sure during the season when I know a lot more, I’ll let you know.”

Visit Beckenham Town’s website: www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

Beckenham Town  v  Erith & Dartford Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Thursday 28^th July 2011
Kick Off 7:00pm
at Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL