It's mega frustrating that no-one supports us, says Mead boss Keith McMahon

Sunday 17th October 2010

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says the club has come a long way during the five years that he has managed the Bayliss Avenue club, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Mead booked their place in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy by winning 2-1 at Great Wakering Rovers yesterday and are enjoying their best ever season as they are sitting in the top three of the Ryman League Division One North table after 10 games.

“In the five years the club has come along hugely,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “To be fair, my committee has 100% backed me and I’ve got complete run of the football club, especially on the football side.

“I don’t think that’s much of a secret and they’ve gave me all the backing I need, which is unique for most football clubs, but we’re not most football clubs.

“I remember going back years and talking to the president at the time, Albert Panting, and saying I want us to get out of the Kent League within two years and he laughed, thinking we’re not big enough to do it.

“And here we are five years down the line and we’re thinking we could be playing in the Ryman Premier! - it’s mind-boggling!

“Our youth teams are now structured properly, we seem to have success very year, one way or another.”

Thamesmead - Kent’s poorest supported Ryman League club with average gates of only 59 - and are the second worse supported club in the division ahead of Waltham Forest.

But the side have picked up six wins and a draw and welcome third-from-bottom Leyton to Bayliss Avenue on Saturday only two points adrift of leaders Enfield Town.

But if the Mead do secure promotion, then they will find the Ryman Premier League a different kettle of fish and a season off struggle is what McMahon will expect.

He said: “If we did get into the Premier, then my first thing would be going to the committee saying we need a year where it’s not going to be successful, but it’s going to be hard to stay in that division.”

But the team plays attractive football and McMahon has issued a rallying cry for local residents to support their local side.

“It’s a great football club with great people and it makes us a little bit unique to others,” he said.

“It’s mega frustrating. The gates have gone up slightly. It’s frustrating when our youth team gets bigger gates in the FA Youth Cup against AFC Wimbledon and Charlton Ladies get bigger gates than us.

“The locals of Thamesmead don’t support us at the moment.” But he admitted the club doesn’t look attractive for visitors during the ground re-development.

He said: “It’s a bit of a state to come in to be honest with you, the car park is atrocious, it’s not the safest of places in the car park, especially in the winter and it may deter a few people, but once the new development’s there I’m pretty sure our gates will go up.

“I’ve said this before I would love to pick the football club up and stick it in another area, but we’re Thamesmead Town and we’re very proud to be there but we can’t force them in but hopefully we keep being where we are in the league and a good Cup run more people may come through the turnstiles.”

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Thamesmead Town v Leyton

Ryman League Division One North

Saturday 23rd October 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ