I’ve got a job to do and rectify what’s going wrong away from home, says Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm

Wednesday 27th August 2014

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Steve McKimm says he’s working hard to turn around his side’s fortunes on the road.

The Angels have a 100% record at home in three games but have lost all three games on the road.

A last-gasp winner from Alex Teniola sealed the local bragging rights over bitter-rivals Maidstone United on Bank Holiday Monday, to extend their unbeaten run over The Stones to nine games.

A crowd of 1,168 flocked through the turnstiles at Longmead Stadium in the rain to watch a disappointing game.

But after beating VCD Athletic (4-1) and Lewes (2-0), the Angels have gone down to defeats to Peacehaven & Telscombe (1-4), Metropolitan Police (1-2) and Wingate & Finchley (0-2) on their travels and that is a concern to the former Sutton United man.

McKimm said: “We’ve got a 100% record at home and 100% defeats away. Listen, we don’t do nothing by halves. We don’t go and draw games. I’d like to have drawn a game away.

“Listen, that’s football. I’ve got a job to do and rectify what’s going wrong away from home and that will be done through hard work, maybe a bit of tinkering with the system, not a lot because I want us to go forward and enjoy going forward but I’ve got to make sure we cut out these errors in defence.

“I can’t say there was one error in defence (against Maidstone) so that’s why we won the game. We lost the game (at Wingate & Finchley) on Saturday because there were two errors in defence.”

Tonbridge Angels welcome Kingstonian to Longmead Stadium on Saturday.

It will mark the return of former striker Nathaniel Pinney, who never hit it off at Tonbridge in a poor season, scoring only five goals as the club’s three-year stint in Conference South came to an end.

K’s are in seventh-place in the Ryman Premier League table with 11 points from 5 games.

Tonbridge Angels are in tenth-place, with 9 points.

“Kingstonian on Saturday, which I’ve watched and that’s going to be another tough task,” said McKimm.

“They’ve improved their squad this summer, a bit like Maidstone and it’s going to be very tough, but we’ll just equip ourselves.

“We can see what bodies we’ve got back at training on Thursday and then go from there.”

McKimm has ditched the players’ bar at Longmead Stadium and is keen to talk to supporters after games.

Writing in his programme notes, he said: “At home games and where possible away games, myself and the players will be in the club house after the match to chat and discuss with supporters about how things have gone.

“For me that invokes the spirit of non-league football whereby we are all very much in it together.”

Meanwhile, chairman Steve Churcher, again writing in his programme notes, explained the situation with their sponsors and youth Academy.

He said: “I have been asked several questions recently about our continuing relationship with our main sponsor, Hadlow College.

“I am delighted to confirm that Hadlow College Group will continue to sponsor the Angels for the 2014-15 season.

“Our home shirts will now carry the West Kent College logo (now part of the Hadlow College Group) whilst our red away strip will carry the Hadlow College Group logo as before.

“Our football academy, will now be based at Longmead, with a different educational provider.

“After four successful years based at Hadlow College, it has been amicably agreed that our youth development would be more productive if based at one single location.

“Hadlow College meanwhile continue their academy with Charlton Athletic Community Trust as their coaching provider.

“We are obviously very grateful to Hadlow College for all the support and facilities they provided for the initial joint academy, but we feel that now is the right time to have all our facilities in one location particularly as the club moves to becoming a community owned organisation.”

The Angels academy is open for players and students aged 16 or over on 1 September 2014 and if you are interested you have to move fast and contact the recruitment team on 07930 333 660 or 07889 507 794. Or you can email galaxytrainingltd@gmail.com.

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk

Tonbridge Angels v Kingstonian
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 30^th August 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF