Kent Invicta League opener is going to be a good game for everyone to see, says Gary Abbott

ERITH & DARTFORD TOWN boss Gary Abbott says he wants to be the first manager to win the Kent Invicta League title at the end of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.


The club have secured a groundshare deal at VCD Athletic’s Oakwood Ground at Old Road, Crayford, and they have been chosen to host the inaugural Kent Invicta League game when neighbours Phoenix Sports visit on Friday.

The showpiece game is also a historic first ever League game for the club.

Abbott, 47, admitted today that pre-season could have gone better, but he wants his players to impress on the big occasion.

He said: “Results wise, not good, but like any manager will say, it’s not about the results.  For us it’s all about Friday night.  There’s a lot of positives there.  We need to get a couple of players in really and it will probably take a little bit of time, but it’s all about Friday at the minute and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Abbott added: “I’ve heard a lot of people saying there all going to come down.  Hopefully there will be 300 people there and it will be a good atmosphere and we’ll give it a good go to get three points and we’ll go from there.”

Phoenix Sports are managed by Scott Saunders, 37, with  former Gillingham and Millwall ace Dave Mehmet running their Academy side, which will play in Kent County League Division Two West and Abbott has done his homework on his first opponents.

Abbott said: “My two nephews, Alfie and Louie Harris play for them, which spices it up a little bit, so that will make it a little bit more interesting, but it’s all about the result on Friday really.  That’s what we’re all going into Friday, to try and get three points.

“It’s a big night.  There’s a lot of people saying there going to go down.  There will be a load of neutrals down there and it’s local for everyone, so we’re hoping to get a good crowd down there.

“It’s about the result as well.  Phoenix will want to get off to a good start as well.
“Obviously it’s going to be a lot of passion in the game, there will probably be a lot of tackles flying about, like there probably is in every game anyway.

“This one, being a local derby, they’re literally half a mile across the road.  It’s going to be a good game for everyone to see.  Hopefully we can come out on top.”

Ashford United are clearly the biggest club in the new division – and Mark Patterson and Paul Chambers’ side visit former Kent County League Kings Hollands & Blair next Saturday.

There is a long line of clubs who have aspirations to clinch promotion into the Kent Hurlimann Football League – Abbott being one of them.
He said: “It’s a chance to get on the map as well and everyone’s trying to get out of the league and into the Kent League.

“It should be interesting, it’s a local League as well, apart from Lydd, there’s not a lot of travelling involved, which is good.

“Everyone is looking forward to it and hopefully we can get off to a good start on Friday.”

With his previous managerial experience at Sittingbourne in Ryman League Division One South, Abbott has dropped down two divisions and has done his homework on some of his rival clubs.

“I’ve gone and watched three or four games, teams who we’re going to play in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

When asked about the difference between what he has been used to, Abbott replied, “It’s probably not a lot of difference between the Ryman South and the Kent League anyway really.  Obviously it’s all similar.  I wouldn’t say there was a lot in it to be honest with you.  Looking at some of the teams, there’s some good players’ out there still.

“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a tough league.  Everyone’s out there to try to win it and we’ll be in and around there in Christmas and hopefully try and push on towards the end of the season and try to win it because that’s what I want to do.”

Meanwhile, the home club have confirmed the admission prices for all of their home games at Oakwood:
£5 (adults), £3 (concessions), whilst under 10’s can watch the action free, if accompanied by a paying adult

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this historic game.

Visit Erith & Dartford Town’s website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/erithanddartfordtownfc

Erith & Dartford Town  v  Phoenix Sports
Kent Invicta League Opening Game
Friday 19^th August 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN