Kent League managers demand cup rethink - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Three Kent League managers that were involved in today’s FA Carlsberg Vase second round draw, have voiced their disapproval of the format of the Kent League Cup, writes Stephen McCartney.

Kent League officials revamped their league cup competition last season to give club’s more games, but club’s, whose players pocket less than £100 a week, were forced to leave work early to play in midweek matches at opposite ends of the county.

With seventeen clubs in the Kent League this season, one of the league cup groups contains five ides, which will mean Lordswood, Slade Green, Hythe Town, VCD Athletic and Herne Bay will play eight league cup games, and managers are concerned.

They demand a rethink from Kent League top-brass and want more teams in the league and the league cup competition to revert back to a knockout competition.

Hythe Town boss Paul Fisk insists the current format is “not a very good idea.”

Fisk takes his side to Lordswood tomorrow night to kick off their league cup campaign, but the Medway side have already played two games in the competition, collecting four points and lead the group.

“If teams lose their first couple of games they lose interest and you start giving squad players games,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.  

“I don’t see the point in the league system. We have eight games in it and if we lost two or three the rest of the games become pointless. It’s just to make the numbers up.”

Fisk, however, explained what he wants from Kent League officials.

“Ideally more sides in the league would be better but a two-legged knockout will give you a couple of games. If you are out you are out.

“We have eight games in it. We could lose the first few and lost interest in it then it becomes a farce.

“The reason we have this cup is that they feel there aren’t any games. We need 20 odd sides in the league.

VCD Athletic’s long serving boss, Martin Ford, also feels this league cup format is a “farce.”

Martin Ford's injury hit VCD Athletic have to make a
100 mile round trip to play Herne Bay for a midweek
Kent League Cup Group A game.
Photograph courtesy of www.briandickie.co.uk


Ford’s injury-hit make the 100 mile round trip to Herne Bay on Tuesday night, but Ford feels Jason Lillis’ side should make the same midweek jaunt to Crayford, and not on a Saturday (28 October).

“To be honest it’s turned into a farce,” he said. “If it’s a regional competition it would be ideal.

“We’re struggling to get a side down to Herne Bay. We play them twice in the competition before we play them in the league. It’s a bit of a farce if I’m honest.”

“Ideally it should be regionalised or a home and away leg straight knock out.

“We’re playing in the Kent Senior Cup against Margate so we’re not looking to play too many games with the sides that are in it.

“I can’t imagine many people rushing over to Herne Bay to watch both sides.”

Ford’s side got through the marathon group stages, quarter-finals and a two-legged semi-final with Herne Bay before losing to Maidstone United in the final at the Buzzlines Stadium in Folkestone at the end of last season.

But Ford will be without Chris Whitehouse (calf), Martin Driscoll (groin), Danny Penny (knee), Gary Ward (hamstring), Stuart Abbott (ankle ligaments), Kevin Winchcombe (broken toe), Terry Barry (ankle) and Steve Hogg (calf). Lee Coburn and Mark Horan are still serving lengthy suspensions.

However, reserves Nick Hulance, Kevin Wiltshire, Mark Hessen will be given a chance to impress at Winch’s Field, with Mo Miah, Nick Minshull, Mark Greatorex, Juan Ramirez and Paul Foley expected to play some part.

Recent signing from Erith & Belvedere, right-back Steve Taylor is also expected to play but Marc Merridan should make his debut next Saturday at Sporting Bengal.

“Whoever gets to the final deserves to get there,“ said Ford. “We are in a group of five, eight group games, a quarter final and a two legged semi-final. You get 11 games to get to a cup final, which is surreal.

But Tunbridge Wells will be counting the financial loss when they welcome Erith Town to Culverden Stadium on Wednesday night in Group D.

The reason? England’s Euro 2008 qualifyier in Croatia kick’s off at 6pm.

It will cost the west Kent club at least £150 to stage their game, once they’ve paid for floodlights (£50) and match officials.

Manager Martin Farnie said: “It’s the league cup so it ain’t Mickey Mouse. It’s just the way they do it that’s Mickey Mouse. It’s a cup competition so it should be knockout.”

Farnie revealed Andy Garrett (family commitments) has been added to the squad after missing Saturday’s 6-1 win over Pagham in the FA Vase.

But he added: “I don’t know how I’ll treat it. I will decide tonight after work if I am going to play my strongest side, squad players or players that need fitness. I don’t know.

“There’s loads of questions I have to ask myself before I see what I am going to do. I will also consult my coaching staff.”

Farnie will be hoping to get their campaign off to a good start against Mark Tompkins’ side.

“Last year we had to do down to Deal on a Saturday to play a game that meant nothing to either team,” he recalled.

“We ended up winning 3-1, played quite well but it was a nothing game. I couldn’t motivate myself for it. If you lose your first three games you are knackered. It’s a damp squid.

“Let’s have it the old way, a straight knock out competition. If they want to increase the games we play, let’s get more sides in the league, make the league bigger and stronger.”

Farnie wants the Kent League to take teams from Sussex or Essex to improve the standard of the league.

“Why can’t we have people like Crowborough, Three Bridges and teams in that area?” he said.

“Croydon have come in and done quite well. Why can’t we have a few more in our league to make it stronger?”

Essex sides? “Why not,” Farnie replied. “Tilbury play our reserves and it’s only 35 minutes away so it ain’t a problem.

“The other alternative is when teams play in the Ryman League, why can’t we have the Dover’s, Folkestone’s and Margate reserve sides playing the first team?

“I don’t see that as a problem to be honest. That will make them have stronger reserve sides to help their reserve sides, but I don’t know if that’s an option.”

Kent League fixtures:

Tuesday 10 October 2006
Kent League Cup Group A

Herne Bay v VCD Athletic

Lordswood v Hythe Town

Kent League Cup Group C

Greenwich Borough v Whitstable Town

Kent League Division Two

Margate v Chatham Town

Kent League Floodlight Trophy (West)

Sittingbourne v Lordswood

Kent League Floodlight Trophy (East)

Deal Town v Dover Athletic

London Senior Cup First Round

Erith & Belvedere v Colliers Wood United

Wednesday 11 October

Kent League Cup Group B

Faversham Town v Deal Town

Kent League Cup Group C

Sporting Bengal United v Croydon (7:30pm)

Kent League Cup Group D

Beckenham Town v Thamesmead Town (7:30)

Tunbridge Wells v Erith Town

Kent League Division One

Bromley v Thamesmead Town