KENT SENIOR TROPHY FINAL: Our Trophy famine will come to an end, vows Becks coach Hughes

COACH Billy Hughes is confident that Beckenham Town can bring some silverware back to Eden Park Avenue on Sunday.

Fourth placed Beckenham are nine points adrift of champions-elect Thamesmead Town but the pair lock horns in the Kent Senior Trophy Final at Park View Road on Sunday looking to end their trophy draught.

You need to go back to 26 years in Beckenham’s history and to a sunny bank holiday Monday at Bromley to come across the club’s first appearance in the Kent Senior Trophy Final.

A bumper crowd of 600, however, witnessed Fisher Athletic seal a 4-1 win, despite Beckenham taking an early lead through John Palmer.

Both sides were playing in the now defunct London Spartan League and both clubs were about to go their separate ways - Beckenham to the Kent League and the Fish, after moving from their modest London Road ground in Mitcham, were on their way to the Southern League, thanks to their newly acquired ground in Docklands.

Beckenham’s second appearance in the final came in 2005. Ironically their opponents were Thamesmead and the Kent County Football Association were criticised for sending both sides to Whitstable Town for the showpiece final.

A small crowd of just over 100 contributed to what proved to be a wholly forgettable encounter and under the leadership of long-serving boss Kevin Surgue, Beckenham lost 1-0.

But fast forward to the present day, Hughes is in confident mood that the present crop of players can bring long-awaited silverware to Eden Park Avenue.

Hughes, meanwhile, is fully aware that the Mead have already completed a Kent League double over his side.

Hughes is not too concerned over that statistic, when speaking to the club’s website www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk this week.

“I don’t think it’s relevant and we’re certainly not worried by that,” he said. “We are more concerned about what happens on the day.”

Beckenham were on course of a treble a few weeks ago but slipped up in the Kent League; lost to Erith Town in the semi-finals of the Kent League Cup and Sunday’s Cup final is the only chance of lifting silverware.

“I am so proud of what the lads have done this season; and I know we will be giving it our best shot on Sunday,” said Hughes.

“We’re all really excited about the occasion and looking forward to the afternoon”.

Goalkeeper Grant Hall is suffering from a back injury and Chris Lewington is on standby should the former Cray Wanderers stopper fail a last-minute fitness test.

But Sunday’s showdown should attract a crowd of over 600, especially as both sides play football the right way - on the deck.

“Thamesmead Town are a very good side and on their day can beat anyone,” says Hughes.

“But that’s not unlike us where I feel we have that same ability.

“Again, like us, Thamesmead have got some really good individuals who could win games, but if you look at our line-up you could say the same.”

Hughes insists his side will pick up the Kent Senior Trophy at Welling United’s Park View Road ground.

“We picked up the Charity Shield against Maidstone United a couple of season’s ago,” Hughes recalled.

“I’ll settle for that capping off the previous 90 years of losses. Sunday is about this squad of players, this moment in time, and I feel really confident of the outcome.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match

Quotes courtesy of www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

Visit club websites:

www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Beckenham Town v Thamesmead Town
Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday 13^th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY