I'm looking to finish as high as possible, says Lordswood boss Richard Styles

LORDSWOOD manager Richard Styles says he wants to replicate the progress the club has been making recently.

The Martyn Grove outfit finished in a personal best of fourth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League last season.

Styles (pictured) has come in to replace James Collins, who is now the manager of league rivals Cray Valley and wants to be challenging for the title this time around.



“I’m a very ambitious person and I’m looking to get as high as possible and in and around that really,” said Styles.

“I’d love to be a top four. I am aware of how strong the league is now and how many teams are in it and the budget’s that certain teams have but it’s the year of the underdog and the year of team cohesion and the team that are together and that’s what we’re going to have here.

“We’re going to have a team that’s strong and they all get on with each other and they’re going to work for each other until the very end but I’m looking to finish as high as possible.”

Lordswood kick-off their campaign with a trip to relegated Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday 6 August.

Looking ahead to the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against a club that were playing Ryman League Division One South football last season, Styles said he was not happy opening their campaign with a FA Cup tie.

He said: “I’m not happy about it. It’s the story of my life really, I never do everything easy and management’s probably the same.

“It’s a massive game for the club, for me, the team and it’s one we want to win, without a doubt.

“I’ll take the draw, I’m happy with the draw. If you’d ask me the teams I didn’t want to draw before, they wouldn’t have been one so from what I know they’re a similar level to us in terms of they’re starting from scratch and with a new team and a new manager, so yes, it could be a lively first game.”

Lordswood’s first league game of the season will be a home clash against Erith Town on 13 August.

Erith Town, like Lordswood and Peacehaven & Telscombe, are under new management with Ian Jenkins and Ricky Bennett coming in as joint-managers following their 18-month stint at Greenwich Borough together.

“I was assistant manager there last year so that’s going to be entertaining.  I’m happy to start at home and start the way we’re meant to go on – bring it on!”

Visit Lordswood’s website:  www.lordswoodfc.co.uk