I was very close to walking away but I'm more determined than ever to do well and get us back to where we were a few years’ ago, says Lydd Town boss Liam Smith

LYDD TOWN manager Liam Smith has revealed he was close to quitting the club having lost five of his players during the summer.

 

The Lindsey Field outfit finished in 12^th place in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division last season and have lost Craig Calvert, Dale Horton, Jordan Tomsett and Ryan Philpott to their local rivals Kennington, while Robbie Dolan has signed for Premier Division side Canterbury City.

“To be honest, this has been the toughest pre-season I’ve ever done in football due to players’ leaving,” said Smith.

“We lost four players to Kennington in the summer, with another moving to Canterbury City.

“These players had to be replaced but it takes time, a lot of time on the phone and in meetings. 

“Even though I don’t like what’s happened, it’s a waste of time holding grudges.  I still class those boys as my friends and the door will always be open.

“Management at this level doesn’t allow you to take things personally.

“Moving forward we feel that we have finally brought in some real quality since losing these lads and I can’t wait to see them in action in the league.

“I’ve had some sleepless nights and a lot of thinking time about what the team will look like come Saturday and I, like anyone else, will make mistakes but I believe in the way I want to do things and hopefully we will have a better start than we did last season where I think we only picked up one point in the first nine games.

“Lastly, I would like to thank the chairman Pat Lindsey, the club secretary Bruce Marchant and all of the committee for sticking by me through that tough period.

“I went to them and was very close to walking away and they gave me the boost to continue.

“Once they gave me what I needed, I was more determined than ever to do well and get us back to where we were a few years’ ago.”

The Lydders’ opening day opponents are Sporting Club Thamesmead, a side that finished in ninth-placed last season and have a new manager at the helm in Jason Long.

Lydd Town  v  Sporting Club Thamesmead
Southern Counties East Football League First Division
Saturday 3 August 2019
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Lindsey Field, Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent TN29 9JH