Osborn is welcome back anytime, says Francis

Friday 31st July 2009

CRAY WANDERERS’ assistant manager Joe Francis says he’s expecting testing times at Dover Athletic tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands, preparing for their inaugural Ryman Premier League campaign, travel to the Blue Square South side in confident manner following a satisfying pre-season.

"Excellent pre-season, fitness and just the way we’re playing really," Francis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their trip to Crabble.

"It’s all about the countdown now for the next two weeks and we’re really pleased to have the test tomorrow.

"We’re looking forward to seeing Andy (Hessenthaler) and Darren (Hare) at Dover, they were kind enough to put the fixture on when we met at the Ryman League do.

"Obviously the result matters, it’s just all about performance and trying to work on things in terms of how the team plays, the systems that we play and just looking to get sharper each game.

"It’s a really, really good test for us tomorrow, it’s a lovely pitch to play on, an excellent side, a nice crowd there hopefully - we’re looking forward to it."

Francis revealed that defensive rock Mark Willy, long-serving midfielder Jamie Kempster and hard-working striker Leigh Bremner remain on the sidelines through injury.

And when asked if he and boss Ian Jenkins knows their starting eleven for their opening league game at fellow promoted side Aveley in fifteen days time, Francis replied, "What now? No! I mean we’ve got an idea. Obviously what we’ll have to do is work out whose fit and available and go from there.

"We’ve got an idea, Jenks and I talk every day about progression of players that have been injured - we’ve got an idea."

After their trip to play Aveley, Cray Wanderers lock horns with Tommy Warrilow’s Tonbridge Angels at Hayes Lane on Tuesday 18 August.

"I can’t wait for the season to start because you always feel with a little bit of anticipation," said Francis.

"I’ve told you before, I can’t stand pre-season, like I said to you, it’s one of those chores you have to get through. I never liked it as a player!

"You just look for little indicators. We’ve got a team of very experienced players, even our young players have the experience off winning a promotion from the league.

"The players we’ve got in this year have a great deal of experience and are used to playing at this level. We’ve got not high expectations but we’ve got high hopes."

One experienced player that Francis wants to return to Hayes Lane is Simon Osborn, who according to Francis gained "cult status" at the club for scoring the only goal of the game in the Ryman League Division One South play-off final, which secured promotion.

"Ozzie made cult status for himself at the club because of the way he performed in the last quarter of the season for us," explained Francis.

"He always said he wanted to hang up his boots but he keeps hanging them up and then taking them off the peg again.

"He plays three or four times a week, he plays in vets, five-a-side, he plays in the back garden."

Francis was quickly interrupted and asked whether the former Crystal Palace midfielder will play for Cray Wanderers again.

And he replied, "Well, we’ve just left the door open for Ozzie. He’s so experienced, who am I to say whether he should still be playing? I’d love him to be around. You never know.

"Ozzie was looking for maybe getting a coaching or management role as he’s got a lot to offer, but he knows he can always give us a ring and he’d be welcomed."

Meanwhile, striker Tommy Whitnell netted for tomorrow’s opponents Dover Athletic during Andy Hessenthaler’s side 8-0 demolition of Ryman League Division One North outfit Tilbury in midweek.

And by going by Francis’ response, it appears that the striker’s future is away from the Wands.

"I mean, I don’t know what’s happening with Tommy, I don’t know," he said.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com

Dover Athletic v Cray Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 1st August 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Perrys Crabble, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB