We deserve some FA Cup limelight, says Tonbridge Angels coach Justin Luchford

TONBRIDGE ANGELS coach Justin Luchford says he’s looking forward to seeing some old faces when he returns to Faversham Town on Saturday.

 

The Angels travel to Salters Lane to play a FA Cup First qualifying Round tie against the Bostik South side.

Luchford was the Lilywhites manager when they won the old Kent League title back in 2010.

“It’s always good to be back for me especially,” said Luchford.

“It will be a tough game, Faversham are a decent side.

“I know the club very well, as you know.  I’m very much looking forward to going back and seeing some old faces and seeing what they’ve done to the ground because I know they’ve got new changing rooms and stiff.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Ray Turner, Ray Leader and Clive Walker and those kind of guys and it will be good to have a beer with them afterwards but ultimately there’s only one thing that matters and that’s getting through to the next round!”

Tonbridge Angels have slipped down to fourteenth-place in the Bostik Premier table with seven points from their five league outings after suffering back-to-back defeats to Harrow Borough (2-0) and Folkestone Invicta (3-2) over the Bank Holiday weekend.

But Luchford insists the club are going all out to have a good FA Cup run this season and winning their first FA Cup tie of the season will scoop the club £3,000 in prize money.

“I think we’ve been a bit unfortunate with the draws.  We seem to get to that fourth qualifying round and then get a really tough one,” reflected Luchford.

“It will be nice to get through a few rounds and get to that fourth qualifying round.  There’s always two or three sides that are left, the minnows if you like and if we draw something like that and get through to the first round.

“I know I speak on behalf of the gaffer (Steve McKimm) and people behind the scenes deserve something like that.  It will be fantastic for us to get to the first round, fantastic to maybe get on TV for the club to show how far it’s come and see what we’re about.”

Criticism has been rife over BBC’s decision to screen big-spending Billericay Town’s FA Cup tie at home to Didcot Town online this weekend.

Billericay Town have screamed to the top of the Bostik Premier table with 12 points from five games but with a budget of over £30,000 per week, you would expect them to be in pole position.

But it’s the way that they have gone about their business that has upset other non-league club’s and supporters, showing a disrespectful arrogance to all of their rivals'.

“I know Billericay are on BBC Sport and that’s great for them but I think this club deserves a bit of that limelight as well,” said Luchford.

“It’s just not about what all other sides may or may not do with the way they approach things but we work hard behind the scenes and there’s a lot of people, the community, deserves something like that.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk

Faversham Town  v  Tonbridge Angels
The Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Saturday 2^nd September 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND