Trott searches for training base - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Margate player-boss Robin Trott is searching for adequate training facilities to enable his side to work on patterns of play, writes Stephen McCartney.

The central defender felt their previous base in Strood, which they used last season, were poor, but now the first team squad are training at the same venue as Ryman League Division One South side Dartford.

The only FA Cup third qualifying round tie taking place in the Garden of England tomorrow is Margate’s game against Ryman League Division One North strugglers Potters Bar Town, a side that have switched from the Southern League.

“We have just been doing a lot of fun stuff,” Trott said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their game.

“There are things we want to go through but with the lack of facilities we can’t go through patterns of play.”

Speaking about their previous training venue in Strood, Trott said: “It was horrendous. The injuries we had were horrendous. We went onto (another) surface with a lot of give but it’s all booked up from last year.”

But training at Hartsdown Park is out of the question as most of Trott’s first team squad will have to make a round trip to Thanet after work.

“We can do it at Hartsdown Park but it’s a long way. Some of the boys are in London but we have to find a happy medium.”

Trott is searching for a venue that’s close to the Dartford tunnel. The ideal location, on paper, would be using the community pitch at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium, which opens next month, but that will obviously need to be agreed by both clubs, and Trott explained that both clubs would train on the same evenings.

But after scoring two late goals to beat Kent League leaders Whitstable Town 2-1 in the previous round two weeks ago, Trott insists his side are good enough to beat Potters Bar Town tomorrow and get into Monday’s draw for the final qualifying round.

“I know that they are beatable,” he said. “I’ve had them watched a couple of times, they are not all that but I don’t want to say that because comments can bite you on the bum.

“No games will be a roll-over, tomorrow won’t be a roll-over,” he warned.

“It’s a tough one really, hopefully not a banana skin but if everyone applies themselves we should be allright.”

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

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Margate v Potters Bar Town
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 14^th October 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate