Vickers Oakwood ground "ready in four weeks" (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Jubilant VCD Athletic manager Martin Ford saw his side reach their second cup final of the season on Saturday – and revealed the £150,000 redevelopment of their Oakwood ground in Crayford will be completed in four weeks time, writes Stephen McCartney.

A stunning left-footed 20-yard curler from Kevin Winchcombe – his third goal of the season – was enough to beat Herne Bay in a dour game at Winch’s Field to send Vickers through to the Kentish Observer League Cup Final, winning 2-1 on aggregate.

They will play either Maidstone United or Hythe Town on Saturday, 29^th April at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium.

The Stones currently have the advantage, winning 2-1 at Reachfields Stadium in the first leg.  The return takes place at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne on Wednesday, 29^th March.

VCD are already in the Kent Senior Trophy Final and are favourites to beat Tunbridge Wells at Welling United’s Park View Road on Sunday, 9^th April.

Ford, meanwhile, admitted having eleven Kentish Observer League games to play between now and the end of the season isn’t a burden.

With his side playing leaders Maidstone United at Greenwich Borough’s Harrow Meadow tomorrow night, Ford said: “To be quite honest with you, I’m not looking as far ahead than Tuesday and we’ll asses the situation after that.

”If I feel payers need a rest I’ll definitely rest them – we’ve got a squad that can cope.

”My lads want to play and all the time they want to play I’ll keep letting them, but I’ve got to draw on them and say “that’s enough you need a rest today.”

He added: “But we’ve got players that can come in so we’ve got plenty of players we can draw on so we’ll use the squad the best we can – we still believe we can come second or third.”

Sixteen goal, top-scorer, Lee Coburn is drafted into the squad following his suspension as David Hunt was substituted at half-time on Saturday with a persistent back injury.

”He’s a big player for us,” added Ford.  “He’s been complaining about it for a couple of weeks and we keep patching him up and putting him out there.  We’ll rest him now for at least a week.”

The local area is currently seeing two football stadiums being built, with Dartford’s Princes Park being the other.

The Darts future will certainly be on the up when they return back home following their lengthy 14-year exile, and Ford insists his club will have a bright future as well.

He said: “The club is massive.  If we can get back home we’ll be attracting over 200, I’ve got no concerns about that.

”When we get home it will build up.  We can generate our own money, get some advertising in and try and look after these players because a majority of them don’t get paid.

”That’s our main incentive this year – to look after the squad we’ve got, add to it and get back home and playing where we belong.”

Ford, revealed the redevelopment of their Crayford ground is coming along nicely, and it will be good enough to stage Ryman League football.

”It’s all being built to Ryman standard,” he said.  “It’s absolutely fantastic what they’ve done in the last two weeks.  The path ways are in this week, the floodlights are coming in three weeks time and the contractors are working as quickly as they possibly can.

”We personally think it will be ready in four weeks time,” beamed the long serving manager.  “It’s a question whether the pitch is going to take its time for the seed to come through and whether we can play on it come August.

”I don’t think we’re going to play on it for pre-season friendlies but I’m certain we’ll be playing on it in the league in front of our own crowd.”

Ford, meanwhile, has always produced sides that challenge for honours during their exile at Thamesmead Town, Lordswood and now Greenwich Borough, and he explained why: “I’ve been blessed that I’ve always had good players and good teams at VCD,” he said.   “We’ve got a special spirit at the club that’s got us through the years.

”To do what we do every year and without a ground is a fantastic achievement for people behind the club and the players we sign.

”We’ve got a close spirit and the players dig in.  You saw them in abundance Saturday,  they worked so hard and they thoroughly deserved the victory.”

VCD Athletic  v  Maidstone United
Kentish Observer League Premier Division
Tuesday 21^st March 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Harrow Meadow, Eltham Green Road, Eltham