We are looking to emulate what Corinthian have done, says Holmesdale boss Fabio Rossi

HOLMESDALE manager Fabio Rossi says he is targeting a top half finish in the Kent League this season.



The Bromley based club finished in the bottom four last season and they begin their pre-season campaign with a game against Kent Invicta League newcomers Eltham Palace on Saturday (12:30pm, at Chislehurst Recreation Ground).

Terry Naden’s side finished in third-place in the Haart of Kent County League Premier Division last season, but were elected into the Kent Invicta League as their facilities at Green Court Road were up to scratch to join fellow tenants Orpington in that league.

The Dalers then travel to play Phoenix Sports, last season’s Kent Invicta League runners-up next Tuesday (6:30pm), before ending their pre-season campaign with three home games at Oakley Road, against Walton Casuals (21 July), Dulwich Hamlet (25 July) and West Wickham (28 July).

Rossi, 50, said: “Well, pre-season so far has been very good - too well attended, if I’m honest.

“As with most clubs this time of year we’ve had quite a few trialists, but trying to find the right quality of player for this level is not always that easy with so many attending.”

He added: “Every player bar one has re-signed for the coming season, so I’m very pleased about that.

“It was always our intention to keep the main nucleus of last year’s squad together and try to add just three or four quality players that are used to playing at this level.

“In our first three weeks of pre-season Jack White (our coach) and myself are mainly concentrating on getting the players fitter with lots of short, sharp small-sided games with high intensity runs in between.

“After Saturday when the pre-season games start Ray Williams our director-of-football will be taking part of the sessions and implementing patterns of play and trying to ensure everyone knows what they should be doing when the real stuff kicks off.

“Ross Mitchell, who doubles as secretary and goalkeeping coach, will be getting the keepers ready for the season.

“What am I looking for out of pre-season? Well, it’s simple really. To gradually get the players fitter and sharper and knocked down to an eighteen-man squad ready to go for the season ahead.  I’ve got a pretty reasonable idea of the backbone of the team.”

Rossi has sat down with chairman Mark Harris and have set some reasonable achievable targets.

And they want to replicate the achievements of Corinthian, who finished in seventh-place and reached the Kent League Cup Final for the very first time, without a budget last season.

Rossi said: “We are looking to emulate what Corinthian have done.  We have set a target of 40 points and a really good run in one of the Cups and if we can play some really good football along the way, as Corinthian do, then that would be a very good season for us.

“So it’s really just adding three or four more wins and turning a few defeats into draws from what we achieved last year.

“Cup runs is really what I’m after. There’s no reason with the right kind of draw and a bit of luck that we can’t do well in the League Cup, London Senior Cup or Kent Senior Trophy.

When asked how difficult it is to compete in the Kent League without a playing budget, Rossi replied, “Well, it is difficult but it can be done.  Steve Firkins did it for Greenwich Borough and at Fisher last year.  Tony Sitford at Corinthian, so it can be done!

“Generally the teams with the bigger budgets end up higher in the league table. We try to offer the players the best that we can. It doesn’t cost them anything to play so all they have to do is turn up on time and play to their best with discipline.”

Rossi revealed that seven of the club’s stalwarts have put in a lot of hard work to ensure Oakley Road is ready for its sixth Kent League campaign.

“The committee have done a fantastic job at the ground,” he said.

“The pitch has come back magnificently with a lot of hard work, devoting, cutting and also with plenty of help from the heavens this year.

“Hardly anyone can say that their pitch is as good as Beckenham or Corinthian, but we like to think ours isn’t too far behind.  Erith & Belvedere, Fisher and Erith Town have very good surfaces too.

“The clubhouse has been re-decorated and a new floor will be laid on our final pre-season friendly against West Wickham which will make things interesting as they plan to hold the hospitality outside – let’s hope it doesn’t rain!

“A new kitchen has been installed.  The ladies toilets are just to be completely knocked out and refurbished.

“New netting has been put up all around the ground making it much smarter. The stand behind the goal has been finished with a new back to it and will be painted shortly.

“I was hoping to get the home dressing room enlarged to make it a little bit user- friendly. It’s long and narrow but that will have to wait until the end of the season now. We will give them a quick lick of paint until then.”

Rossi has unveiled Paul Proctor and John Paul Collier as his new reserve team management team.

He added:  “Our thanks go to Steve O’Rourke who ran a very successful reserve side in Division Two and if it wasn’t for me depleting it, could have possibly gone on and won it.”

Visit Holmesdale’s website:  www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Eltham Palace  v  Holmesdale
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 14^th July 2012
Kick Off 12:30pm
at Chislehurst Recreation Ground, Empress Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5BG