We'll be fighting fit for the season ahead, insists Jenkins

Wednesday 30th June 2010

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says he is taking pre-season more seriously this year, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Second Oldest Football Club in the World celebrate their 150th anniversary this season and the club have lined up some interesting fixtures ahead of their second Ryman Premier League campaign, which kick’s off on 21 August.

The Wands will travel up to Sheffield at the end of July to face the Oldest Football Club in the World (Sheffield) and Hallen (who like the Wands were founded in 1860) in the Heritage Tournament.

Leyton Orient, who brought teenage sensation, striker George Porter from Cray Wanderers during the close season, arrive at Hayes Lane on Wednesday, 14 July.

But before that, Cray Wanderers lock horns with Vandanel Kent County League Division One West minnows Crockenhill on Saturday (1pm).

The match will take place at St Mary Cray Recreation Ground - The Wands used to play there some 40 years ago.

“I hope there will be a few people down there to watch it to be honest,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk ahead of the prestigious match.

Despite playing a side that play four leagues lower than Cray Wanderers, Jenkins is taking their opening pre-season game as seriously as possible.

“It’s our first training session tomorrow night, so I’ve only invited 20-22 people to pre-season,” revealed Jenkins.

“I’ve already signed 13 of the 20 that I’ve invited so I will be going with a 20-man squad and we’ll go from there, so we’ll be pretty strong (against Crockenhill) to be honest with you.

“It’s just going to be a run out. It’s an early one, there won’t be many friendlies this weekend. It’s a chance for the players to get to know each other in a match situation early, which is really good.

“The new signings that I’ve made, (I will see) how they will get on with each other playing in a proper game as it’s nice to have a little look early.”

He added: “This year we’re doing it a little bit different. We’re trying to get everyone sorted out nice and early so we can work on a few different things in training around the team that we’ll have that will start the Ryman League.

“ We’ve got a few coming in pre-season who have phoned me up so they’re coming down for a trial and I will see how they get on.”

Speaking about the contents of his squad for the season ahead, Jenkins added: “We’re going to go with a little bit of youth as well and see what happens. We’ve not got much in the budget left to go out and sign anyone else, so we’ve just got to make do with what we’ve got.”

The Crockenhill match is part of the club’s 150 anniversary celebrations - and Jenkins is extremely proud to be the club’s manager.

He said: “I couldn’t be any prouder in football circles to be honest. I love the club, always have done for a long, long time. I’ve got some tremendous backing with Gary (Hillman) and John (Woolf), and we wouldn’t be here without their backing.

“It’s an honour, let’s hope the 150th year goes as well as everyone wants it to.”

The Wands finished their inaugural Ryman Premier League campaign in 15th place - and Jenkins is looking for a vastly improved season this time out.

“Expectations are high again as manager. We want to finish as high as we can,” he said. “With the squad that we’ve put together, I can’t see us struggling like we did last year to be honest with you.

“We want to get off to a good start. We’ve changed the way we’re training this year, we’re going to go in three times a week - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday plus Saturday when we’ve not got any games, so we’re trying to get the team fitter than last year.

“If we get a decent start then who knows? After Christmas last year we had a really good run.

“I don’t think we were fit enough (last season). We didn’t play enough tough friendlies in the build-up, so we’ll be looking to play more tougher ones this year to get the team gelling together."

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

Cray Wanderers v Crockenhill

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 3rd July 2010

Kick Off 1:00pm

At St Mary Cray Recreation Ground, Park Road (off High Street), St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 4AS