We're punching above our weight, admits Fleet's Kimble - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Alan Kimble believes that Gravesend & Northfleet are “punching above their weight,” writes Stephen McCartney.

The assistant manager saw the Fleet win back-to-back league games against unbeaten league leaders Oxford United and Northwich Victoria to climb into third place in the Nationwide Conference table.

Fleet's assistant manager Alan Kimble (above) urges more fans to watch his side, third in the Nationwide Conference table.
Photograph:  www.gnfc.co.uk


But he issued a rallying cry to all Kent football fans to flock through the Stonebridge Road turnstiles on Saturday.

Kidderminster Harriers make the long trek to Kent and Kimble would love to see the club’s average of 1,204 increase.

“It’s going very well at the moment,” Kimble said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night.

"We’re near enough half way through the season and at the moment the club are punching above their weight.”

Praising the players at the club, he added: “It’s all credit to what they’ve done for us, they’ve been magnificent for us.”

The Fleet won 2-1 up at Northwich Victoria in their last game last Saturday, pleasing Liam Daish’s number two.

“I thought that was the most important game of the season so far,” admitted Kimble.

“To get back-to-back wins against Oxford and Northwich carries us towards Saturday.”

Kimble feels the side can bag another three points against Kidderminster Harriers, who are currently in the bottom six.

“It’s another big game for us to maintain third spot,” said Kimble.

Kimble, however, would like more fans to watch the north Kent side, especially as their rivals attract bigger gates.

“We’re there on merit not there by luck,” he said. “I think over the 21 games we’ve played we could be ten points better off than we should be. But we’re not.

“But we’re there, we’re in the picture. Personally we’re punching above our weight.

“It’s good to be there instead down at the bottom. This time last season we’re six points better off than we were after 21 games.

“We got 49 points last season and we only need, touch wood, another 14 points and we could get that by the end of December, which is a great achievement from all the boys, playing staff, directors and chairman but we need to start getting the crowds in.

“We should be getting more than we are getting,” he said. “We had two thousand against Oxford, they brought 750 plus so there’s 1,300 Gravesend supporters. I don’t know how many will turn up Saturday?

“I just hope they will turn up in their droves to support the boys.”

Visit Gravesend & Northfleet’s website: www.gnfc.co.uk

Gravesend & Northfleet v Kidderminster Harriers
Nationwide Conference
Saturday 2^nd December 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, DA11 9GN