We want to develop younger players, says Kent Football United boss Sam MacNeil

KENT FOOTBALL UNITED manager Sam MacNeil says he will be focusing more on younger players at their new ground this coming season.

The club have left VCD Athletic’s Oakwood ground in Crayford after three years and have moved into Dartford Glentworth’s former ground in Dartford.

“The club’s new ground is coming along ok,” said MacNeil.

“We have begun changing room refurbishment and began levelling the playing area. The old dugouts and floodlights have been removed and we should be constructing the pitch barrier and new dugouts within the next two to three weeks.

“It is an exciting time for the football club as obtaining a private football ground has to be every club’s dream and main aspiration.

“We have achieved this now and although over the next few years we will have to sacrifice on the pitch at times it will enable us to develop as a club off the pitch and maintain the longevity and stability of Kent Football United at the Glentworth Sports Club.”

MacNeil has revealed a new member of his coaching team.

He said: “Joining me on the coaching staff this season will be Hinga Amara as player assistant. 
 
“Hinga has worked with me over the last couple of years and is a vastly experienced striker who has previously played for Erith & Belvedere, Redhill and Merstham.

“Hinga will offer valuable experience as well as quality on the pitch.

“I am in discussions with three other potential candidates to fill two vacant roles - goalkeeper coach and coach.

“One of these is a returning player from last season, a former Kent Invicta League coach and manager from the past three seasons and an FA Qualified coach who has moved to Kent from east London.”

The club will be holding an open day for their Kent Invicta League and Kent County League Under 21 sides on Tuesday, 10 June 2014.

It will be at 7:45pm meet at their new ground at Glentworth Sports Club, Lowfield Street, Dartford, Kent DA1 1JB.
 
Any interested parties should contact Sam MacNeil on 07860 654558 or email the club on kentelitefc@hotmail.co.uk.

MacNeil added: “In terms of our playing squad we have invited back all of last season's side to resume full pre season training. There have been no firm comings in or out as of yet.”

The club finished in the bottom five (eleventh-place) in the Kent Invicta League table last season.

“Our targets for the new season are simple, we want to develop younger players,” said MacNeil, 22.

“Over the past two seasons I have been doing this job I have come across all types of player - hard working, honest, committed but also lazy, unreliable and will drop you for a tenner down the road.

“If there is something I have learnt as a young coach it is that working with players on a consistent basis week in week out is the only way of creating and maintaining any kind of understanding and chemistry on the pitch.

"Coming from a successful youth coaching background where I am used to working with players every week consistently, senior football is a lot different and at types this level we are currently at prevents me from doing practises and scenarios which I am able to do with my Under 12s.

“Therefore, running in tandem with the fact we have just been awarded a £3,000 grow the game grant from the Football Foundation for the formation of an Under 21s team this season and an Under 18s team next season I have decided to make it my focus to develop a young Kent Football United side over the coming months.

“Younger players will always be committed, honest, hard working and reliable and it is these foundations I want to build a side around. With our Under 21s working in the background it will enable us to have a strong core of young players at the football club and we see this as the future.
 
“The ambition next year is to be competitive in every game we play, something we weren't this year due to consistently.

“At times we would be excellent and produce great results like doing the 2-2 draw double with Sutton Athletic this season - a fantastic achievement. But then show really poor performances with defeats to Eltham Palace, a draw to Meridian being 3-0 up and a final day hammering to Hollands & Blair.
 
“One thing I want before I move on my coaching career from the club is to give Kent Football United a solid base to work from for the future of senior football. Having our own ground is the first step of that, and it is my job come the end of the 2014/15 season to ensure that the process is complete.”

Visit Kent Football United’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/kentelitefootballclub