We won't be easy to beat, says Fisher joint-boss Billy Walton

FISHER joint-manager Billy Walton says his aspirations for the new season is to be as competitive and respected by rival clubs.

The Fish finished last season’s Southern Counties East Football League campaign in the bottom four.

They kick-off their new campaign with a trip to Ashford United on Saturday, before welcoming Phoenix Sports to Champion Hill next Monday.

Ashford United finished 11 points adrift of promoted champions Whyteleafe as runners-up last season, while Phoenix completed their inaugural campaign at this level in the top six.

“Ashford were runners-up last year, very tough,” said Walton, who will run the team alongside former Herne Bay and Lordswood manager Simon Halsey.

“We had a good game down there last year actually against Ashford and we played extremely well against them at home, a 2-2 draw, so I think they’ll expect a tough game and we’ll go there and give them a tough game. It will be hard.”

Walton plays an exciting brand of football and fans can expect goals when Tony Beckingham and Steve O’Boyle bring Phoenix Sports to Dulwich on Monday night.

“Another hard game, they’ve done very well Phoenix,” said Walton.

“They’ve got some very good players but I’m pretty sure if we work hard and we play like we did in the last 25 minutes (against Glebe in our last friendly) here, we’ll more than match most of these teams. We just have to do it for 90 minutes, not 25 minutes.”

Fisher make the trip down to Sussex side Selsey in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday, 16 August, with £1,500 in prize money up for grabs.

Walton said: “Lovely. It will be nice down there. I’m looking forward to that trip. It will be a good day out. We’ll take a few fans down there and hopefully we can get the result.”

Fisher are not in a position to compete for the league title by the fact that they do not have their own ground yet and have no playing budget, but watching Fisher can excite fans with their free-flowing, attacking football.

When asked his aspirations for the season ahead, Walton replied: “Is to be more competitive to what we were last year and a lot harder to beat.

“I’ve just got to emphasise to the players’ when we go to grounds, I want the home team to respect us and we’ve got to earn that respect.  We’ve got to work hard. They’ve got Fisher and it’s going to be a real, tough game and we’ve got to prove that.

“It’s up to us all now to get a team out that gives us a bit of pride back to the club, but the club’s going to move forward.

“I hope to talk to you this time next year with us going back to the new ground and I think the club will only go forward and I really hope me, Simon and Keith (Jarvis) will take it forward. 

“That’s my aspirations for the season, to be really competitive.”

Walton has his hands tied behind his back, with clubs like Greenwich Borough throwing big money around that no other club at this level has previously done.

“Everyone else is spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds and we can’t compete with them,” said Walton.

“We have to realise where we can compete. I think we all understand that. We’ll play the football that we all like to play and I think we’ll cause a few problems to people.  We won’t be easy to beat. We might let in a few goals!”

Walton cannot wait for the club to return home to a new ground close to their former one at Salter Road in Rotherhithe.

“Dulwich have been more than good letting us have this facility (at Champion Hill), which is a great pitch and a great facility to come and play at, but there’s nothing like walking into your own ground back in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe where we come from and making it a fortress down there where people are a little bit frighten to come.

“I think the club will do that. It’s going forward. These people that run Fisher are fantastic!  The work that they put in is unbelievable, campaigning non-stop and they should be up for an award for that they’ve done for this club, they really should and that’s what makes it even more special.

“They’re the people who we want to do well for.  That’s what I want. I’d love to be able to be successful for them because of the work they put in. That’s my ambition – is to be successful for them and make them happy.”

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk

Ashford United  v  Fisher
Southern Counties East Football League
Saturday 9^th August 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ