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Sunday 18th April 2004


Youngsters are our future - Lordswood manager Piggott

Paul Piggott, manager of Go Travel Kent League Premier Division club Lordswood, insists the club must produce it's own talent, writes Stephen McCartney.

The North Dane Way outfit in Walderslade, Chatham, finished their season on Saturday with a 3-0 home loss to championship chasing Thamesmead Town.

They collected 32 points from 32 games this season, winning nine, drawing five and were on the end of eighteen league defeats.

Only Lordswood and Slade Green, who defeated basement boys, Sporting Bengal 4-1 on Saturday, finished their campaign's on Saturday, so Lordswood are guaranteed thirteenth place in a seventeen team division.

Speaking about his last game, Piggott, said: "It was a typical end of season game for us, we were playing a good side who had something to play for.

"I am disappointed we ended the season with a defeat, however, we set ourselves a target of picking up seven points from our last five games, and we only ended up with one, which was a bit disappointing for us, but we did have a hard run-in." he said.

Piggott, revealed he has invited all of his playing squad back for pre-season training, but hasn't planned any pre-season friendlies, as yet, as the local cricket club will be using the facilities at their ground.

Piggott added: "Looking ahead to next season we will have a rest in the summer and all the players will be invited back, and we will see if we can add to our squad."

Some good news from Lordswood, is even though the club don't pay their players, they will be fielding an under eighteen side for the first time in two season's.

Piggott revealed: "We haven't had an under eighteen side in the last two seasons, so I've pushed for one and we have now got one in place for next season.  We need to start at this level and start to produce players.

"We haven't got the money to offer players to get them to the club.

"We have got four or five good youngsters at the club, and they are definitely the future of our team - Andy Doerr, Sean Hetterley, Lee Deangate, James Day and Adam Overton - these are good promising youngsters and in time hopefully they can take our club on."

Looking ahead, the Lordswood manager, added: "There are no friendlies planned, we need to know when we have the pitch.  We have a cricket team play here and they play a good standard of cricket, so we can't play home games when they are playing games here too."


Your club's manager to be interviewed?
Telephone Stephen McCartney on 07979 418 360
or Email:   stephen@mccartney2000.fsnet.co.uk