14thjuly04

VCD Athletic await ground decision

GO TRAVEL Kent League outfit VCD Athletic will continue their groundsharing arrangement with league rivals Lordswood for the time being, as the club await permission from Bexley Council for a return to their Old Road ground in Crayford, writes Stephen McCartney.

VCD Athletic, who finished in third place in the table last season, only two points behind promoted champions Cray Wanderers, will receive the final decision on returning home in November.

Long serving manager Martin Ford said: "One more season at Lordswood and we will have a final decision this November on returning home.

"It will take a further six months to get back home from November.  We can't get funding in place from the Football Foundation until everything has been agreed by the Council.  

Ford admitted his club have a good relationship with Lordswood, playing at North Dane Way in Walderslade, Chatham.

He added: "We enjoy ourselves at Lordswood - they look after us well.  

"If we have to play at Lordswood for another season, so beit.  The players don't mind where they play, just as long as they are playing!"

Ford revealed eight new faces have turned up at the club for pre-season training.  However, prolific striker, Jon Maine, who attracted attention from higher league club's last season, is due back from a trip to Australia in the second week of September.  Two other players, Brett Northover, and defender Dean Frost, are currently training at Erith & Belvedere and Bromley respectively.

A side who are always in the running for honours, Ford has hinted his side will once again be up there at the end of the season, as they try to build on third place last term.

Ford said: "Providing we can get the players we are after, a top three finish will be on the cards again and with a bit of luck there is no reason why we can't be amongst it again in the shake up at the end of the season.

"However, we are not kidding ourselves with our wage structure, we don't set our standards too high.

"We do, however, want to get back home and build from there.

Ford's side return to action on Tuesday 20th July, when they face Gravesend & Northfleet in a pre-season friendly at Old Road (7.00pm).

Send in your club's news to Stephen McCartney:
Email:  stephen@mccartney2000.fsnet.co.uk
Telephone:  07979 418 360