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Silk takes pluses from his young guns opening friendly

AFTER sifting through around forty hopefuls, Andy Silk, newly appointed manager of Bromley's newly re-formed reserve team, was happy with his players application, despite their 2-0 loss against Chessington United's first team on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Bromley, playing their first pre-season friendly, recovered well despite conceding two early first half goals, and Silk has taken many positives from the game and looks to a brighter future at Hayes Lane.

He revealed: "We took nineteen players down there, and everyone played 45 minutes, and a couple of us played sixty.

"We had a good workout - it was against their first team.  However, when I spoke to their chairman he said it would be a mixture of their first team players and reserves - but we played mainly their first team."

Silk admitted he told the players before the game to give their all and the result wasn't at all important - but once their Go Travel Kent League Division Two campaign gets underway on the 21st August, then results will count.

He added: "It was a good work out in the heat.

"I told the players I wasn't bothered about the result - just put in effort and give it 100% as it was our first proper match and people would get tired after 30 minutes, but that was going to be understandable.

"You can do all your fitness work, but there is no substitute for playing actual matches," he insisted.

Silk has the credentials to become a successful manager.  An honest player and a well-liked club-man during his time at Bromley, Leyton Pennant and Cray Wanderers, the utility player, 32 next month, can slot into any position, and has been honest with all  the players from their first training session.

When he had to release the hopefuls last Tuesday, he gave them contact telephone numbers so they could try their luck with local clubs.

Silk added: "Literally nearly put out two sides, one in the first half and making changes at half time.

"We gave a good account of ourselves, putting in the work, and I was especially pleased with the younger members of the squad - the youth team boys.

"I was really pleased with them - everyone did exactly what I asked off them - there were plenty of pluses from the game."

Silk added: "All our pre-season friendlies and training is all geared up for the first league game.  It doesn't mater about the results - we could lose every pre-season game, but I would swap it as long as we win our first league game."

Silk is pleased with the young crop of youngsters, most of them played under eighteen football for the club in the MUSH Kent Youth League last season.  It is hoped they can follow in the footsteps of last season's youth team skipper, Chris Hill, who is now a member of Stuart McIntyre's first team squad.

Silk added: "It's good being the manager - we have a good set of lads to work with.

"You can see the potential in the boys - lets hope we can bring it out - and produce a few for the first team."

Bromley travel to Thamesmead Town next Saturday (kick off 12.00), three hours before the two club's first team squads lock horns in an eagerly awaited encounter on the Bayliss Avenue pitch.


Bromley - First Half:  Dean Cairns, Frank Windsor, Rhys Robinson, Kevin Green, Wayne Fulham (Andy Silk), Emmanuel, Joe Bell, James Falaise, Mikey Graham, Sean Dean, Ola Orulebaja.

Bromley - Second Half:  Dean Cairns, Michael Sibley, Chris Vaughan, Frank Windsor (Rhys Robinson), Andy Silk, Jack Hicks (Joe Bell), Harry Downer, Joe Kinchin, Danny Cossington, Ricky Hill, Ola Orulebaja (Emmanuel)

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Email:  stephen@mccartney2000.fsnet.co.uk

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