Chatham's star names return for Tilley's testimonial - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Several star names are returning to Chatham Town’s Maidstone Road ground on Tuesday night for Garry Tilley’s testimonial match, writes Stephen McCartney.

Most of the club’s Kent League winning side from season 2000-01 will be playing a young academy side from Charlton Athletic for the 26-year-old.

The left sided midfielder’s life was turned up side down when he broke his leg for the third time during a pre-season friendly at Thamesmead Town last summer.

And Chats current manager Phil Miles hopes as many people will watch the game, which gets underway at 7:30pm.

“He’s a popular player, well liked by everyone and he’s had such bad luck,” Miles said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“The club has decided to give him a testimonial and help him along (as) he broke his leg three times playing for Chatham.”

Former Chatham Town players Steve and Cliff Hearn, Shawn Mitchell, David Monteith will be involved as will Miles himself and his player-assistant, Steve Best.

And goalkeeper Kevin Fewell and striker Simon Austin, who this weekend have clinched championships with Whitstable Town and Maidstone United respectively, will also feature.

“I tried to get most of the Kent League winning side that he was involved with and some of them will be involved at some point,” revealed Miles.

Chatham Town are also trying to get Frannie Collin (now at Gillingham),
Danny Kedwell (Welling United) and George Boyd (Peterborough United) down for the game.

Yet again, the Champions League gets in the way of non-league football but Miles hopes people will leave their living rooms to support Tilley.

“It’s been advertised quite good,” he said. “The only disappointing this is Liverpool are playing Chelsea so I hope people don’t stay away and watch that.

“We’ve got a television in the bar and if people want to watch the game they can, and be apart of Garry’s testimonial.

“Garry’s a Liverpool supporter himself but I’m hoping we get a good turn out and they show their support for him.”

Chatham Town completed their Ryman League Division One South campaign on Saturday - finishing seventh from bottom.

“Yes, I’m pleased with that,” admitted Miles. “Two months ago, I would have taken that and now the season’s finished, we’ve finished sixteenth.

“We finished one place higher than I expected, so I’m really pleased.”

And Miles wants to tie up his players for next season before he jets off for a two week holiday to Turkey at the beginning of July.

“I’m going to get on the phone in the week,” he revealed. “There’s players I’ve targeted personally and want to speak to them and their managers.

“As you know pre-season is open season, everyone phones everyone and I’m sure people will phone my players.

“It all happens for me now and I want to get things done and dusted before I go on holiday.

“I need to secure the people I want for next year, who are at the club at the moment.

“I’m looking at 2-3 positions that I need to strengthen. Apart from that, I won’t be going mad but two or three new faces would suit me with the squad we’ve got.”

Highly-rated goalkeeper John Whitehouse, a builder who lives in Blackfen, is at the top of Miles’ list to retain for next season, especially as the former Greenwich Borough, Ashford Town, Dartford and Tunbridge Wells stopper rejected moves to Dulwich Hamlet and Folkestone Invicta during the campaign.

“People know what a good goalkeeper John is,” said Miles. “He’s showed a little bit of loyalty to us, we’ve shown him loyalty and he’s been fantastic.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Chatham Town XI v Charlton Athletic Academy XI
Garry Tilley’s Testimonial Match
Tuesday 1^st May 2007
Kick Off 7:30pm
At Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6EJ