Being back at Chevening Road will make a huge difference to our campaign, says Chipstead manager Lee Roots

CHIPSTEAD manager Lee Roots says their homecoming back to Chevening Road will make a huge difference to the club.

The Kent club were hiring an artificial pitch at a Bromley school to play their NRG Gym Kent County League Division One West games last season but the club’s 80^th anniversary will be spent back on home soil following £30,000 worth of improvements.

Chipstead completed their 20-match league campaign in seventh-place last season, winning six and drawing three of their league games.

The Sevenoaks side were defeated 4-2 at home to Faversham Strike Force in the Quarter-Finals of the Bill Manklow Inter-Regional Cup.  Faversham Strike Force went on to claim the NRG Gym Kent County League Premier Division title.

“We had a very positive end to the season, giving us great momentum going into the new season, the club’s 80^th year anniversary,” said Roots.

“All players I’ve wanted to keep for the new season have signed to return next year and we have already brought in some excellent new, high quality players added to the squad.

“The ground improvements have been a very hard and long process.  To actually obtain the £30,000 grant needed to undergo full drainage and ground improvements are now ready to push the club up as high as possible.

“All credit goes to our chairman Alan Back and head of football development Neil Woodrow-Clark.   We are very proud of our facilities. All staff and players are excited to be returning back to our beloved ground after one whole season of playing our home games away. Being back at Chevening Road will make a huge difference to our campaign.

“The squad is united and we will do all the hard work that will be needed on the training field in order to be fully prepared for the upcoming season.

“We will take each game as it comes, month by month at a time. It will again be a very difficult league with some very good decent teams within it.  All we can do is focus on us, keep our heads down and get the work done.”

Chipstead have arranged eight pre-season friendlies, seven of which are away from home.

They kick-off their campaign with a trip to K Sports on Saturday 9 July (14:00). It will be the artist formerly known as APM Contrast’s first game under their new name.

Chipstead’s only home game will be against Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Rochester United on Thursday 21 July (20:00).

Chipstead expect to kick-off their new league campaign on 27 August or 3 September.

Roots revealed he is happy with his current squad as they report back to pre-season training on 28 June.

He said: “We have an exciting pre-season campaign planned ahead and all are very much looking forward to getting started next week.  We won’t be holding open trials this season, any players wishing to attend training for a trial please get in contact.”

Visit Chipstead’s website: www.chipsteadfc.org.uk/index.html