Kentish Football 
Expectations aren't as high as they were in the past, says cash-strapped Ian Jenkins
CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says it is vital that fans flock through the turnstiles when his side lock horns with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
The Eagles arrive at Hayes Lane as a Premier League club following THAT 105th minute penalty from Kevin Phillips, 39, which defeated Watford in the Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium in May.
The Wands groundshare Hayes Lane, the home of The Skrill South (Conference South) Bromley and Jenkins is looking forward to the club’s biggest game of pre-season.
“It’s the only one game we get – we’re playing Bromley as well – that we’re playing a team that’s higher than us and we tend to play better,” said Jenkins.
The Eagles came away with a 1-0 win last summer when former Margate striker Kwesi Appiah scored the only goal of the game.
Jenkins said: “I wasn’t there last year, I was away on holiday. I’m looking forward to the Palace game.
“We had a serious injury last year with Danny Young. We lost him for the whole season so we hope this year we don't have nothing like that.
“It would be good to have a Premier League side come down to Bromley to play us. Let’s hope the crowd come out to watch it because there might be future Premier League starts playing for them.”
Jenkins knows a crowd of over 1,000 would help his club immensely.
He said: “It’s been tough. Finances aren’t as high as they have been in the past and it’s showing with what we’ve been doing in pre-season with the youngsters coming in.
“It will be nice to get a gate over there on Wednesday night.”
For one Cray Wanderers fan, there will be split loyalties because chairman Gary Hillman is also an associate director at Palace.
Mr Hillman said: “It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come along and see a Premiership outfit.
“Last years’ game was a very competitive, tight game and Palace had players in the team that will be playing in the Premiership this year.”
Season ticket holders from both clubs will get free entry to the game. Otherwise, you can pay at the turnstiles £10 (adults), £4 (concessions, OAPs and card carrying students) and under 16s (when accompanied by a paying adult) can watch the game for FREE.
The Wands suffered a disappointing campaign last season when they finished in seventeenth-place in the Ryman Premier League.
“I don’t want you asking that question like you did with nine games to go about relegation and all that and I said no we’re alright, we’re going to be safe,” recalled Jenkins.
“I’d take seventeenth-place this year, to be honest with you and build again and keep building, but if I can keep this young squad together, who knows what they’ll be like in three or four years’ time if we actually get our own stadium.
“We are rebuilding so expectations aren’t as high as they were in the past. The finances aren’t there either so that’s the aim. The chairman will probably be happy staying up in this division and rebuild from there.”
Jenkins always targets the play-offs at this time of the season but he admitted that the club is in a different place at present.
“The way we’ll be playing won’t change, we’re still going to play our football and look to play, but the experience ain’t there anymore,” he said.
“The better players aren’t going to come to the club because the money ain’t there. It’s going to be tougher to build a side, but yes I do normally go in and say I want to get promoted – we all do – and if it happens and we do have a good start to the season and we are sitting amongst the top five, six or seven, we can address it again after six or seven weeks and go from there because money may be available through the FA Cup and FA Trophy rounds, so if we can come through a few of them, you never know.”
Cray Wanderers kick-off their campaign with a trip to Suffolk to face Leiston on 10 August, before welcoming Canvey Island to Hayes Lane three days’ alter.
Jenkins says his side will be well drilled in time of the big kick-off.
He said: “We’ve got a training session on the Thursday before the game and we’ll have another training session on the Friday and we’ll work on a bit of set-up and go down there.
“Last year away to Leiston, I was gutted to come away with a 1-1 draw last year. I thought we deserved to win. Hopefully we can go one better this year and start off well with a good win.”
Canvey Island then arrive at Hayes Lane on the Tuesday evening, and the club would like a strong following from all of their opponents.
“I say it all the time, we talks about the gates, they haven’t dropped,” he said.
“The average hasn’t dropped, the away support that comes to our ground, I don’t think we’re getting the big clubs. Maidstone have come up this year, we’ve got a local derby with Thamesmead, you know what you’re going to get with that one.
“It’s tough. It’s tough all round. People are struggling financially. It’s hard. We do our best to get people through the gate and we’ll continue to play football the way it is and we expect people to come.”
Jenkins expects the Ryman Premier League to be tough again this time around.
He said: “I think it’s tough. The two teams that came down (Billericay Town and Hornchurch) will be involved again to go back up and the ones that we’re near enough last year, your Wealdstone’s and that, Lowestoft, a big strong side, Bury Town will be strong again.
“It’s going to be tough. The two sides that got promoted (Whitehawk and Concord Rangers), deservedly so. I was quite pleased Concord went up because they were a good side.
“It’s going to be tough. We’ll see how we get on.”
Jenkins was quick to praise his coaching staff of Joe Francis, Paul Blade and Grant Hall for keeping him going.
“I put it down to the players really, they give me the buzz. If I was in that dressing room and there wasn’t a bit of banter going on, my coaching staff as well are 100% behind me as well, I’d struggle, but I’m buzzing to be honest with you.
“The players’ make a big difference for me. I just love being around good footballers.”
Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/craywands
Cray Wanderers v Crystal Palace
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 31st July 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd