I'm delighted still with how the club is progressing, says Sam MacNeil

Monday 07th January 2013
KENT Football United manager Sam MacNeil says he has written off this season and is focusing on bringing success to the Crayford-based club next term.



The artist formerly known as Erith & Dartford Town presently lie in the bottom three in the Kent Invicta League table with two wins and three draws from 12 games.

Despite having eighteen league games left to play of this season, MacNeil is turning his focus on the next campaign.

But he begins his search for a new assistant manager after losing Joe Ford to Cray Valley (Paper Mills) back in November and has been running the team on his own since then.

Kent Football United are looking for an assistant manager to work alongside MacNeil on all first team affairs and to build a long term success at the club.

MacNeil said: “The club is expanding rapidly off the field, which will benefit next season’s campaign greatly and I’m looking for someone to come in to start work now on finishing this season as strong as possible before building for the following season.”

Reflecting on his side’s campaign to date, MacNeil said: “Our season so far has been far too hit and miss and losing to Meridian in the Hospital Cup Semi-Final after leading twice was just not good enough!

“I’m looking for a lot more from the players we have.  How can you draw with Ashford United and play extremely well and then put in Saturday’s performance?

“Our young squad is very Jekyll and Hyde at the moment and we just need consistency and some experience.”

But MacNeil is putting plans in place to ensure next season produces results on the pitch.

He said:  “I’m very excited about next season. We have been working so hard off the field throughout this season and the foundation we will have to build on from June will be fantastic at this football club, which people will see next season.

“I’m delighted still with how the club is progressing.  The youth section is booming well as is the support for Kent Football United at that level and we will be looking to bring that support into the senior section.

“We need to finish this season and then we will be building on the high quality we currently have to then push on next season.

“Me and the new committee members on board have a long term vision of what we want to do year on year.

“Other clubs and onlookers should realise results are important and I understand that but if you had told me this brand new set up in its first season as a club would have the foundation in place as we do for next season I would have bitten their hands off.

“The future’s bright with a reserves being introduced also next season.  I definitely feel this will be a long term success at Kent Football United.”

MacNeil takes his side to Bridon Ropes next Saturday. The Charlton-based outfit sit in ninth-place in the table, with five wins and three draws at the halfway point of their league campaign.

Bridon Ropes  v  Kent Football United
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 12th January 2013
Kick Off 1:45pm
At Meridian Sports & Social Club, 110 Charlton Park Lane, London SE7 8QS