One day Steve Hanson will be captain of Herne Bay, says boss Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says defender Steve Hanson still has a future at Winch’s Field.



The big 25-year-old defender was sent out on loan to Kent League highflyers Erith & Belvedere and scored a hat-trick in their enthralling 4-4 home draw against Cray Valley (Paper Mills) on Tuesday night.

The draw means Micky Collins side leapfrogged over local rivals Erith Town to lead the Kent League table by one point.

Herne Bay are in fifth-place in their inaugural Ryman League Division One South campaign, with three wins and a draw from their opening six games.

And Halsey said he has sent Hanson out on loan to regain his match sharpness – something that you need at the higher level of football.

Halsey said: “You have to be a lot sharper in this League, hence the reason why Steve Hanson has gone out on loan to Erith & Belvedere to get up to match fitness.

“If you’re not fit enough in this League you get punished at the back because the strikers are quicker and more clinical and that’s why Steve’s there.

“You have to be up to maximum fitness all the time.  You can’t carry any player at any weekend.”

Halsey revealed Hanson is very much in his plans for the long season ahead.

“Massively, massively!  Steve missed a couple of games on the trot because of work and stuff and Micky (Collins) rang me up and was looking for a defender so it suited Mick to have a centre half and it suited Herne Bay and myself for Steve to get back to match fitness.

“One day he will be the captain of Herne Bay without a doubt, but that’s not just yet, so he’s a massive part of my plans so he’s loan spell benefits us all.”

Erith & Belvedere scored all of their four goals from set-pieces and Hanson scored a hat-trick (which is very rare for a defender) in his second game for the Park View Road club.

“It’s got to be quite a rarity – I will have to look it up in the history of football,” added Halsey.

“Fair play to him. He’s gone there and scored three. He’s disappointed that they’ve conceded four.  He was quite critical of himself when I spoke to him but that will come with match fitness. He will be a bit sharper and will stop conceding goals.”

Halsey takes his side to Tolworth to play bottom-of-the-table side Corinthian-Casuals, who have collected four draws from their opening six games.

But Halsey knows it will not be an easy game despite the Surrey club’s lowly league position.

“As you saw results from the weekend and in midweek everyone in the League is beating each other, so even though we’re sitting in a nice position and they’re sitting down there, we’re not taking anything for granted,” added Halsey.

“In this League if we take the foot of the gas bottom teams beat top teams, middle teams beat top teams.  Everyone’s beating each other. 

“With Bognor and Whitehawk out of this League I think it’s open it up.  They’re all going to be tough games.”

But Halsey is happy to be playing their seventh league game on the day of The FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round.

Herne Bay went down to defeats to both Folkestone Invicta and Chatham Town in the FA Cup and FA Trophy respectively and despite reaching the semi-finals of The FA Carlsberg Vase last season on their way to winning the Kent League title last season, the club haven’t picked up any prize money this season following their first hurdle exits.

“I’m going to say I’m disappointed to have lost both of the games because I hate losing games of football no matter what they’re in,” said Halsey.

“But if I’m honest I’m glad we’re out of them in a way because it cuts our games down and we can now focus on the league really and being our first season in there we can settle in there and consolidate.

“My focus is to get as many points as we can in the League. Club wise, financial wise disappointing but from myself to focus on staying in the League, yes I’m glad.”

Meanwhile, Halsey is searching for a new reserve team manager/coach to replace Anthony Deer, who has stepped up to become Halsey’s goalkeeper coach and ladies’ team manager.

Applicants should telephone Simon Halsey on 07769 264 852.

Meanwhile, former Manchester City, Manchester United, England & Team GB Deaf Ladies International Emma Brown has signed for Herne Bay’s Ladies team.

Emma and her family have just moved to the South East of England and Brown has been training with the club and has received international clearance to be available for Sunday’s clash against Ebbsfleet United.

And former Stoke City and England Under 18 International striker Jordan Agbaje, 19, has signed for Herne Bay.

Agbaje started his youth career at Chelsea, before moving to Stoke City where he was a second year scholar.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Corinthian-Casuals  v  Herne Bay
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 29th September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at King Georges Field, Queen Mary Close, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7NA