We don't want it to be just a good day - we want to beat Dartford, says Cray's Joe Francis

CRAY WANDERERS assistant manager Joe Francis says his players will need no motivation for their massive FA Cup clash against Dartford on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


Wands manager Ian Jenkins said after their 5-0 home win over Erith Town in the last round that his side are more than capable of competing against the best that the Blue Square Bet South can throw at them – and Saturday’s third qualifying round clash gives his quality players the chance to impress.

“It’s a fantastic game to look forward to, the reason being that obviously Dartford are close neighbours and there’s some history between the two clubs with Cray helping Dartford out from their rebirth,” said Francis, ahead of the Hayes Lane clash.

“I know that Dartford feel affectionately about that time when they shared Oxford Road.  There’s a really good relationship between the two clubs because both Jenks and I have got a great relationship with Dessie (Tony) Burman and I speak to Des regularly and we have a real laugh on the phone together just about football and he’s always helped us out with players and he’s a honourable guy.

“He’s a great manager and he’s done a great job there.  If you look at Dartford they’re a blueprint for us really. If we can do as well as Dartford with their new ground and all of the support they have, which is fantastic, we wouldn’t mind being where Dartford are in two or three years’ time when we get our new ground.”

Looking ahead to the Kent showdown, Francis agrees with Jenkins’ words that Cray Wanderers can play against the Darts on an equal footing, saying, “Well, I agree with him!  On our day we’re a good side.   We can compete with the best sides in our league and in a one-off you’d like to think we’d be able to give Dartford a good game.”

Francis continued: “This is what it’s all about.  These are the games you really look forward to. Hopefully we’ll get some good home support. 

“It should be a great day, a good day for the club.  We don’t want it to be a just a good day – we’re looking to win the game!

“I’ve spoken to Dessie (Burman) half a dozen times this year and he knows his team are a good side and we know they’re a good side. 

“It’s going to be a really tough physical test for us and also a mentally good test for us, but we’ve got players who can excite and unlock teams and we’ve got players’ who can score all over the pitch and so have they.  We know lots about their players.

“These are the type of games you want to play in!”

Dartford’s visit will attract the Wands’ largest crowd of the season and hopefully a crowd of over 1,000 will flock through the turnstiles to witness a cracking game of football.

“They should be there because everybody knows that we’ve created a legacy of playing good football and we like to play the right way and Dartford are scoring goals,” said an excited Francis, who is one of the most jovial characters in Kent football.

“I know Dessie will show us respect and he will get his players’ up for it - so we’ll we.  We said in the week to the players that these type of games take care of themselves, there’s not much motivation needed.

“If we play to our best and we defend as we have been defending up until Saturday (a 4-2 away defeat) against Kingstonian, which was a little bit of a blip, but you can’t win every game and not concede.

“We’ve been on an excellent run.  If we just get back to where we were a couple of weeks ago, which I’m capable off, we have to move the ball quick and work hard and we have to have faith in eachother.”


Cray Wanderers were knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup by Margate in midweek and Francis insists goalkeeper Andy Walker will be fit enough to face the Darts.

“Yes, he’ll be fine.  He just had a little finger injury, we’re full strength for Saturday,” said Francis.

“We took him off as a precaution and also Grant (Hall) needs games.  He’s only 45 but he’s got to prove his fitness.”

Francis, who has been with the club for ten years, felt playing a Kent Senior Cup tie in the week of a big FA Cup tie was bad timing on the Kent County Football Association’s part.

“Both Chris Kinnear (the Margate manager), Jenks and myself were all saying ‘why have they scheduled this in FA Cup week?’

“They (Margate) had two really bad injuries and they’re playing Bromley (in The FA Cup) this Saturday.

“You want to be able to give every game the full respect it deserves but in the week leading up to a big FA Cup tie, the last thing you need and I don’t want to give it any disrespect, but the pair of us didn’t need the game.  It could have been rescheduled elsewhere.

“I think the Kent FA have to look at themselves, especially as you’ve got Margate and Bromley and Cray and Dartford (playing in The FA Cup on Saturday) and we’re having to play a Kent Cup game.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk  

Cray Wanderers  v  Dartford
The FA Cup with Budweiser Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 15^th October 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF