We've got to hit the ground running, says Phoenix Sports joint-boss Steve O'Boyle

PHOENIX SPORTS joint-manager Steve O’Boyle says he is targeting a top-half finish in their inaugural Southern Counties East Football League campaign.


The club was formed in 1935 as St. Johns Welling which later changed its name to Lakeside. After the Second World War they reformed and renamed their name to Phoenix as it was seen to be rising from the ashes of the previous two clubs amid the destruction of the blitz.

Last season was a big one for the club.  Joint-managers O’Boyle and Tony Beckingham steered the team to the Kent Invicta League title, losing only two of their 30 league games, but also off the pitch the club’s committee lead by vice-chairman Steve House managed to get the essential ground improvements at the ground completed and paid for.

The club are now looking forward to playing at their highest level of football in their 78-year history.

They kick-off their Southern Counties East Football League (which was formerly the Kent League) with a trip to Lordswood on 10 August, before they welcome Corinthian at Mayplace Road East three days’ later.

Lordswood finished in fifth-place in Jason Lillis’ last season in charge before opting to move to Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town as Nicky Southall’s assistant.

Matt Longhurst’s Corinthian, meanwhile, were beaten Macron Kent League Cup finalists for the second year running and finished in their highest placing of fourth.

O’Boyle is looking forward to the trip to Martyn Grove to play Simon Halsey’s Lords.

He said: “Looking forward to it.  It will be tough.  Obviously Simon Halsey has gone down there. His connections with Herne Bay, I’d imagine he’s got a half decent side down there so it’s going to be a tough start, followed by Corinthian on the Tuesday, which they had a good season last year and they like to pass it about as well.

“We’ve got to hit the ground running, as they say.”

When asked about the club’s aspirations in their new surroundings, O’Boyle remained cautious.

He said: “Got to finish in the top half.  Listen, there’s a lot of new faces out there. A lot of big players for us last year, Dean Kearley, Lee Morgan, Aaron Heyrettin, Marcus Cassius and Daryl Wheeler have all left the club and it’s going to be hard to fill their boots.

“But we’ve decided we’ll give it a go with what we’ve got here and give the boys a chance and see how we go.”

O’Boyle and Beckingham have experience of the division at clubs such as Erith Town, Holmesdale and Croydon.

“It’s not unfamiliar territory to us, obviously we’ve been there before, both of us. We both know what the Kent League is all about,” added O’Boyle, 36.

“I actually don’t think it’s as strong as it was many years ago, but we’ve got to make sure that we’re competitive and we’ll be ok because we’ve got a half decent side here.”

Phoenix Sports’ next two warm-up games are both at home.  They welcome Scott Porter’s Hythe Town on Tuesday night, before Paul Piggott brings his Hollands & Blair side on Friday to contest the Kent Invicta League Challenge Shield.

The game will go straight to penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes.

Visit Phoenix Sports’ website: www.phoenixsportsclub.org