AFC Croydon Athletic will be a big test for us because we're a scalp, says Fisher boss Steve Firkins

FISHER manager Steve Firkins says he will give some trialists a chance to impress when they play AFC Croydon Athletic next Friday.


The Fish opened their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 victory over Spartan South Midlands League side London Lions yesterday.

Impressive trialist Oloye Oyettunji opened the scoring inside the opening eleven minutes in Barnet with a fine strike, before Adam Wadmore stepped up to convert a penalty two minutes before half-time.

London Lions, who finished in seventh-place in their division last season, pulled a goal back three minutes after the break through substitute Tony Junior Keterman’s clinical strike and a brilliant diving save from returning keeper Dan Firkins preserved the victory late on when he pushed over Craig Ellis’ long-range effort in the last minute.

Fisher, who finished in tenth-place in the Kent League last season, continue their pre-season campaign next Friday (8pm) when the artist formerly known as Croydon Athletic visit the 3G pitch at Bacon’s College in Rotherhithe.

The Rams were thrown out of the Ryman League earlier in the year following their much-publicised problems, but Firkins is delighted to see them back in football.

AFC Croydon Athletic have been entered into the Combined Counties League Division One – which is one level below the Kent League.

Firkins said: “I’ll treat every game or every team the same basically. They’re there. You’ve got to go out and perform to get a result.

“I know absolutely nothing about them.  I know their new chairman, I worked with him a few years’ back when I was down there and obviously I was saddened to see the way they went.

“But they’ve done what Fisher have done, pulled their horns in and got themselves back into football.

“Again, it will be a big test for us because we’re a scalp.  Everybody wants to perform well.”

Firkins, who took a sixteen-man squad to play London Lions, revealed how he is treating the game.

He said: “I’ll probably use more trailists than I would players for Sunday, but I still like to do well in the game, possibly win the game. I won’t weaken the side.”

Firkins takes his side to Enfield Town’s Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Sunday (1pm) to lock horns with Ryman Premier League side Lewes to contest the Supporters Direct Shield.

“I said to the lads, all respect to London Lions, you’ve got a bigger proposition next Sunday.  There’s certain areas where we got away with a few things.  You wouldn’t necessarily get away with next Sunday against better class opposition.”

Fisher’s flag-ship pre-season game comes in the shape of Championship neighbours Millwall, who visit Champion Hill Stadium on Wednesday 18 July (7:45pm).

Firkins said: “There’s quite a few of the lads, myself included, who are all Millwall supporters.  I was always down there years ago.

“We’re really pleased that they’ve accommodated us and hopefully we can get a good crowd from it.”

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk  

Fisher  v  AFC Croydon Athletic
Pre-Season Friendly
Friday 6 July 2012
Kick Off 8:00pm
at Bacon’s College, Timber Pond Road, Rotherhithe, London SE16 6AT

Article published at 13:00  - Sunday 1 July 2012