Anything less than getting promoted wouldn't be a successful season for us, says Simon Glover

THAMESMEAD TOWN player-coach Simon Glover says he wants to play a major part on the pitch to help secure the club promotion at the first attempt.

The Mead were relegated at the end of their inaugural Ryman Premier League campaign after finishing in the bottom three with 46 points from as many games.

Had they finished one place higher with three more points than Bayliss Avenue would have staged Ryman Premier League football again this term because Wingate & Finchley received a reprieve.

Manager Keith McMahon said last week that he wants to win promotion at the first attempt.

Glover took charge of a 2-1 home defeat to Ryman League Division One South side Sittingbourne, a game that was switched to the 3G pitch at Bayliss Avenue following Friday night’s electrical storm.

Stuart Zanone scored his second goal in two games since his money move from Southern Counties East Football League side Greenwich Borough.

“Keith and I have spoken and he would very much like me to play as much as I can,” said Glover, 32.

“I still feel fit and healthy. I still feel like a 21-year-old sometimes so I’m really looking forward to playing.”

Glover explained why he watched yesterday’s game from the sidelines.

“It was only Grant (Spelling), our new coach, he wasn’t here, Keith wasn’t here so I just thought we had a lot of people to look at. I just thought it was a good opportunity to give people minutes.  Grant is back on Tuesday, so I’m looking to play.”

Glover says the club have players that have experienced glorious times in the past and are capable of winning promotion at the first attempt.

He said: “If you look at some of the players that we’ve got, some of the standards that they’ve played at, we’ve got a lot of players that we’ve brought in now. People have won leagues above and above that.

“Michael Spencer wasn’t here. He’ll be with us Tuesday. He’s just coming back from a groin injury. He’s won things with Hornchurch when I was there.

“Again, Derek Duncan’s a winner.  Lesley Thompson’s a winner so we’ve got good pedigree’s that have won this level and above and I don’t think they’ll feel the pressure.  They know what it’s all about.

“The players that have been here before that got Keith promoted the season before (via the play-offs), (Lewis) Tozer, Richard Butler, there’s players here who know what it takes to win the league so I don’t think they’ll feel pressure really. 

“It’s just our expectations and anything less than getting promoted wouldn’t be a successful season for Keith and I.”

Thamesmead Town – who have suffered two defeats in their three warm-up games – continue their pre-season preparations when Leatherhead visit Bayliss Avenue on Tuesday night.

The Tanners are preparing for their Ryman Premier League return after a two-year absence after Richard Brady’s side beat Folkestone Invicta on penalties to win the Ryman League Division One South play-off final at Cheriton Road.