I’m a bit disappointed about The FA Cup actually starting without having a league game, says Beckenham Town coach Jason Clews

BECKENHAM TOWN coach Jason Clews says he’s feeling disappointed about being handed a FA Cup tie on the opening day of the season.

They finished in a disappointing 12^th place in the Southern Counties East Football League last season and kick-of their new campaign with a home tie against Sussex side Lancing in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on 6 August 2016.

“We’ve got home advantage, but I’m a bit disappointed about The FA Cup actually starting without having a league game,” said Clews.

“We’re looking to have a good last pre-season friendly against Dorking Wanderers, we’re looking to have a good game against them.

“We wanted to have a league game before so we could bed the players in but we have to look now to our last pre-season friendly, which will be a tough one. We wanted a good competitive game before then but it doesn’t look like we’re going to have that now.”

Beckenham Town held Premier League Crystal Palace’s under 21 side to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Eden Park Avenue on Friday night.

Club sponsor Paul Fairs ensured the crowd of 575 enjoyed their night at Eden Park Avenue as the club had a band playing before and after the game and a beer tent in front of the clubhouse.

“Our new fella Paul Fairs has done a lot at the club in the last few months and he’s got a tent up with the band,” said Clews.

“He wants to see the club go forward, which means getting promoted to the Ryman, that’s what he wants for the club, that’s all we all want.

“We’re building a little squad there and if we can keep the players, I think we will be good for the season.

“As you can see we’ve got a few new buildings, outside toilets, we’ve made the committee room a little bit bigger, which was part of the ground grading, which we’ve done, so yes, things are looking up for the club this year.”

It’s now 10 years since Beckenham Town went tooth and nail with Maidstone United for the Kent League title.

Maidstone United clinched it by playing a direct style of football, while Gavin Rose and Junior Kadi’s Beckenham Town won the plaudits with their eye-catching brand of passing football, something that is pleasing fans of Dulwich Hamlet in the Ryman Premier League nowadays.

However, Maidstone United were promoted to the National League at the end of last season, while Beckenham Town finished in a disappointing 12^th place finish, staying at the same level of football as back then.

“That’s the disappointing thing for the club never went on after that,” said Clews.

“I felt we had a chance a couple of seasons ago when we won the two cups, we had a good squad then and we should’ve done more with that squad. 

“We’re building a good squad this year. I think we’ve got a good nucleus of players here who will come good and I feel we’ll do alright this season.

“It’s quite a promising season ahead and we expect to do a lot better and finish higher than we did last season so we’re going to make a big push for the league this year.”

Beckenham Town’s next home game is against their National League neighbours Bromley on Saturday (15:00) and Clews and manager Jason Huntley are soon to cut squad numbers ahead of the new season.

“We’ve got to cut our squad down now because over the last few weeks at training sessions we’ve had 40-odd players turning up and it’s hard because we’re looking to have a squad that we can work with and with 40-odd people you can’t work on set formations or set-pieces,” explained Clews.

“We’ve got to cut it down and we’ll be looking to do that in the next few weeks but we’ve got to give boys a few chances first because you never know we may get a little gem out of one of them.”

Visit Beckenham Town’s website: www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk