Butler frustrated with the elements

Monday 21st December 2009

MARGATE boss Mark Butler says the current weather has left him feeling frustrated, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Aldershot based boss has seen his club play only seven games (five league games which has yielded five points) since he took over the reigns at the Hartsdown Park club and the current cold snap is making it difficult to play matches and train.

“It just seems to me to roll on from the previous month,” Butler told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this lunchtime.

“We’ve had nothing but postponements and unusual events in my short tenure at Margate at the moment.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, nothing surprises me at the moment. If you can say the word frustrating and times it by ten, I think you’d probably be somewhere where we are.”

Margate’s home league game against Sutton United fell victim to a frozen pitch at the weekend, as every single game in Kent (other than Gillingham and Dover Athletic who covered their pitches) were frozen off.

“We couldn’t get the lads in Saturday because of the journey,” revealed Butler. “We’re due to train tomorrow, I don’t know whether if we’d be able to do that depending on the network of roads.”

Margate, sitting one place above the relegation zone in the Ryman Premier League table, face a tough festive period, with a home game against Tonbridge Angels (29 December) sandwiched in between two derby games against Maidstone United.

The first game against the Stones is scheduled for Homelands Stadium in Ashford on Saturday, with the return at Hartsdown Park on 2 January.

Looking forward to the trio of games, Butler said: “All derbies and all tough games so it’s going to be an interesting time for us, that’s for sure.

“I just want to take it game by game. I know that’s a cliché. It would be wrong to ask for an amount of points.

“We need football, other people have had their football!”

At least any players with niggles can recover in time, and when asked about his transfer activity, Butler replied that nothing has changed.

He said: “We are looking for new personnel, if and when someone comes available we’ll get it. If it doesn’t, we’re just doing what we’re doing at the moment.

“Just a few little irons in the fire, but nothing to report I’m afraid, sadly.”

Just over a week ago, the club announced that goalkeepers Jake Whincup (Ware), Paul Nicholls (Billericay Town) had left the club and that Akwasi Edusei had re-joined Tonbridge Angels.

Antonio Gonella, meanwhile, has arrived from Dulwich Hamlet, whilst Kieran Morris has joined Whitstable Town on a one-month loan spell.

Meanwhile, off-the-pitch, Margate are offering a match sponsorship package for their forthcoming home game against Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday, 29 December.

For the special Christmas price of just £300 plus VAT - that’s a whopping 40% discount on list price - you and nine guests could enjoy Margate Football Club’s hospitality with a match sponsorship package.

For full details call Margate Football Club on 01843 221 769 or email Cliff Egan cjpromo@btinternet.com

Please mention that you read this on www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

Maidstone United v Margate

Ryman Premier League

Boxing Day, Saturday 26th December 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ