Danny Hunt will do a fantastic job for Lilywhites, says Firkins

Wednesday 30th June 2010

GREENWICH BOROUGH boss Steve Firkins says he has spent the last three weeks assessing local youngsters - as he aims to mix it with the bigger clubs in the Kent League again, writes Stephen McCartney.

Firkins, who doubles up as the club secretary, has guided the amateur club to third and fifth placed finishes in the last two years and has put a number of trialists through their places since reporting back to pre-season training on 8 June.

They open their pre-season programme with a game against reprieved Ryman League Division One North side Leyton at their Eltham based training ground on Saturday.

Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “Obviously we’re looking forward to it, as it will give us an opportunity to have a look at some of the new faces that we have managed to acquire.”

When asked their names, Firkins replied, “Nobody that anybody knows! It’s a case of having to with us. We just have to go around and have a look at certain games. We had a look at a few Sunday games here and there and see if we can pick anything up. We’ve picked up one or two, who look quite useful.

“Because of the money situation at our club we have to do it the hard way and see if we can pick up some youngsters or some of these Sunday League players, who haven’t been given the opportunity to play and that’s the way we have to do things, but I’m quite confident that the lads that have come in will do a decent job for us.”

Firkins tonight revealed that Richard Monan and Michael Banton have quit the club through work commitments and that Kyle Demetrius has been offered a trial with Ryman Leaguers Dulwich Hamlet.

Firkins, however, has lost last season’s leading goalscorer Danny Hunt, the striker signing for Faversham Town, a side that clinched the Kent League and Kent Senior Trophy (beating Greenwich Borough in the final) last season, and will be playing Ryman League Division One South football for the very first time.

“Dan’s been with me since our Carshalton Athletic days, when we were under 18s,” recalled Firkins.

“He was with me at Carshalton and then I took him to Corinthian-Casuals, where he had spells in and out of the first team and didn’t have the opportunity to play first team football. He had a good season in the reserves and then I took him to Greenwich Borough, so it paid dividends.

“We’ve known these lads from a young age and we know what they’re capable of, but they just need a little bit of nurturing and patience. We knew Danny would come strong.

“To be honest, he was our only recognised striker for the last dozen games (of last season), so he had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.

“Justin (Luchford, the Faversham manager) spoke to me after the Cup final and asked me (if he could sign Danny), he did apologise saying it’s not the right time (to make the approach), but to be fair I would never stop any of my lads moving up a division - that’s snot my way.

“I’m glad to see Danny make the progression into the Ryman League. He deserves it and he’s worked hard for it over the years and he’s got he’s just deserts.

“He’s been with me for about four years, so it’s a feather in our cap as well. We’ve brought a player along and showed perseverance and willing for the lad and it’s paid dividends for him.

“I spoke to Danny about two or three times before Faversham went back pre-season and we’re all on good terms. There’s no bad feeling or anything. I want to see him do well and I hope he does a fantastic job at Faversham.”

Faversham have also signed central defender Matt Bourne, who re-joins his former manager at Chatham Town and Dover Athletic, Clive Walker, at Salters Lane.

Bourne was a key player during his two seasons with his home-town club.

And Sittingbourne manager, Gary Abbott, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk why Bourne has opted to move away from Bourne Park to Faversham.

“He’s gone for more money, so good luck to him,” said Abbott. “He was brilliant for two seasons for me, so we move on.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s opening warm-up match against Leyton, Firkins said: “I will probably have around 20 (players) and I intend to give them all a run-out.

“We’ve got quite a few new faces and I want to get used to the way we try and play and get used to the other players around them.

“One of the reasons we started (training) early was to have a good opportunity to have a look at some of the fella’s. So many players turn up pre-season and within an hour you can make a conscious decision whether they’re suitable or not. It gives us a good opportunity to get used to the lads. There’s a good bit of banter going on so they’ve all slotted in.”

The club have re-entered a reserve side, which will compete in the Kent League Second Division, and will play their home games at Green Court Road, Swanley.

When asked who will be running the side, Firkins replied, “It’s a fella, Simon Smith, who is a friend off my assistant Billy Walton. He’s been involved in youth football for a number of years now so he’s seen these lads grow up so it should be interesting. We were approached, they’re a very, very young side.

“We can’t go out and offer big money to players is the way we’re feeling is development. We would have liked to continue our reserve side last season but for obvious reasons we couldn’t.

“The season before (last) we ran an under 18 side and a reserve side and I think I ended up playing five or six of the under 18s at some stage during the season through injuries or suspensions.

“For a club like us, it’s the only way forward, which is to try and get some young talent in and blood them in the reserves and see if they come good.”

Visit Greenwich Borough’s website: www.greenwichboroughfc.com

Greenwich Borough v Leyton

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 3rd July 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At EDF Energy Leisure Sports Club, 87-91 Footscray Road, Eltham, London SE9 2SY