Docker: We must take our chances or we'll get punished

IAN DOCKER has warned his Ebbsfleet United side against complacency when they lock horns with fellow Blue Square Premier outfit Lewes in the final qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup at Stonebridge Road on Wednesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Fleet youth-team boss saw his side comfortably seal a 2-1 win over fierce rivals, Tonbridge Angels in the last round to set up a home clash against Lewes.

Victory over the East Sussex side will set up another home tie, this time in the first round proper, against another Blue Square Premier club, Histon, or unknown quantity, Walsham-Le-Willows, who’s first team play in the Ridgeons League Premier.

Lewes, however, will be no pushovers. The Rooks, who play in the Ryman Youth League, have only lost one game, and have racked up a total of 67 goals in their 11 games so far this season.

Docker, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, following his side’s 2-1 win over the Angels, is looking forward to Wednesday night’s game.

“We respect any team that come here, regardless if they’re full time or not,” he said.

“We have to earn the right to play and we have to earn the right to create our chances. If we don’t defend properly, as it’s an FA Cup game we’ll get punished at this level now.”

Docker, who was a youth team prodigy at Gillingham, has fond memories of this competition and wants his side to win their next two games to set up a dream clash against higher league opponents.

“Many years ago as a youth team player myself, we had a chance, we went on to play Spurs and went to White Hart Lane and got beat 3-0,” he recalled.

“I’ll never forget that experience. In those days they had the likes of Vinny Samways playing in centre midfield. They had a good side and they’re the games you want.

“We (The Fleet) played Northampton last season and Wycombe (two seasons running) and came pretty close.

“I say to the lads these games are great, but to play against opposition who will be better players, what a great test for the lads to show what they can do against players from the next level up.”

Docker is pleased that the PASE system at Stonebridge Road is working and his players can work their way up into the club’s first team set-up in the Blue Square Premier.

“To be honest, it’s a great scheme,” said Docker. “It’s a great partnership between Meopham Secondary School. The guy I report to there is Peter Cotton and he and the head teacher do a fantastic job.

“The players do 15 hours a week at school, or 12 hours at school and 12-15 hours coaching, with myself and Paul (McCarthy) in the afternoon. That allows Paul to come from first team training.”

Docker doesn’t know how much it costs the Fleet to run the PASE scheme, but he explained: “It’s a case of coaches wages, youth team kit, training gear, footballs and equipment, schooling, the teachers salaries and that.

“I don’t know how much it costs but you must remember the PASE scheme was initially set-up for clubs like us back in the days of Gravesend & Northfleet where they couldn’t afford to pay a full-time youth team manager. They had to get whatever players they could in.

“This scheme, if we can put young players in on a daily basis, it puts bums on seats at schools so the education side went up.

“I think the four years that we’ve been at Meopham out of the sixth form schooling our lads have the highest percentage of educational marks and we’re producing players for the first team.”

Docker tells his players not to give up hope of earning a first team contact to set them on their way of becoming professional footballers.

He said: “When you’re a youth team player and you’re training at Meopham School, you’re not playing in the first team area and on a daily basis and you do the right things, you do the right job, the first team will look after you. They’ll get you into the first team training sessions.”

Docker revealed star-striker, John Akinde, who left Stonebridge Road earlier in the season and went on to score on his Bristol City debut, was almost shown the door during his apprenticeship.

He said: “In his first year we nearly asked him to leave twice because he was a little bit lazy. He didn’t apply himself to the best he could have done.

“The second year he’s attitude was phenomenal as was Luke Moore. He listened to what Paul McCarthy and myself wanted from him, got into the first team squad with Liam Daish, who upped the target and upped the targets.

“It gives all our players that incentive. They could be in the first team at Ebbsfleet United, but who knows they could end up in the Football League with Ebbsfleet or can they get that dream move elsewhere and look back and say what a good two years they’ve had.”

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website:  www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Ebbsfleet United v Lewes
FA Youth Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Third Qualifying Round
Wednesday 22^nd October 2008
Kick Off 7:30pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN