Dolby prepars his Angels of the north - EXCLUSIVE

Tonbridge Angels manager Tony Dolby believes their trip to the north east later in the month will be beneficial ahead of their Ryman Premier League campaign, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels travel to Kent League side Thamesmead Town (14^th July) for their opening friendly before playing two games in two days up north.

Blue Square Northern outfit Blyth Spartans provide the opposition on Friday, 20^th July, before the Angels travel to North Shields the following day.

North Shields, however, play their football in the second division of the Arngrove Northern League - the equivalent in the football pyramid to the Kent County League Premier Division.

But 33-year-old Dolby insists the trip away is good preparation for his side.

“The games come thick and fast,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“First and foremost, we’ve got two games that we want to win up there. We want to represent the club in the best possible way and get the best out of the players while they’re up there.

“Secondly, it will bring the players together and get that little bit of team spirit, that camaraderie, that every side needs.

“So hopefully that will come into the equation as well and generally to get away as a group of players, it always seems to work.

“We’re playing two games in two days and I’ve got to use all of my 18,19, 20 players so I think it’s ideal preparation - it’s the perfect blend to be honest.

“The team that plays Friday will probably not start on the Saturday so it just gives me an overall picture of how I want things to go.

“I don’t think we could have done it any other way. I think its perfect preparation and to play two games in two days is a hard ask for anybody.”

Dolby explained why his opening pre-season training session was attended by seventeen players, although Robert Kember and Alex Tapp were still on their holidays.

Dolby, his assistant Mike Rutherford and new coach Rob Palmer, whose arrived from Bromley, put the players through their paces for two hours in wet conditions at the Tonbridge Farm Sports Ground on Thursday night.

“The weather was kind to the players and we got quite a bit out of them for a first session,” said Dolby.

“I think 17,18,19 is probably the maximum that I’d ever like to work with. You don’t get enough one-on-one time for a start when the numbers are bigger.

“It’s very much harder to get your point across when there’s so many people to coach, especially in pre-season. You want to make sure you instil things into people as early as you can.”

This time last year the Angels were talking about consolidation and their number one priority was to retain their Ryman Premier League status.

However, expectations are now high following a successful campaign, which saw them lead the table early on before settling for eleventh place, reaching the Kent Senior Cup final and the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Tonbridge expects? “Do they?” replied Dolby. “I don’t know what they expect to be honest.

“I think everybody wants to win every game and I’m no different, so I’m going to think the eleven I put out are strong enough to get three points off the opposition and I’ll be working towards that every single game. What will be, will be.

“We mustn’t forget how strong some of the teams are in this league and the financial budgets that they do work with, and the quality of players that they’ve got, are all very good.

“Ourselves have a decent budget, I’m more than happy with what the chairman’s helped me with so far.

“I’m more than happy with the playing staff, one or two minor adjustments, and I think we can give it a right go, in every single game we play.”

Unfancied side Hampton & Richmond Borough clinched the Ryman Premier League title last season, with big-spenders Bromley (who went up via the play-off’s), Chelmsford City, Billericay Town, AFC Wimbledon and Margate, behind them.

That proves clubs without big budgets can still be successful in this division, and Dolby agrees.

But he said: “I think it’s no coincidence that the five teams behind them were all big spenders but Hampton were certainly the exception to the rule.

“They paved the way, I said that in interviews before, they’ve shown what you can do.

“I think they got smashed a few times by the bigger boys, but they were beating all the lower opposition.

“They were always winning against them and the games that they lost they bounced straight back from and won again.

“I think the team spirit that Alan (Devonshire) had over there, done very well.

“I thought we battered them twice, we outplayed them twice, but they managed to get four points off us.

“That’s the side they are, they’ve got a lot of character and hopefully we can learn from that this season - and give ourselves the best possible chance as well.”

Holding midfielder Alex O’Brien (Dartford), goalkeeper Aaron Kerr (injured) and home grown star Luke Piscina have all left the Betterview Longmead Stadium this summer, but Dolby has high hopes for his new signings.

But James Donovan (Margate), Tommy Tyne (Dover Athletic), Anthony Storey (Lewes) and Adam Greenway (Bromley) are the newcomers.

And Dolby believes these new players will bring “a variety of things” to his team.

“We’ve brought in a big, strong defender, who if we can get fit as possible as he can, will be a big asset,” Dolby said of Donovan.

“He’ll certainly bring height, he can play football as well. Something we lacked a little bit of height at times last year, he’s going to bring that.

“In the midfield, Anthony Storey, technically very good, got a great engine, a great range of passing and he’s very good with dead balls, which we suffered from a little bit last season, so he’ll bring that.

“Tommy Tyne is a great front runner, very strong, technically very good, runs the channels very well and he’s an intelligent footballer who can play in a few different positions - so the variety that he brings is another aspect.

“We’ve brought in Adam Greenway, whose here at the moment. He’s prominently a centre forward, wants to play up front. We’ll give him a go and see how he goes.

“And we’ve got our fingers in another couple of pies as well, so hopefully we’ll be as strong as the next side.”

Dolby admitted his disappointment in losing fans’ favourite, Piscina.

“I never wanted him to go,” he said. “I wanted him to stay (as) I thought he had a lot to give this season but he’s decided that he wanted to go to a team that guaranteed him first team football but that cannot happen down at Tonbridge.

“I’m sorry, I can’t guarantee anyone first team football.

“Luke’s a good enough player. I think he just needs to settle down a little bit and I wish him all the best.”

Tonbridge Angels’ pre-season friendlies:

Saturday 14^th July (away) Thamesmead Town
Friday 20^th July (away) Blyth Spartans
Saturday 21^st July (away) North Shields
Tuesday 24^th July (away) Faversham Town
Tuesday 31^st July (HOME) TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Saturday 4^th August (HOME) FLEET TOWN
Tuesday 7^th August (away) Tilbury
Saturday 11^th August (away) Chatham Town

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites:  www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum