Kentish Football 
Farnie: Experience is the best policy - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thursday 29th March 2007
Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Farnie wants his side to take advantage of home comforts as their “indifferent” campaign draws to a close, writes Stephen McCartney.A 3-2 home win over Lordswood was followed by an underserved 3-1 defeat by Erith & Belvedere at Culverden Stadium last night.And seven of their last eight Kent League games are on home soil as the west Kent club, second from bottom in the table, catch up with their backlog off fixtures after being hit by a spate of postponements during the wet winter.
Farnie was forced to ditch his policy of playing local youngsters and brought in more experienced heads including Brad Sandeman, Richard Radbourne and Dave Hassett.
But one find, central defender Justin Shea, 16, is expected to become a professional footballer according to Farnie last night.
“Our best player for a long time has been young Justin Shea,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the Deres’ flattering 3-1 win.
“He’s just something special and hopefully people will stay away from him and I don’t lose him.
“If he goes anywhere he’ll go to a pro club – he won’t go anywhere else.”
And with Gary Stevens replacing Norman Sales at the helm of the west Kent club during the close season, Farnie knows results on the pitch must improve.
“From six week’s ago there’s a lot of improvement,” he said of his squad changes.
“There’s a lot of big characters in, a bit of experience as well.
“I’ve brought in some experienced lads who are more calmer than the younger lads.
“No disrespect to the younger lads who’ve done well this year gaining experience at this level, but you can’t beat experience and that’s what we’ve got.”
The former Dartford coach admitted he used harassment tactics to bring new faces to the club.
“Well, I just kept on working hard,” he said. “I kept phoning people up, getting on people’s cases, talking about next year.
“I’m looking for next year and building a squad for next year.
“I don’t know what it’s going to bring, I just hopes it brings better than what we’ve had this season.”
Like most clubs, Tunbridge Wells has the potential for bigger and better things but to be just four points off the foot of the table, a position held by Sporting Bengal United, is just not good enough.
“I just want as many points we can get between now and the end of the season,” said Farnie.
“How would I sum our season up? Indifferent,” he said.
“We had that little spell in the FA Vase and the cup games when we done really well and then we had such a lull in the league programme.
“Then we’ve started picking up recently, so it’s been a real indifferent season.”
Tunbridge Wells’ only away trip is a game they can ill-afford to lose, against Sporting Bengal on Saturday, 14th April.
Before that, however, Wells welcome Slade Green (Saturday), Hythe Town (7th April) and Deal Town (Easter Monday, 9th April).
They finish their season at home to Croydon (18th April), Herne Bay (21st April), VCD Athletic (25th April) and Erith Town visit on the last day of the season (28th).
Visit club websites:
www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk
www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/
Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 31st March 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd