Fleet trio complain about gruelling fixture backlog

EBBSFLEET UNITED secretary Roly Edwards says Conference officials have to look at the way they allocate league fixtures, especially as the Kent club embark on a gruelling end to their season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Fleet played their 31^st league game of the season today, a goal-less draw against York City, that keeps the Kent club just one place above the Blue Square Premier relegation zone.

But the Stonebridge Road outfit are well behind in their fixtures and face playing three games a week, travelling up and down the country, as they bid to maintain their current league status.

Liam Daish’s men welcome champions-elect Burton Albion to Stonebridge Road on Wednesday night, before their two-legged clashes against Stevenage Borough in the semi-final of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, which starts next Saturday at Broadhall Way, before the return at Stonebridge Road on 18^th March.

The Fleet have to fit in their last remaining fifteen league games, at least one Setanta Shield tie at Crawley Town and their double-header against Stevenage Borough, all in a gruelling 49-day period.

Mr Edwards, manager Liam Daish and assistant Alan Kimble, expressed their distain in their programme notes for today’s game.

“We find ourselves very frustrated once again with our remaining fixtures, having to agree no less than four matches on Thursday evenings in the last few weeks of the season,” said Mr Edwards.

“We will be playing three matches a week for several weeks and this will undoubtedly take its toll on the team and indeed our supporters’ pockets.

“Nothing can be done about fixtures lost to the weather and their have been a few of those winter but once again we are a victim of our cup success losing several matches in the latter stages of the season to the FA Trophy.

“The same thing seems to happen every year in our league. Why do we still have free Tuesday’s in the early part of the season when the weather is good and how is it that we are not allocated a fixture on a Saturday in February whilst the fixtures continue to pile up?

“It is quite ridiculous to have a free Saturday at any stage of the season in my opinion.

“It seems an age since we played league football, in fact if you dismiss our abandoned match against Burton you have to go back to our 4-4 draw with Canvey on 27^th January to find the last date that league points were up for grabs.

“Some five weeks have passed and we have clearly fallen behind but (we have) the opportunity to begin the climb up the league table once again and help secure our Conference future for another season.”

Looking ahead to the visit of champions-elect Burton Albion on Wednesday night, Mr Edwards added, “They will have considered fortunate to leave The Fleet without dropping points last time and I am sure they will be given a rigorous test by our lads once again.

Daish wants to know why his side were without a game last Saturday, although their intended trip to Crawley Town to play in the Setanta Shield was pencilled in for two night’s earlier, although that was postponed on the day of the game, due to a waterlogged pitch at Broadfield Stadium.

“Well, it’s been a while since we played in the league, for one reason or another, which isn’t ideal,” said Daish.

“I’m still waiting for an official reply from the League as to why we had no game last Saturday, and yet everyone else played but us and Kettering, who like us, have a severe fixture back log to fulfil.

“In my opinion, I feel that this season’s fixtures have not been right from the very start. I think the traditional way of playing all clubs once before we start playing the corresponding fixture again is the better way of doing things.

“This year, teams have played each other twice before Christmas, and sometimes twice within a month. After our terrific win over Wrexham, we have lost two Saturday’s where we would have had domestic fixtures in place.”

The clubs second successive appearance in the last four of the FA Trophy has once again wiped out two Saturday’s, as it did last season with those two memorable games against Aldershot Town.

And Daish added, ““Obviously we are delighted at still being able to defend the Trophy, and have another chance to go where we went last year, but we must ensure that we get points on the board league wise.”

Kimble says it’s important to use every member of the first team squad and to prepare players in the best way possible for their remaining games.

“We are into the last couple of months of the season, and there is still a lot of football to be played,” said Kimble.

“It is important that we take them one game at a time, and that the players prepare themselves for a gruelling period. We will need every member of the playing staff to play a big part.

Its important that the players get their rest after games, with ice baths, cool downs etc. It’s a case of ticking over and keeping them as fresh as possible with the games coming thick and fast.”

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

Quotes courtesy of Fleet Life - the club’s official programme, priced at £2.50

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game - as well as the two games against Stevenage Borough.

Ebbsfleet United v Burton Albion
Blue Square Premier
Wednesday 11^th March 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN