Foley reflects on successful season

VCD ATHLETIC boss Paul Foley reflects on the club’s first campaign in the Ryman League, writes Jeff Perkins.

 

The Crayford based club finished the campaign with 19 wins and an impressive total of 67 points putting them in 8^th place which is considered to be a huge success by all at Oakwood.

“We are pleased with the points total, pleased with the league position and generally pleased with how we have performed in our first season at the new level,” Foley told www.vcd-athletic.co.uk.

“That said we all feel within the dressing room that we really could have crept into the play off positions with 70+ points which would have been beyond anyone’s expectation at the club.

“Whilst the Ryman North is strong through the league from top to bottom we were no different to the sides that made the play-off’s and we actually took points off all of those teams, in some cases 4 points.

“Maybe we are being a bit greedy there, and it is fair to say it would not have done the club any favours as we are not ready for the Ryman Premier, there is no point playing football unless you have ambition.

“We played the second half of the season with an expenses budget that was half the amount we won the Kent League with, so when you look at it like that it could be argued it was a better season than last year’s double winning campaign.”

When asked if that meant the club would be looking to get into the play-off places next season, Foley responded, “There are a few more important things for the club to resolve before we can start thinking about where we are targeting next season.

“We need to get some work done to the ground to ensure the Ryman League are happy with it and the cost of those works, their acceptance by the league and all of the consequences that flow from that are top of the list at the minute.”

So the ground that was previously signed off for promotion to the Ryman League is now deemed unsuitable by the ground graders?

Foley replied: “I can’t comment too much as I have not had the direct dialogue with the ground graders but we had the ground all signed off last season when we were granted promotion but the graders are different individuals now and they didn’t like the height of the handrails or the cinder path we have around the pitch.

“Now that we have seen all of the grounds in our league I have to say ours has to be one of the better ones as there are some very dilapidated grounds that would not meet the criteria required but maybe the graders are looking at these too? I would hope so and I am sure we will be pointing this out to the league if it is not the case.”

Foley added: ‘The handrails have already been raised and there is netting all the way around with advertising boards back on. The path is due to be worked on in the next month and will be a substantial job that will cost the club a large amount of money.

“Given the financial constraints clubs are now faced with you would expect this to be recognised by the administrators and every effort made to keep the numbers in the leagues with non league sides dropping out of leagues left right and centre but we definitely seem to be getting the ‘new boys’ treatment!

“The handrails that meet regulation height are now so high that if the ball goes over them the players cannot get over to retrieve the ball so it actually affects the flow of the game more and one of the reasons for the netting and the rail height being raised is to keep the ball in play, so go and work that one out!”

So apart from the change to the ground grading and the impact this had on the playing expenses budget this year you feel that overall the season has been a success.

Foley said: “Definitely, we have never been at this level before and had we finished bottom it would still have been our highest placing in 94 years but we said we would not be going in to make up the numbers and we have proved that.

“No one has spanked us 4 or 5, no one has outplayed us, including the champions Lowestoft Town who are a very good side, and we have amassed 67 points with a very low budget and with a mix of experienced players and some very talented youngsters.

“That is a very successful season for a club like ours and the young players we have will just get better and better. All of the lads have been magnificent proving that they are here for the right reasons and they have all agreed to stay at the club, subject to what happens with the ground grading obviously.”

Foley advised that a number of pre-season games had already been arranged including two tough games to finish their preparations with Blue Square South side Welling United visiting Oakwood on 7^th August followed by a trip to Ryman Premier side Canvey Island on 14^th August before the season starts on 21^st August.

Article courtesy of www.vcd-athletic.co.uk