Greenwich Borough face make-or-break groundshare talks

GREENWICH BOROUGH face an uncertain future as they expect to be kicked out of their modest Harrow Meadow ground for housing at the end of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Bulmers Cider Kent League club, based at Eltham Green Road, are in make-or-break talks with a couple of unnamed clubs to discuss a groundsharing deal for next season.

The versatile Steve Firkins, the club’s manager and secretary, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  tonight, hopes the club that sent Ian Wright on the way to a glittering professional footballing career, will still be around when the new season kick’s of in August.

“There’s a lot of uncertainly with what’s happening with the club at the moment,” he said.

“We understand Greenwich Council are going to take the ground from the club, so therefore we don’t know if we’re going to have a ground - or a team - for next season.

“We won’t know until the end of April. Obviously I want to continue, I’ve got two or three players I’m looking to bring in for next year - it all depends on if we’ve got a club or not!”

This has been hanging over the club for a number of years, especially as the lease at the basic ground, which is owned by Greenwich Council, has expired.

“It’s prime building ground over there and a big building company are buying the land for redevelopment.,” said Firkins.

Firkins revealed the club are negotiating a groundsharing deal, and are trying to stump up the cash, which is proving to be difficult, considering the club don't even pay their players.

“That’s obviously our next target,” he said. “We’ve been given a date (of vacating the ground), I can’t say what it is, and dif the council move in, we know what we’re up against.

“We’ve already spoken to a couple of clubs, to the league, and there’s a couple of interested parties to groundshare with us. Obviously the people involved in the club, the chairman, it’s a big move for them obviously.

“It is a possibility we will groundshare, it’s the only possibility and we have to sort finances out and we’re looking to get some backers into the club with financial assistance if possible.”

Despite problems off-the-pitch, Firkins is satisfied with on-the-pitch matters, as they travel to Erith & Belvedere tomorrow night sitting in sixth place in the league - ten points adrift of leaders Hythe Town - with 12 points left to play for.

“When we started out, we were looking to try and break into the top six,” said Firkins.

“We were looking at top six, top five, although we’ve had problems with suspensions and injuries, the boys have done really well to maintain that level.

“I’m happy with what we’ve achieved so far. We’ve learnt a lot, it’s been a learning curve, but overall I’m happy with the way things have gone.”

He added, “You can always say you can improve on things. One of our faults we’re one of the smallest sides in the league. We’ve got good technical players and to overcome our lack of height we try and keep the ball down on the floor.

“We’ve changed our style as we found we were getting caught out in our own half and losing possession too easily so we had to change slightly to what we are used to playing.”

Boro’ stretched their unbeaten run to three, following their 2-1 home win over Tunbridge Wells, a side that have now not won in ten games.

“I can understand how Tunbridge Wells felt, I think it was something like nine games without a win up until they played us,” said Firkins.

“It was always a potential banana skin for us as they were looking for points on the board, especially as being one of the form sides at the start of the season.

“To get past them I was quite happy to get the game over and done with.”

Firkins takes his side to Park View Road, a stark contrast to their own ground, tomorrow night to play an Erith & Belvedere side that are ninth in the table and ten points adrift of Boro’.

“It’s a big game for us,” admitted the Boro’ boss. “We want to get a good result there. Erith & Belvedere are lying just below us and are looking for a higher finish if possible. It should be an entertaining game.

“Last time we were at Park View Road the lights failed and they’re quite looking forward to playing there. Any team would like to play on that week in, week out - it’s a nice set up.”

Three players face fitness tests ahead of the game, leading goalscorer Mark Sisson (thigh) is expected to start on the bench if he fails his test, although Carl Demetrius (dead leg) and right-back Akeen Hanson (knee ligament) should be fine.

Visit Erith & Belvedere's website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Visit Greenwich Borough’s website: www.greenwichboroughfc.co.uk

Erith & Belvedere v Greenwich Borough
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Tuesday 7^th April 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY