Hollands & Blair boss Bryan Greenfield: The day is about people like Plum who has run the club for around 40 years now and no one is more deserving of the club playing in this competition than him

HOLLANDS & BLAIR newly-appointed manager Bryan Greenfield says their FA Cup debut on Saturday is down to the hard work that stalwarts have put in over the years.

The Gillingham-based club travel to Horsham YMCA in the Extra Preliminary Round on the opening day of the season, which will also be Greenfield’s first game in charge since taking over from the successful Paul Piggott.

“It’s the first time the club have played in the competition and it’s a big day for the club itself, even without taking the football side into account,” said Greenfield.

“There has been a lot of hard work put in by many people over the last few years to get the club to where they are now.

“The day is about people like Plum (Laurence Plummer) who has run the club for around 40 years now and no one is more deserving of the club playing in this competition than him.

“Special mention has to go to Piggy (Piggott) and his backroom staff over the last few years for also getting the club to this level on the pitch and we’ll be doing our best to win the game for these people.

“As it stands, we go into the game with a fully fit squad to choose from. Sam Prescott misses the game due to a prior arrangement but other than that we are at full strength.”

Hollands & Blair claimed their first piece of silverware of the season when they defeated Greenwich Borough 3-2 to claim the Southern Counties East Football League Roy Vinter Challenge Shield at Darland Avenue last Saturday (pictured below by Alan Coomes).



“We have pushed on the last couple of games and narrowed the squad down to the numbers that we want to take into the season with us and after Sunday’s Challenge Shield game the boys are full of confidence again,” added Greenfield. pictured front row, right

Blair finished runners-up to Greenwich Borough during their debut season at this level, after winning back-to-back Kent Invicta League titles under Piggott’s leadership.

“Aspirations for the season? To be honest, I’m not setting any targets for the season. We know what we’ve got in the changing room and if they believe in themselves and show the right desire then they can go on and do very well this season,” said Greenfield.

“It’s a tight unit with a good team spirit and togetherness and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website:  www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

Horsham YMCA v Hollands & Blair
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 6^th August 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Gorings Mead, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5BP