I'd love to put the silverware on the table, says Corinthian boss Matt Longhurst

CORINTHIAN boss Matt Longhurst has paid tribute to his youngsters after reaching the Macron Kent League Cup Final for the second successive season.



The Hoops thrashed Deal Town 8-0 on aggregate and will face league leaders Erith & Belvedere in the final on Saturday 11 May at Park View Road.

“When I first came to Corinthian, the chairman gave me a remit of trying to help convince young players that this was the best club to be at to gain valuable senior football experience and to date I think that message is slowly getting out there,” said Longhurst.

“I’ve said previously that the club promotes youth team players and gives young footballers a platform to perform on in senior football, enabling them to gain experience in first team football.

“We’ve had no fewer than eight under 18s to be involved in the first team squad this year, six of which have started games.

“Defender Dan Bent has played over 15 first team games and is the club’s youngest senior goalscorer at sixteen.  He’s now proof playing senior games rather than sitting on benches places benefits having now signed a scholarship for two years with Gillingham, starting on 1 July.”

Bent has spent trials at Gills’ League Two rivals Dagenham & Redbridge, but has opted to join the Kent club instead.

And prolific striker Alfie May is set for a move to Blue Square Bet (Conference) South side Billericay Town, where older brother Jay plays.

Longhurst said: “Alfie May could have gone and sat on the bench for the rest of the season at Billericay, but chose playing games over that and he’ll see the benefit next season when he moves on.”

Fifth-placed Corinthian travel to tenth-placed Rochester United tomorrow and Longhurst is looking forward to facing former skipper James Lyons.

“Rochester have been excellent in their first season in the league and will provide a good test for us on Saturday,” he said.

“Our old captain is there so there’s an added incentive to both dressing rooms when facing old clubs and team mates as always.”

Corinthian then welcome Erith & Belvedere to Gay Dawn Farm on Tuesday night with three points at stake.

“Obviously it’s a dress rehearsal of the cup final in a few weeks,” said Longhurst.

“Reaching the final for a second successive season is a great achievement for everyone at the club.

“The club’s got its values and principles and we work within that framework and hopefully the success at first team level will help keep all the brilliant young players at the club.

“From the bar staff to the chairman it’s as well a run club as you’ll find and I’d love to put the silverware on the table for them.

“But the biggest influence on my career to date (director of football) Tony Sitford deserves so much credit. He does so much behind the scenes and I’d again love nothing more than to see him with that trophy on his hands on 11 May. He’s a legend in Kent football and rightly so.”

Looking forward to the game against Micky Collins’ side, the Corinthian boss said: “Tuesday will see us play a team fighting for the double, a great effort from Micky and his team and we’ll respect them on Tuesday and in the final of course, but we’re going to try and win both games.

“All of the players deserve great credit as a group. They are very together and a pleasure to work with.

“We’ve only got eight league games and a final to play in five weeks. Let’s see where we end up. One thing’s for sure, we’ll work hard and try our best in every one of them.”

Visit Corinthian’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/corinthianfc

Rochester United  v  Corinthian
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 6^th April 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Rede Court Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 3TU