If we can eliminate the personal mistakes, we will turn it around, says Greenwich Borough boss

GREENWICH BOROUGH joint-manager Gerry Cox says his inexperienced side have to cut out individual errors if they are to climb away from the foot of the Kent Hurlimann Football League table, writes Stephen McCartney.


The club were dumped out of The FA Cup by Horley Town at the weekend, a game that was watched by only 23 people.

Greenwich Borough are in the third year of their three-year groundshare agreement at Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground in Bromley and the club has struggled to attract supporters through the gate.

Former manager, Steve Firkins took his entire coaching staff and players with him to rivals Fisher during the close season, and Cox and his fellow joint-manager, John Cumberbatch, who ended last season managing Horsham YMCA, have had to re-build a new squad from scratch.

“Both myself and John knew it would be hard when we came on board,” said Cox, following his side’s 2-1 Extra Preliminary Round defeat.

Cox delved his hand into his pocket to help cover the costs of the Essex based match officials as gate receipts didn’t cover the cost.

He said: “It’s not the manager’s job to do the money, but I’ve got no problem doing it if it helps the club.  I’m quite happy to do that.”

Greenwich Borough went into the game on the back of two league defeats, going down to Corinthian (1-3) and Fisher (2-6).

“I do generally believe it’s a short term problem probably before we do start turning it around,” said Cox.

“Myself and John knew each other before we worked together here.  We’re not here for the short-term and we’re not here for glory.  We’re here to manage.  It’s an opportunity for us because we both think on the same wave length about the game in general and hopefully we can see if our methods are rightly or wrongly.  Time will tell.”

With only newcomers Cray Valley (Paper Mills) below them in the table, Greenwich Borough face Lordswood at Oakley Road on Saturday, knowing that Jason Lillis’ side have yet picked up a point, having lost to Canterbury City and Tunbridge Wells.

“We can’t fault the lads, we’ve had almost 100% attendance in training at pre-season and we can’t fault them at all,” said Cox.

“Every game we’ve played we’ve acquitted ourselves very well.  Individual mistakes have cost us dearly and I can only illiterate that as well.  But then that has to go down to me and John.  If the same players are making the same mistakes time and time again then we have got to eliminate those players from the squad very, very shortly.

“If we can eliminate the personal mistakes, I believe we will turn it over and we’re not far away.  We need just a little bit of experience and a little bit composure and I’m sure that will happen.”

For directions to the ground, visit www.holmesdalefc.co.uk/clubdirections.shtml

Greenwich Borough  v  Lordswood
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 27^th August 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at 68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HQ