Kentish Football 
If we don’t do well enough then it’s my fault, says Margate boss Iain O'Connell
Wednesday 18th August 2010
MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell says a good team spirit - and good players - will see the Thanet club improve on their previous two campaign’s, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Gate have received relegation reprieves after finishing in the bottom four during their past two season’s in the Ryman Premier League - but Essex based O’Connell - who played for the club during their Conference days - is looking up this term.
Margate open their Ryman Premier League campaign with a visit of Canvey Island on Saturday and O’Connell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he is looking forward to the game.
“I think all the players are glad it’s here now,” he said. “We’re quite confident with the way we’ve played in pre-season. We’ve got a togetherness and we’ve got an understanding with the way we want to play, so we’re all looking forward to it.
“I know a lot of their players, I know their manager quite well so they’re going to be organised and strong so it’s going to be a tough opener. Canvey are going to say the same about us - they will know the kind of side I’m going to put out - so it should be a good game.”
O’Connell urges the Hartsdown Park faithful to get behind the side on Saturday.
“I would love them to get behind us and it will be nice to reward them with a good opening,” he said.
“I know Margate down the years haven’t had a good start to the league for a while so it will be good to get three points on Saturday and hopefully bring some of the numbers back.”
O’Connell takes his side to Croydon Athletic next Wednesday - a side that clinched the Ryman League Division One South title last season and have a big financial backing.
“They’re going to be up there, by the looks of it they seem to have loads of money, so I should think that will be a very hard game,” warned O’Connell.
“We had that last year when we played Dartford away and beat them so we can go there and do a job. Hopefully Saturday’s game will give us confidence.”
When asked about his aspirations for the season ahead, O’Connell doesn’t want to be looking over his shoulder in or around the relegation zone.
“We just want to keep out of that,” he said. “We just want to make sure we’re not looking up at too many teams. It would be nice to have a good start and people chasing us.
“I’m not going to set any targets, I just want the players to play to their full potential and give me 100% and if we don’t do well enough then it’s my fault and nobody else’s.
“My players are a great bunch off lads and one thing I’ve learn is always have a good bunch of lads together. Obviously they’ve got to be good players as well.
“What I’ve got are a good bunch of lads who are going to work hard for each other and if they do that then we won’t be far too wrong.”
Sam Groombridge (hamstring) and Jay Saunders (two-game ban) have been ruled out, whilst the club wait for international clearance for two summer arrivals, striker Ismail (who has been playing in Sweden) and Jim Sherman.
Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com
Margate v Canvey Island
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 21st August 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ
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