I'm proud of my achievements so far," says Cray stalwart Wood

Wednesday 02nd September 2009

LONG-SERVING striker Jamie Wood says he’s proud that nearly half of the Cray Wanderers side have taken the club up from the Kent League into the Ryman Premier League, writes Stephen McCartney.

Wood, who has spent more than ten years at the club, has chalked up over 400 appearances and 100 goals for the Wands and, speaking in an interview with www.craywands.co.uk, says he’s now accustomed to life in the Ryman Premier League after a slow start.

All of Cray’s seven points so far have come on their travels, winning at Aveley on the opening day of the season, at Tooting & Mitcham, when both Wood brothers netted, and Tommy Tyne’s first goal for the club clinched the points at Margate on Bank Holiday Monday.

Jamie and Lewis Wood netted the goals during the club’s first ever win at this level at Imperial Fields, and Jamie said: “That is a good one for the record books - something to be proud of.”

With two wins from their last three games, Wood admitted that it playing Ryman Premier League football is more challenging than Ryman One South.

“Above all, it’s clear that extra fitness and physical strength are required at this level,” he admitted.

“As for any difference in technical skill, it’s a bit difficult to put it into words, but it doesn’t seem that much different from Division One South really.

“I expect we are going to find though that all the teams in the Ryman Premier are going to give you a hard game, whereas in Division One South you’d say there was more of a gulf between the top sides and the ones lower down the table.”

But the pocket dynamo added, “I’m sure we are going to do all right. Some new players have been brought into the squad and it needs more time for us to get to know each others’ game.

“We may not always play the same way that we did in Division One South, sometimes we might change it around a bit.

“The early results in this league seem to suggest that anyone can beat anyone, and it hasn’t settled down, it’s too early.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s home clash against Essex side Canvey Island, Wood insisted that morale has increased following their 1-0 win at Hartsdown Park.

“Yes, the dressing room is in very good spirit, certainly much better after Monday’s win at Margate,” he said.

“I must admit that Saturday versus Hastings was a very bad day, but we have come out of that now, and everyone’s bubbling, there is lots of good banter and geeing each other up.”

The Wood brothers, Jamie Kempster, Ross Lover and Mark Willy all played for the club during their Kent League days, and Michael Power (Thamesmead Town) and Leigh Bremner (Herne Bay) played for a couple of their rivals before arriving at Hayes Lane.

“Well, I did leave a couple of times (Folkestone and Thamesmead) but if I count correctly there are Jamie Kempster, Ross Lover and Mark Willy as well as myself who played for Cray in the Kent League - and Lewis did too,” said Wood.

“So yes, there are five of us who go back to the Kent League. I can only repeat that I am very pleased to be a part of it, and it is not just me or the five from the old days, it is all of the team here at the club now that are working hard for Cray and looking to build on what has gone before.”

Long-serving manager, Ian Jenkins, also speaking to www.craywands.co.uk, was pleased that his side bounced back at Hartsdown Park, having lost at home to Hastings United just 48 hours earlier.

“This is a superb result for us, especially after Saturday’s result,” he said. “After this, we’re really confident about meeting Canvey.”

Assistant manager Joe Francis added, “I thought that, all round, we were very solid. And, there could’ve been more goals for us, especially from the penalty that wasn’t given.

“Tommy Tyne and Leigh Bremner worked very hard, our midfield competed well and a clean sheet for Pat (Brennan), brilliant distribution with his feet.

“It was an all-round good team performance.”

Quotes courtesy of www.craywands.co.uk

Cray Wanderers v Canvey Island

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 5th September 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF