It's a big season for us, a big change and we want to do it justice, says Fisher boss Steve Firkins

FISHER boss Steve Firkins says he is giving all of his players a chance to impress him as they play two friendly games this weekend, writes Stephen McCartney.


Fisher travel to Sussex County League outfit East Grinstead Town tomorrow, before welcoming Ryman Premier League side Cray Wanderers to Champion Hill on Sunday (1pm).

The former Greenwich Borough boss has brought his entire coaching staff with him and the new-look Fisher side has a Greenwich Borough feel to it.

Only Steve O’Donnell, who featured in last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Barkingside, and Raphael Akala, who had a fifteen minute cameo in their impressive 5-2 home win over Tonbridge Angels in midweek, are the survivors from last season’s squad, one that finished rock bottom of the Kent League.

The side that started against Tonbridge Angels are expected to face Ian Jenkins’ Cray Wanderers on Sunday, and for East Grinstead tomorrow, Firkins said, “I’ve got another squad to look at, which will be different options.”

He added: “We intend to sit down on Sunday, we’d like to keep them but we’ve got something like 29-30 players with us at the moment and I’ve still got people ringing me up wanting to come down.

“Everyone’s in my plans at the moment.  Raphael did ok when he’s come on (against Tonbridge), he had a decent run out on Saturday.  I didn’t select Steve, but he’s playing Saturday because I want to see Mark Sissons.  You remember he played two years ago, but he’s just recently come back from the injury in the Kent Senior Trophy Final against Herne Bay.  I like Mark, he’s a good touch player, he links up well.”

But Firkins admitted he has to decide whether to sign Fisher favourite O’Donnell or Sissons.

“They’re two similar players so there’s a decision possibly to be made later on who we’ve got to keep and who we’re not going to keep,” said Firkins.

“We’d like to keep them all but it’s not going to happen.  At the end of the day it’s eleven players going out onto the pitch on a Saturday and five on the bench and we could end up with half a team or ten players sitting indoors doing nothing.  They’re young men and they want to play football.”

Fisher begin their Kent League campaign with a home game against Erith & Belvedere on 13 August, before Firkins takes his side to Oakley Road to play his old side, Greenwich Borough three days later.

“We’re just looking forward to the season, it’s a big season for us.  It’s a big change, a big move, hopefully we can do it justice,” said Firkins.

Looking ahead to the visit of Micky Collins’ side on the opening day, Firkins said: “Micky’s side had a good run towards the back end of last season.  They beat us (Greenwich Borough) twice last year and I’ve got to hold my hands up, deservedly so.  We’re looking forward to that game.  I think it’ll be a good game.  We (Greenwich Borough) finished fourth, they finished fifth, so it should be a good encounter.”

Greenwich Borough are now managed by Gerry Cox, with Mark Cumberbatch is his number two.

Firkins is looking forward to his swift return to Oakley Road on 16 August.

He said: “Everyone’s going to read into certain things about that.  I had a lot of affection for Greenwich and I still do.

“I don’t want to see them wither away.  I know Gerry’s building a team down there and they’ll be a force.  They’re not going to be no pushovers and we’ll look forward to it, but for me it’s another game of football.  Obviously there’s connections but we have to go there and do a job.”

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk  

Fisher  v  Cray Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Sunday 24^th July 2011
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, Dog Kennel Hill, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD