It's a rebuilding job at Corinthian this year, says James Collins

CORINTHIAN’S new manager James Collins says he’s looking forward to his first game in charge of the club.



Corinthian welcome Lordswood to Gay Dawn Farm on Friday night as the 20-club Southern Counties East Football League season gets underway under the lights in Longfield.

Collins, 31, guided Sutton Athletic to third-place in the Kent Invicta League and clinched two pieces of silverware in his only season at the Hextable-based club last time out.

“Yes, really looking forward to getting started, it’s been a long pre-season,” said Collins.

Corinthian finished in fifth-place in the league last season under Matt Longhurst and were runners-up in the League Cup for the third season on the bounce.

Lordswood finished in eleventh-place and all eyes are on the two clubs in front of a large Friday night crowd.

Collins said: “We had them watched last week, so we sort of know their well-organised, they’re going to be a physical side but we know how we’re going to set up.

“I think it will be a tight game. I’m not sure where we are at the moment. One week we look really good and the next week maybe not so good as I thought we were the previous week, so tough game but looking forward to it.”

Collins revealed that he has only brought Grant Brown, Richie Humphries and Tom Fitzgerald with him from his former club.

“I didn’t want to go to Sutton and take all the players away, I didn’t think that was the right thing to do,” he said.

“But they were boys who came with me when I joined last year.”

More clubs at this level should play Friday night games, simply because they’ll attract their largest crowd of the season.

“We were talking about that on Tuesday. We’re expecting a few people to come up,” said the manager.

“I guess all the Ryman teams and Kent League teams starting on Saturday, everyone’s all itching to play and to get involved.

“I’d imagine some people will come and have a look at both sides and get back into the swing of things.”

When asked about his aspirations for the season ahead, Collins replied: “I always say the same thing. I want to win every game, but I think there’s not one player here from last season. It’s a completely different team so we’re just going to take one game as it goes.

“We’re not really sure where we’re at. It’s a rebuilding job this year, but that doesn’t say we’re not ambitious. We want to take each game as it goes, decide at the end of the season whether we’re successful or not.

“I can’t wait to get started. It’s been brilliant so far. The boys’ have been fantastic, the committee, everyone down there has been so good.”

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

Corinthian  v  Lordswood
Southern Counties East Football League
Friday 8^th August 2014
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Gay Dawn Farm, Valley Road, Longfield, Kent DA3 8LY