Kentish Football 
It's probably our biggest day in our history, says Phoenix Sports' joint-boss Tony Beckingham
Thursday 19th September 2013
PHOENIX SPORTS’ joint-manager Tony Beckingham says everybody at the club is looking forward to their historic debut in The FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday.The Barnehurst based club will travel to Banstead Athletic for a Second Qualifying Round tie sitting at the summit of the Southern Counties East Football League after winning six of their opening nine games.
Banstead Athletic are in the bottom four of the Combined Counties League Division One – one level lower than Phoenix Sports – having won one and drawn two of their opening seven games.
“I think for our club it’s probably the biggest day in their history as such it’s a landmark purely because where they’ve been at historically and where they are now,” said Beckingham.
“It’s recognition for all the people, more so behind the scenes that they’ve progressed and are now competing in and now playing in a national competition, which is great for everybody at the club that have made it happen and have been there longer than me and Steve (O’Boyle).”
Who would have thought that Phoenix Sports would be playing at a higher level of football than Banstead Athletic, who were proud members of the Ryman League between 1984-2006.
But Beckingham expects a tough game against lower league opposition.
“Listen, we’ve only come out of that standard of football ourselves and we know the Kent Invicta League has some really good sides and there were last year so we’re expecting a tough game,” he said.
“We’re not taking anything for granted at all and if we did then we deserve to get soundly beaten.
“We’ve had them watched. We’re not big into watching other teams because you end up worrying about them than about yourselves but we’ve had them watched and we know what to expect.
“You never know, people make signings last minute, you get injuries, unavailability’s. I’ve had people give me indepth reports before big games and they’ve been really useful and sometimes they’re not worth the paper they’re written on because by the time you get there it’s all changed.”
Phoenix Sports will scoop £800 in prize money from The Football Association if they win on their FA Vase debut.
“It will help a lot,” said Beckingham. “Every pound helps every club at our level and £800 would be lovely for Phoenix Football Club in general.
“We’re just looking forward to the game and hopefully try to get into the next round and if we can hope the draw’s favourable to us.”
Kent League club Tunbridge Wells reached the Wembley Final last season when Martin Larkin’s side went down to a 2-1 defeat to Northern League side Spennymoor Town in front of 16,751 fans at Wembley Stadium.
“Of course it can happen,” said Beckingham.
“Good on Tunbridge Wells. I think everybody was pleased for them. We would all be lying if we said we wasn’t envious what they did and experienced last year.
“Who wouldn’t want to walk out at Wembley in front of 20,000 supporters?
“I don’t know how it must have been like – it was probably indescribable – only the people that have experienced it will ever know what it feels like.
“Of course, we’d like to do the same thing, but we’re not silly. We’re not going to get anywhere near to reaching the final – that’s not defeatist. It’s realistic. It’s where we are at the moment!”
Phoenix Sports will play their tenth league game when play at home to Fisher next Wednesday, 25 September – more than anybody of their rivals.
Beckingham said: “Listen, the top of the table bit quite frankly is totally irrelevant. We’re very pleased with the start we’ve had. We’ve won a lot more games than we expected to win and I can honestly tell you I don’t think the table is worth the paper it’s written on until after ten games at least and not after everybody’s played pretty much the same number of games.
“We’ll probably be in the top five or six, which will be great for us. We really are delighted by the start we’ve made.
“Yes, I think we’ve probably played more games than anybody else. We’re not in a false position because we’ve got the most points but if the other teams, as expected, win their games in hand then the table will correct itself.
“In my opinion you’ve got Whyteleafe, Tunbridge Wells, Cray Valley and Corinthian, for me who are the best four teams in the league and then you’ve got the rest of us. That’s no disrespect to Ashford, who are a good side as well.
“I think those four are established and they’re the four fighting it out for the top spot, in my opinion.”
Visit Phoenix Sports’ website: www.phoenixsportsclub.org
Banstead Athletic v Phoenix Sports
The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 21st September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Merland Rise, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5JG
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