It won't be grim 'up north, says Binks

CHATHAM TOWN boss Steve Binks feels the clubs switch to the Ryman League Division One North will herald a change in their fortunes this season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Binks is confident that his impressive side will bag three points from their opening day game against Ilford at Maidstone Road on Saturday.

Binks, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, admits he knows nothing much about the sides that he’ll be coming across this season, starting with Ilford.

“They’ve signed a virtually new squad in the last week or two so their going to be unknown,” he said.

“We met some of these sides two years ago when we were in the northern division but there’s been a lot of comings and going since then.

“It will take a few games to asses the quality of the opposition. Ilford have struggled for the last two seasons, escaped relegation. With a lot of new players you don’t know what their like. Getting players late in the day will take time for them to gel, so hopefully (we’ll) three points on Saturday.”

Binks’ confidence comes after an impressive pre-season campaign from his side.

“The reason I’m hopeful for three points is we’ve had good pre-season training,” he predicted. “The fitness of the players’ is good, the match sharpness has improved with every pre-season friendly.

“The second half performance against Hastings wasn’t good enough and that shows we have to toughen up mentally as we will come against sides in the calibre of pushing to get out of that division, Ware, Brentwood, who finished well last year.

“So against the stronger teams, if and when we do take the lead, we’re mentally tough enough to close games out.”

Both Kent sides, Chatham Town and Thamesmead Town are both looking to get out of the division to seal promotion into the lucrative Ryman Premier League.

Dartford won this division at the first attempt but Chatham and Thamesmead are miles adrift of Kent’s best supported non-league club.

“Dartford and Dover (the Ryman One South champions) are big clubs with big followings, good sides that have deservedly got promotion but you don’t get promoted out of divisions without ability, strength in depth and the desire to get through the tough times,” said Binks.

“I think we’ve got the strength in depth, got a big squad, making some big signings in the summer.

“Some players have come to the fore in pre-season. James Smith, who played centre half, making his debut against Dover last season, has played full-back in a couple of pre-season games and then played in goal on a couple of occasions as James Tedder was on holiday - and he done brilliantly.

“He started out as a goalkeeper but I’ve got good options in goal, at the back and in midfield. If we keep our strike force fit, we’ll get goals.

“With a new sponsor, new kits, the first game can’t come quick enough really.”

It would be fair to say Binks would not be talking about promotion had his club remained in the Southern division of the Ryman League, but the club’s switch could well be a blessing in disguise.

“There’s a level of expectation around the club that we’re doing better this season,” Binks said.

“That’s what we have to live and deal with. We’ve proved we can beat top sides last season (in the Southern Division) and in pre-season, playing far more experienced sides, especially Maidstone.

“The players have set a level of expectation that they can perform against the best. Whether we can do that week in week out we’ll have to see.”

“I think we would have preferred to play the local derbies in Kent, (playing) Sittingbourne, Whitstable and Ashford.

“It would be a fantastic achievement to get promoted to meet the remaining Kent clubs - if they don’t get promoted.

“We had a good gate against Maidstone in the pre-season friendly of 300 so if we can get that in a friendly it could be very lucrative for the club to get promoted - but it’s a long way off.”

With Tedder on holiday until next Saturday, 21-year-old Smith retains his place in between the sticks for their first two games, against Ilford and their midweek trip to Wingate & Finchley.

“James has done excellently in goal and all the players have got confidence in him,” praised Binks.

“If he can make his debut against Dover and beat them 3-1, and bombarding our goal, it shows he can handle the pressure.

“He is the same age as James Tedder. Margate were very impressed with James when we played them and Neville Southall has watched James a couple of occasions.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website:  www.chathamtownfc.net

Chatham Town v Ilford
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 16^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bourneville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES