It would be great to take Sittingbourne to the FA Cup First Round, says joint-manager Jim Ward

SITTINGBOURNE joint-manager Jim Ward says he wants to put bums on seats for their FA Cup Preliminary Round tie against Burnham on Saturday.


The Buckinghamshire outfit arrive at Bourne Park sitting in tenth- place in the Southern League Division One Central with a 50% record from two games, just like Sittingbourne.

Sittingbourne began their Ryman League Division One South campaign with a morale-boosting 2-1 win over newly-promoted Three Bridges, but they suffered a home 1-0 defeat to Kent rivals Folkestone Invicta, who won the game through Stuart King’s strike last night.

Ward says his younger brother Danny has been on a scouting mission so the Scottish pair will know all about Burnham ahead for Saturday’s vital game.

“We’ve had them watched – they’re one of the money sides from the Midlands,” said Jim.

“Danny went and saw them Tuesday night and he’s told me that they’re a big, strong, physical side, so we’ll have to be right on it to get anything out of the game.

“Money wise, we get through this round and we’re away to Whitehawk.”

Sittingbourne will scoop a much-needed £1,750 in prize money should they beat Burnham at this stage of the competition and a further £3,000 if they knock out the Brighton-based outfit, who were promoted into the Ryman Premier League after winning the title last season.

Ward says he wants to take Sittingbourne as far in the competition as possible – in his first season in charge.

Ward added: “It’s all about a pride thing – let’s take the second 45 minutes last night into the game on Saturday as I think the lads learned a thing or two last night.

“We’ve got a two-year plan – get as much experience into this set of lads this year and then really push on next year.

“I still love the competition as you have to remember that Danny and I took Ramsgate into the First Round proper – happy days! So it would be great to take this little club there – you never know we might get a few more watching!

“I can only get the football side of things right and hope that we can get more bums on seats.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne  v  Burnham
The FA Cup with Budweiser Preliminary Round
Saturday 25^th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park Stadium, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB