Kentish Football 
I want to see a footballing side win the Kent League title, says Fisher's assistant Billy Walton
Sunday 17th July 2011
FISHER assistant manager Billy Walton says his players will play “carpet football” at Champion Hill this season, writes Stephen McCartney.
The club endured a miserable campaign as they finished rock bottom of the Kent League last season, but appointed Steve Firkins as their new manager in the close season and Bermondsey based Firkins has brought his entire Greenwich Borough coaching staff and squad with him to Fisher.
Walton, 49, says their style of football will turn the south London club from also-rans into title contenders.
They began their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win at Barkingside yesterday.
“The match was ok,” said Walton. “The first half-hour of the game we played really well, traditional footballing, passing side. It was really good.
“Richard Monan got an absolute peach of a header from a Jamie Turner corner, which was like a bullet corner and he met it full on, in off the crossbar.
“Chris Hubbard was exceptional, the way he played. He fitted into our system really well. There were quite a few lads who fitted in really well. It’s all positive.
“The actual manager of Barkingside said we were a much stronger looking and better footballing side than (Ryman Premier League side) Aveley, who they played the week before.
“Yesterday there were eight or nine new faces who we haven’t had, who have been training with us, but fitted in really well.
“The good thing is they all want to play our style of football and they’re quite happy to play for Fisher, just to play for that style of football.
“Fitness levels were really good, very good, so it’s all looking well for us at the moment.”
Fisher welcome higher-league opposition to Champion Hill in the form of Tonbridge Angels (Wednesday) and Cray Wanderers (Sunday, 1pm).
The Angels’ first game as a Blue Square Bet (Conference) South game ended in a humiliating 10-0 home defeat to League One side Brentford yesterday, which saw Charlie MacDonald net four first half goals (including a thirteen minute hat-trick) and second half striker Gary Alexander net a twenty minute hat-trick.
Walton said: “Knowing Tommy like I do, Tommy will be bitterly disappointed with that. I’m sure Tommy will get it right. He’s a good lad and I think Tommy will get them where they belong. Tommy will do well at that club and I think they will finish top half of that table, there’s no question of it.”
Cray Wanderers, meanwhile, began their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over landlords Bromley at Hayes Lane yesterday, courtesy of a brace from the returning Tommy Whitnell.
Speculation was going around Hayes Lane that Bromley manager Mark Goldberg (who has returned for his third spell in charge) will re-sign goalkeeper Wes Forderingham on a season long loan from Crystal Palace, as reserve keeper Paul Agu isn’t up to the standard for Blue Square Bet South football.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s visit from Ian Jenkins’ Wands, Walton said, “It will be interesting for the lads who are striving to play for that level so it will be interesting to see how they perform. I’m sure they will give a good account for themselves, they’re all up for those sort of games.
“They want to impress and they can all play at that level, I’m convinced they can all play at that level.
“I think that level (the Ryman Premier League) to be honest with you is a little bit blown out of the water in a sense, they seem to think they’re a lot better than what they are, but I don’t think they are actually.
“A lot of our lads are just as good, but they’ve not been given opportunities.”
Walton added: “I haven’t seen much of Conference South, but I know a few lads who are knocking about who have all been associated at our level and have gone on to play at a higher level.
“I’ve just noticed (Welling United skipper), Jack Parkinson is having trials at Southend and are looking to sign him and he was at VCD two years ago, so I don’t see why none of our players can go on and match that sort of thing. They’re all in that calibre.”
Walton insists the new-look Fisher side will be attractive to watch.
“The ten or twelve supporters that turned up yesterday were more than impressed by the style of play and I’m sure the people down there this year will be more than delighted with the way we play,” he said.
“If we can get off to any decent start, I think the crowds will improve down at Champion Hill and they will be more than delighted with the way we play.
“We’re a totalling football side that will play and play and play and try and pass teams off the park.
“Like Brian Clough said, it’s carpet football. That’s the way we try and play.”
At the club’s annual general meeting, Firkins stated that he is targeting a top-three finish.
Walton said today, “We would like to win it – or a footballing side to win it.
“I don’t want another Faversham or Hythe to win that league because I think it’s a miss-justice of football to be honest with you. Let’s have a footballing side win it, not by long-throws, corners and set-plays. That’s what I hope for. We like to see football the right way.”
Tonbridge Angels boss, Tommy Warrilow, was smarting from his side’s sorry 10-0 defeat to Brentford yesterday – the last time the club let in ten goals was in a 10-3 defeat to Woodford Town twenty-five years ago.
The Angels have a busy week ahead, with the away game at Fisher on Wednesday, the visit of League Two Gillingham to Longmead Stadium on Thursday, a trip to Beckenham Town on Saturday and are competing in the Courier Cup over the weekend.
“The thing (with my trialists) is they’ve got to be better than what I’ve got and that’s the hardest thing,” said Warrilow yesterday.
“I’m not going to throw them out straight away. There’s some other games they can play in, we’ve got Fisher next week, we can put a few in.
“It’s going to be hard for them to kick the door open.”
The Angels face their Kent League neighbours Tunbridge Wells in the Courier Cup at Rusthall’s Jockey Farm on Saturday, and if they beat Martin Larkin’s side, they will face Crowborough or Rusthall in Sunday’s final.
“We’ve stated that the academy side will be going down and the reserves will be going down to the Courier Cup and the first team will be going to Beckenham. If they get through Saturday, we’ll address that on Sunday,” explained Warrilow.
Fisher have confirmed their admission prices for both home games; £5 (adults), £3 (concessions), £1 (under 16’s or FREE if accompanied by an adult.
Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk
Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk
Fisher v Tonbridge Angels
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 20th July 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, Dog Kennel Hill, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd