Kentish Football

I want to win the Kent League, says Greenwich Borough boss Steve Firkins

Friday 28th January 2011
GREENWICH BOROUGH chief Steve Firkins has explained why his club have submitted a surprise application for promotion into the Ryman League, writes Stephen McCartney.


The club have the smallest support in Kent, with average gates of only 26, and are in the second of a three-year groundshare deal with Bromley based side Holmesdale at their modest Oakley Road ground.

But Firkins, who doubles up as manager and club secretary, has worked miracles on no budget and go into Saturday’s clash against their landlords sitting in fourth place in the Kent League table, eight points behind leaders Herne Bay.

“Your question with regards to Greenwich applying for promotion, well, why shouldn’t we?” said Firkins.

“We are in a decent position and I’m no different to any other manager in the league.  I want to try and win something, preferably the league.  Otherwise what’s the point of turning up every Saturday?  We all work hard throughout the week and come Saturday at five o’clock you’re either pleased as punch or like a bear with a sore head, but the next day you’re preparing for the next game.  It’s like a drug!

“But the other side is how can I ask my players to work hard in training and their games, push them to limits, ask to try and win the league when we don’t even apply for promotion?

“Ok, we know it gave everybody a good laugh but I still think if come the end of March and we are still in there with a chance it’s something for us to aim for.”

Bermondsey based Firkins added: “The stumbling block will, of course, be the ground.  We know that Oakley Road is not up to the correct ground grade but we need to know what and how far off we really are.

“We are trying week in, week out to try and get some investment into the club and that’s all we can do, keep trying, but there are always possibilities and if we are successful, who knows!

“But at this particular moment all that is irrelevant because Simon Halsey’s Herne Bay look worthy favourites at the present.”

Holmesdale, who have former Bromley striker Grant Watts as their coach, are unbeaten in their last five games, although Gary Davies’ side have drawn their last four, and sit above Lordswood and Sporting Bengal in the Kent League table with 12 points from 15 games.

Greenwich Borough have yet drawn a league game and Firkins’ thoughts on the game are, “We need a response from the players after the disappointing defeat last week at Norton.

“The thing is Gary’s team have been impressive over the past few months, taking points off Hythe, VCD and Beckenham and last week making their way to the Kent Senior Trophy semi’s by beating Lordswood 1-0, so it’s not an easy task for us and if we don’t approach the game right we could find ourselves being added to their list.”

Visit Greenwich Borough's website:  www.greenwichboroughfc.com

Visit Holmesdale's website: www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Greenwich Borough  v  Holmesdale
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Saturday 29th January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At 68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HQ








 

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