I want to win the league, says O'Brien

Thursday 13th August 2009

ALEX O’BRIEN’S winning mentality has certainly rubbed off on his Chatham Town players during pre-season - and he wants that to continue on the opening day of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chatham have won all six of their pre-season friendlies and they travel to Godalming Town on Saturday full of confidence that this Ryman League Division One South campaign is going to be a successful one.

“It will be fantastic just to keep any sort of run going,” O’Brien told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“Pre-season games are important to get your fitness and this, that and another, but as I’ve said from the off when you’re playing any game, training game or a game with the kids at home, you’ve got to want to win it and that’s the mentality that myself and Lew (Watts) have tried to get into the boys.

“Whatever you do you have to do it at the best of your ability and hopefully that ability comes through and you win games.”

Saturday’s game at Godalming Town is the first league game under the leadership of O’Brien and his assistant Lew Watts.

“Whatever you have done is in the bank but it starts from Saturday,” said O’Brien. “Everything you have worked hard to do or you have achieved so far could mean nothing or it could mean the best thing in the world.

“It’s all about Saturday and the 40-odd games coming up. It’s nice to get into competitive football and I just hope the boys are learning they can win football games and beat teams who are expected to beat them and they can raise themselves week in week out and that’s what we’re trying to impose.

“We want to go for the throat and get into people’s eyelids. Everything I do I want to win. I want to win the games that I’m involved in and win the league I’m involved in.

“If you’re happy for your team to plod along, you’re not doing it for the real reasons. We’ve got a fantastic little side but if we get injuries or suspensions that will put a massive dent on us as we don’t have the budget to go out and replace these players.”

And if they do lose their opening league game, O’Brien demands that his side bounce back at home to Burgess Hill Town next Tuesday.

“If that’s what fate does we get on with it and we go again on Tuesday,” said O’Brien.

“You have to be a fantastic side to go unbeaten in anything that you do. I just think if we can keep the wheels going eventually we might slip up and it’s how we, the word is bouncebackability.

“It’s how we deal with that, that’s the important thing. I’m saying we want to win everything but sometimes you can play fantastic and still lose the game, but it’s how you address the next game. We’re very open minded in what happens but it will be fantastic to start the season with three points.”

When asked if he knows about Godalming, O’Brien revealed that fellow managers are willing to bend over backwards to help the pair in their first managerial role.

“I’ve spoken to Alan Dowson, whose the Kingstonian manager,” said O’Brien. “They played them pre-season, they’ve got pace going forward, got a long throw and they work extremely hard and they’re very tough in their tackling so it will be a fantastic start to the season.

“Already we’ve done a little bit off homework on them. I’m not sure they know about us. It’s on the day, the first day of the season is such a funny day, anything can happen.”

Burgess Hill Town begin their campaign with a home game against Whitstable Town on Sunday - but O’Brien will have the Hillians’ watched ahead of the Maidstone Road clash next Tuesday.

He said: “It’s difficult with family, it will be hard to go to games, but a good thing a lot of managers have said because we’re so young, it’s our first job, if we need any titbits or need help looking at players or games don’t be a stranger, pick up the phone.

“And these are non-league managers so that’s nice to have back up of help, so we’ll have something back about Burgess Hill.”

And on next Tuesday’s opponents, O’Brien said, “They’re another side who have brought a few players in. They’ve got a little bit of pace, they’re nice and direct as you'd expect.”

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

Godalming Town v Chatham Town

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 15th August 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Weycourt, Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3JE