I want us to be successful, says Sevenoaks Town boss Darren Anslow

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Darren Anslow vows to make his stay at Greatness Park a longer one than his predecessors, writes Stephen McCartney.


The west Kent club have got through managers like London Busses at a bus stop and Anslow is the third manager in three years.

Simon Jones put his money in his pocket to assist the club and they were rewarded with the club’s highest ever finish of sixth and a place in the Kent League Cup final, which ended in a defeat to Herne Bay.

Then last season, Keith Levett brought in many of his academy players at Welling United and the club had to settle for a seventh place finish in the Kent League.

Sevenoaks Town played their first pre-season friendly at Greatness Park on Wednesday night and they struggled to beat workmanlike Haart of Kent County League Division One neighbours Otford United 3-1.

Goalkeeper Pat Brennan, right-back James Golding, attacker Richard Morgan (who scored two of the goals),  defender Jordan Clarke, striker Royce Greenidge and midfielders Steve Ita, Fraser Cronin and Tom Skelton, have all arrived from Anslow’s former club, Cray Wanderers, as has star striker Richmond Kissi, who didn’t play.

When asked what his aspirations are for the season ahead, Anslow said: “I don’t do that mate!  I want us to compete and win games.  I’ve got the same aspirations as everyone else.  I want us to be successful.  I want us to win things but to do that the boys’ have got to do what they’re asked.  They know they’ve got to work hard and again, that word I go back to, they’ve got to be consistent.

“We’ll play as good football as everyone else.  It’s just if we can get a few players back from injury.  We’ll be alright.”

Anslow admitted that results on the pitch will ensure he stays longer than Jones and newly appointed Chatham Town assistant manager, Levett.

“If everything’s working out mate and they keep me and we’re successful, hopefully it will be for a long time,” said Anslow, who has a very young side at Sevenoaks Town, with goalkeeper, Brennan, 21, his oldest player.

“I don’t think about that (three managers in three years), all I think about is winning games and if I’m not winning games I’ll expect them to look for someone else but I won’t.  I’ll win games, we’ll win games.”

Sevenoaks kick-off their Kent Hurlimann Football League campaign with a trip to Bromley to play Gary Davies’ Holmesdale on 13 August.

Davies watched Sevenoaks’ game against Otford, whilst Anslow watched the Dalers’ shock 2-0 home win over Ryman Premier League side Cray Wanderers last Monday.

Anslow said: “I know Gary really well so we’ll have a bit of banter in the dug-out.  The pitch is decent, it looked decent the other night.  That’s when the points are at stake.  We’ll see what happens.

“We probably had a result with him coming (to watch us) to be fair.  He’s probably learnt nothing.  I’ll be on the phone to Gary tomorrow.”

Sevenoaks complete their pre-season campaign with a trip to Kent Invicta League side Crockenhill tomorrow.

 Keith Jarvis’ side have played two friendlies so far, a 2-2 draw against Sittingbourne Town (not the Ryman League outfit) and they thumped Erith 147 by nine goals to nil.

Anslow said: “I just think it’s more important for the players that want to play, the players who want to be involved for the following week.  It’s going to be quite easy because I’m just going to sit back, relax and watch the game.  The players have to show me they should be playing (Holmesdale) the following week.”

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org  

Crockenhill  v  Sevenoaks Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 6^th August 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Wested Meadow Stadium, Eynsford Road, Crockenhill, Kent BR8 8EJ