I would be a tragedy if a Kent club loses their Ryman League status, says Tommy Sampson

TOMMY SAMPSON says it would be a “tragedy” if a Kent club are relegated from the Ryman League at the end of next month, writes Stephen McCartney.



Corinthian-Casuals’ 2-0 home win over Chipstead in midweek sent Paul Foley’s Chatham Town sliding into the relegation zone for the first time this season and they lock horns with basement side Horsham YMCA at Maidstone Road on Saturday – the club’s biggest game of the season.

Horsham YMCA, who are managed by former Ashford Town boss John Cumberbatch, impressed despite going down to a single goal defeat at Sittingbourne last weekend, and didn’t look to be a side that are struggling at the foot of the table with only four wins from 36 games, but they are destined to return to the Sussex County League.

So that leaves one relegation spot, and Chatham Town currently occupy it, having collected 33 points from 36 games, followed by Corinthian-Casuals (35 points) and Whitstable Town (36 points), with Merstham and Eastbourne Town both looking over their shoulders on 38. All of those sides have six games remaining and it would be a disaster if one of the two Kent club’s lose their status and drop back down to the Kent League.

But despite being a former Horsham YMCA manager, Maidstone resident Sampson, who managed a whole range of Kent clubs, is backing Chatham to seal a vital three points to climb out of the drop zone at the weekend.

Everyone is hoping that Ramsgate boss Jim Ward does his two Kent rivals a big favour, by winning at Corinthian-Casuals at the weekend.

Ward said: “Listen, I’m only concerned about Ramsgate Football Club, but at the end of the day on a purely selfish point of view, if we don’t get promoted I want to play Chatham and Whitstable in my division, because for my chairman they’re big games in our division.”

The Broadstairs based Scot added, “The first thing on my mind is to get three points, but if I can help Paul Foley and Peter Nott, then good.”

Sampson said: “I wish to express my support for Chatham and Whitstable – two fine clubs.

“I know Paul Foley very well.  Peter Nott was an ex opponent of mine, I’ve not seen Peter for many years.

“I wish them both well for their last six games.  It will be a tragedy to see them relegated.”

Sampson says he will be watching the basement battle at Maidstone Road on Saturday and gave Foley a piece of advice ahead of the dog-fight.

“Any advice? Keep smiling if possible.  There’s worse things in life!  I’d swap my position (recovering from a stroke), with theirs tomorrow.

“I can’t give them advice.  I know how difficult it must be. I was at Dartford with no money and playing young kids, so I know how difficult it is and it always seems like there’s no key to the door.

“They’ve just have to keep going, train well, get their players’ up for the games, whatever they are.  Just basic stuff!  I’m sure they know that.

“I’ve spoken to Paul recently.  I’m going to watch Chatham play Horsham on Saturday.  I know it’s a big game now.

“Chatham and Whitstable are both clubs I’ve got a lot of time for.  I was at Herne Bay for a number of years, which are just down the road and I know all the Chatham directors’.”

Sampson says Foley must instil his winning qualities into his Chatham side for the remainder of the season.

He said: “Paul Foley played for me at Dartford.  I signed Paul when we were struggling, he was a great competitor. He needs his competitive instinct to come out now.  Paul’s a good guy.  He knows his stuff.  He must get it from his Dad (Theo).  He’s got to phone his Dad up and ask him what he’d do (in his situation).”

Foley suffered his largest defeat as a manager last weekend, going down 6-1 to big-spending Whitehawk, despite taking a second minute lead through Brad Potter.

“I’ve got to be realistic as we’ve still got six games left and we’ve got to be better than we were,” admitted Foley.

“All six games that we’ve got left now are important.  It’s the same approach to the game if you’re at the top or bottom – it doesn’t matter where you are in the League to be honest!

“I’ve been behind; I’ve been chasing the League; I’ve been bottom – you want to win a game of football no matter where you are in the league.

“I don’t think there’s any added pressure – it’s no fun getting beat 6-1 and I just hope it’s a first and a last for me!

Whitstable Town’s slide towards the relegation zone is a concern for manager Peter Nott, and he wants his side to collect points at Leatherhead at the weekend ahead of the crunch game against Chatham at Belmont Road on 9 April.

“The league table’s don’t lie,” said Nott, who escaped relegation from the Ryman Premier League as manager of Maidstone United in the penultimate game of last season.

“We’re near the bottom because we’re not good enough.  We’ve had a bit of a mini arrival and they give me that.”

Nott was referring to last Sunday’s embarrassing 6-0 home defeat to leaders Metropolitan Police, where his side showed no passion, desire or commitment against the Surrey outfit.

Nott feels his side must win half of their last six games to beat the drop.

“It’s important all the bottom games are six-pointers after the Leatherhead game, with the exception of the Ramsgate game all the games that we’ve got are against teams in the bottom half.

“All are fighting for their lives and I’ve got to make sure now I get a team out that’s going to fight for their lives.”

Nott admits their home game against Chatham on 9 April will be won by the individuals who want it the most.

“It is a big game, they were on the end of a similar scoreline.  I watched that game (against Whitehawk) and both teams are at a point where it can only get better than that.

“It’s which team is going to respond the most and which team’s going to be up for the day. 

“I’m a little bit undecided what Whitstable team will turn up for the last six games.”