KENT SENIOR TROPHY FINAL: I'm the Avram Grant of the Kent League, says Firkins

Wednesday 14th April 2010

GREENWICH BOROUGH boss Steve Firkins says he feels like the Avram Grant of Kent League football as he aims to emulate the Portsmouth boss and claim Cup success on Sunday afternoon, writes Stephen McCartney.

Firkins doubles up as manager and club secretary at the smallest Bulmers Cider Kent League club - who average gates of just 32 at Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground in Bromley, their home for three years after vacating their modest Harrow Meadow ground for new housing last summer.

To their credit, Boro’ are the highest ranked amateur side in the division, and go into Sunday’s Kent Senior Trophy final against champions-elect Faversham Town in fourth place.

“You look at us as the Portsmouth of the FA Cup, I suppose,” Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk ahead of the club’s biggest game of the season.

“There’s a lot of similarities between the two clubs - we’re both skint - although I’m no Avram Grant!

“Obviously it’s a big day for us. Hopefully we’ll maybe have a bit of support to cheer us on and we’re looking forward to the day.”

With his side labelled as underdogs, Firkins knows it’s going to be a tough task to claim the Kent Senior Trophy against Ryman League bound Faversham Town.

“Faversham have proved they’re the best team in the league by far,” he said. “They’ve absolutely smashed the league, obviously Herne Bay (in second place) have kept them on their toes.

“It will be a hard game for us. We know their strengths, they know our strengths, and I think it will be a little bit of a battle of wits and tactics, maybe, I don’t know.

“People know how we set up our teams and we’ll just try to enjoy the day and play as much football on a nice, big, pitch and hopefully get something out of it.

“We’re a footballing side, we’ve got good players who are technically good and you can’t stifle that. We just go out and play to our strengths. If Faversham beat us by a corner or something then fair enough. I’ve not got the biggest team in the world, perhaps we’ve got to try to prevent the threat.

“If we can keep the ball as much as possible, make them work a little bit harder for the ball, who knows?

“A lot of people have said Faversham are a direct side, but I’ve seen them play their football when they played us down there, thy got the ball down.

“You play to your strengths and hopefully it will be a good game, two slightly different sides, so hopefully it will make for an exciting game.”

Team management and club officials put their own money into running the club and success on Sunday would make their loyalty all worthwhile.

“It’s not just for me or the lads, but it’s for everyone who works within the club,” said Firkins. “We’ve only got a small committee and we all work hard. We all put money into it just to keep the club floating.

“But it will be a good day out for all of us, hopefully.”

Champions-elect Faversham Town, meanwhile, face their first Cup Final in almost 20 years, knowing that following Tuesdays 1-0 win over a battling Sevenoaks Town side, they stand on the verge of a very special double.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s showpiece final, which is expected to attract a crowd of over 500, Luchford told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that everyone at Salters Lane is relishing the game.

“It’ll be great for the club to win some silverware at the weekend,” he said. “Lets face it (Faversham have) come back from the dead six years or so ago, and haven’t been in a Cup final since 1991 so yes it will be a great day for the club, and nice to get some silverware on the cabinet.”

The games between Faversham Town and Greenwich Borough have been evenly contested this season, a point that wasn’t lost on the Faversham boss.

“We know a lot about them, and the pitch at Park View Road will suit them I believe as they like to play football and we’ve played some great football too take nothing away from my players.

“I think it’s got the makings of being a great Cup Final I really do, as they’ve nothing to lose.

“We’ll probably go into the game as favourites but you don’t get favourites in Finals in my book – everyone will give everything – our lads will and their lads will – and I’m just hoping that it’s a great final, but I’m certainly hoping that we bring the trophy home.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

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

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

Greenwich Borough v Faversham Town

Kent Senior Trophy Final

Sunday 18th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY