Let's end the season in style, says Whitstable chairman - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

A crowd of over 1,000 fans are expected to be entertained during Sunday’s Kent Senior Trophy Final between Bearsted and Whitstable Town at Dartford’s stunning Princes Park Stadium - a venue for such occasions, writes Stephen McCartney.

Whitstable Town, leading the Kent League table by seven points as they go into their last four games, are the favourites to win the showpiece contest at the £6.5m Stadium.

However, British Energy Kent County League minnows Bearsted, have already knocked out two Kent League sides on their way to the final.

Slade Green and Sevenoaks Town were eaten up by the hungry Bears, who had knocked out their league rivals Crockenhill, at the first hurdle.

But for treble chasing Whitstable Town and their manager Marc Seager, whose currently suffering with a bug, he is fully aware how good his opponents are.

“I’ve seen them play and they’re a very good side and they’re a side that will hold their own in the Kent League,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“They’re a good footballing side and I’m looking forward to a good match.”

Seager will be without suspended pair Marcos Perona and Jake Gess and will need to decide which two other players will be forced to sit-out.

“It’s disappointing for the side but we’ve got a very strong squad and there will still be a strong squad on Sunday,” he said.

“I’ve still got eighteen to choose from so there’s going to be two disappointed players on the day but that’s the ups and downs of having a big squad.

“It’s up to me to pick the right sixteen to pick up some silverware.

“I will say to them what I always say, to go out and enjoy yourselves and don’t come in at a quarter-to-five with any regrets.”

Over 200 Oysterboys and girls - the best supporters in the Kent League - will be making the 84-mile round trip to support their heroes as they aim to claim the first part of their treble.

“All our members will be wearing red and white and for those that don’t have a shirt or scarf, we are making sure that we have merchandise on the coaches so that there will be no mistake who we support,” said Mr Keith Mount from the Whitstable Town supporters club.

“We are confident the team can end the season on a high, starting with bringing the cup back to Whitstable on Sunday.

“These are great times to be a Whitstable Town supporter as this is the first time in the history of the club that we have been in this position, in two cup finals, and chasing for promotion all in the same season - it’s great stuff,” he told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

And Whitstable Town chairman, Mr Tony Rouse, is looking forward to Sunday’s final.

“They’ve got at least one former Whitstable player and they’ve got three or four players that have played at our level or above so there’s quite a number of options that could cause an upset,” he said EXCLUSIVLEY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“We’re not going to take them for granted and we’re certainly not.

“The only person who knows about them is Marc, having seen them two or three times, so we’re in the dark about them.

“We’ve got three coach loads full and another coach load in numbers going up on their own so I will be disappointed if there’s not 200 or more Whitstable fans.

This is the second successive Kent Senior Trophy Final that’s been played on a Sunday - to allow as many followers of Kent football to watch the final.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Mr Rouse.

Last season, VCD Athletic needed penalties to beat Tunbridge Wells, at Welling United’s Park View Road ground in front of a crowd of over 500, and Mr Rouse is looking forward to his first ever visit to Princes Park.

“It’s going to be a new ground for me and I’m very much looking forward to it,” he said.

He added: “I may like to add our poor run of form and put it into some sort of context.

“I think it’s very easy to lose sight of the fact that we went 23 games unbeaten and indeed the only time we’ve been beaten, prior to Greenwich, was the FA Cup and FA Vase in domestic competitions.

“And I think during the course of the season, any team’s going to have a blip. We’ve had ours, and although the 4-0 scoreline against VCD doesn’t reflect it, for the first 30 minutes during which we’ve had a good shout for a goal disallowed through Andy Constable, we were back to playing good football - and that's given us a good platform for Sunday.”

Whitstable Town should go on to clinch the Kent League title if they avoid defeat to second placed VCD Athletic at The Belmont next Saturday - a game that will attract a crowd of over 500.

And the club are already preparing for life in the Ryman League when the season commences in August.

The chairman revealed: “We’ve got some prestigious pre-season friendlies lined up, Which Marc’s got for us, ready to kick-off the season, whichever league we find ourselves in.

“We’ve got ground improvements planned and a ground plan in place for the next five years.

“We’ve engaged a local architect and he’ll be spearheading the funding process.

“We’re all geared up as the Ryman League is concerned but we’re looking to the future. We want the Belmont brought up for Conference level football.

“I think my previous chairman, Joe Brownett and his company, have been wonderful supporters of Whitstable Town for over twenty years now.

“And if we are lucky enough to finish off this season in great style, whilst under my tenure, we owe everything to Joe.

“As far as off-the-pitch is concerned, it’s a case of giving Marc the backing that’s needed to progress the football club to the next level.

“Marc and I have a great relationship. We’re both open and honest with each other and if he wants something for the players, I’ll make every effort to grant his wish.

“If I can’t, I tell him and he’s man enough to accept that. He doesn’t make any unreasonable demands on the club but the same token he wants Whitstable to be the most professional club as we can possibly be.”

Whitstable Town lock horns with Thamesmead Town in the Kent League Cup Final, which takes place at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, on Saturday, 5^th May (3pm).


Admission Prices:

£6 (adults)
£3 (concessions)

LIVE COVERAGE:

For those fans who cannot attend the final, www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be providing LIVE SCORE updates from Princes Park.

Bearsted v Whitstable Town
Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday 15^th April 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Dartford FC, Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT