Lifting Kent Senior Cup will top off a good season, says Abbott

Tuesday 04th May 2010

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott says lifting the Kent Senior Cup at newly promoted Folkestone Invicta tonight will make up for the disappointment on missing out on reaching the play-off’s for the second year running, writes Stephen McCartney.

Abbott was in the crowd to see Neil Cugley’s men beat Godalming Town in Saturday’s Ryman League Division One South play-off final.

“Obviously disappointed that we didn’t get into the play-off’s, but our fixtures have piled up over the last couple of months and it just didn’t help us out really,” reflected Abbott when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Our squad wasn’t big enough. I’m not making excuses we never got in there.

“We’ve finished ninth and we’ve had a good season whatever and making the Cup Final has made it a little bit better.

“I spoke to Cugs and he wants to win it. There’s no point going there and just making the numbers up and we’ll try our best to win it.”

Sittingbourne faced a hectic business end to the season but haven’t played since their league campaign ended on 28th April.

Folkestone Invicta have played Welling United in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup, which went to extra time two days before their final league game and have played two home play-off games, beating Leatherhead (on penalties) and Godalming Town since the Brickies last took to the field.

But Abbott says adrenalin will get Folkestone through tonight’s showpiece final at Cheriton Road.

He said: “When you have a Cup Final to win everybody’s going to be up for it. They’ll be wanting to play no matter how tired they are.

“Hopefully it’s a good game and we’ll lift the Trophy up.

“It’s a bit weird coming in training, because you have nothing else to play for.

“We’ve been training last Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but we’re preparing right for it and yes, I want to go and win it.”

Abbott says he will sit down with chairman Andy Spice in the next few days to discuss next season’s playing budget.

“I want to keep the players that I’ve got and if we can, add a couple of experienced players but at the moment nothing’s been said or what budget I’ve got or anything,” he said.

“Every manager wants to go out and wants to win the league. Unless we get a bit more budget next year it’s probably going to be even harder because when you miss out, the league is going to get harder because there’s people who have got money and can get the experienced players.

“Hopefully we can get a nice sponsor or something to put a bit more money in.

“I think we’re only a couple of players short - why can’t we go and win it? This year we’ve proved that we’re better than the top teams but we just had a bad run for six or seven weeks but that’s partly due to the fixtures.

“I’m not going to stop now. I’m going to keep going for next year as well and keep doing the best I can.”

Lifting the Kent Senior Cup would top it all off for Abbott.

He added: “We’ve had a good season whatever with the squad and the youngsters that we’ve got and to top it all off we can get a trophy - that will be nice if we can do that!”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Sittingbourne

Kent Senior Cup Final

Tuesday 4th May 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU