Lisney relishing Millwall visit

Wednesday 07th July 2010

FISHER manager Gary Lisney says the visit of neighbouring Millwall on Saturday will boost coffers ahead of the club’s second season in the Kent League, writes Stephen McCartney.

Fisher take on newly promoted neighbours Millwall just one year after previous incarnation Fisher Athletic were wound up and the club came close to going out of existence entirely.

Following the winding up order, 42 long standing supporters gathered at the Fisher Downside Centre on 28th May and vowed to keep the club alive.

It was decided at the meeting that the club would reform as a supporters owned and run club with each member having an equal stake in the club as well as a say in how the club was run.

408 days later, newly formed Fisher host Millwall. From the very humble beginnings of trying to field a side to lay in their friendlies 12 months ago, it’s evident the club has made progress in the short time in existence.

“I don’t know what sort of team Millwall are going to be sending down, it’s a game against a now Championship side. I’m a Millwall supporter myself so it’s a good fixture for us,” Lisney told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Looking forward to the Champion Hill clash, Lisney added: “We’ve had about four or five training sessions. The first couple was just to get players back in and understand whose about and not about from last year’s squad.

“We’ve got a lot of interest from people who want to play for Fisher. We’ve got new people who are training at every single session.

“We’ve got a number of players who are staying from last year and I’m hoping to confirm in the next few days with registration details etc.

“I think, in total, we’ve probably got three quarters of last season’s squad that are staying, which is very pleasing to be honest.

“I would say out of last year’s squad that there’s only two or three that have not returned. I don’t want to say too much about players at the moment because I don’t want to be announcing that people have left when I haven’t actually spoken to them.

“Until I’ve actually know people have left, I’m loathed to say people have left.”

Fisher completed their first Kent League campaign in the bottom four, but Lisney is looking for improvement this season.

“We’re a million miles in advance in where we were this time last year,” admitted Lisney.

“This time last year we were having open-day trials with all sorts of players coming down.

“We’ve got three quarters of last year’s squad that are staying and some of them were youngsters that we’re experiencing Kent League football for the first time so they will be a lot better equipped in terms of understanding what standard is required.”

Fisher have also attracted a visit from another promoted side, Dagenham & Redbridge, who have a familiar face within their coaching staff making an emotional return to Champion Hill on Wednesday, 21 July.

“Pre-season friendlies are not just a way of improving match fitness for players,” explained Lisney.

“It’s for clubs like Fisher, who are absolutely run on a shoe-string. It’s an invaluable main source of income. The more people we can get through the gates the better the club will be throughout the season.

“Wayne Burnett’s got a bit of an infinity with Fisher and he’s a very good friend of mine. I used to work with him when he was manager at Fisher Athletic. He’s at Dagenham now (as John Still’s coach) and thankfully they’re bringing a team down to play us in a pre-season friendly.

“Again, I don’t know what numbers we’ll get through the gate, until we get there on the night.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to give some players some match time until their belts and hopefully an opportunity to raise some revenue for the club.”

This summer there have been some movement in the boardroom, with chairman/secretary, Martin Eede returning to landlords Dulwich Hamlet as their chief executive, which includes a variety of administrative roles.

Fisher have appointed Joe Arif as their new secretary, whilst Mr Jude Bliss has taken on the role of public relations officer.

Mr Arif said: “Under our Supporters Trust remit, it is not necessary for the board to appoint a chairman. As a board we will run the club and any major decisions were decided by vote anyway. It’s business as usual as it were.”

Lisney is sad to see Mr Eede leave the club.

“Martin done an awful lot of work for the club behind the scenes. As you probably appreciate there’s a lot of unsung heroes at the club.

“Martin was a very well known character but that didn’t detract the amount of work that he did for the club. He was a tremendous support to me as manager and someone I admired greatly.

“We’ve got a fairly young and fairly enthusiastic bunch of committee members, who are keen to take on the challenge and pick up the roles that Martin used to do for us, so onwards and upwards.”

Admission prices have been confirmed as £5 (adults), £3 (seniors) and £1 (under 16s).

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.co.uk

Fisher v Millwall

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 10th July 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, Dog Kennel Hill, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD