Micky Collins wants to deliver knock-out punch in FA Cup tie at Corinthian-Casuals

Thursday 09th September 2010

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Micky Collins takes his side to historic club Corinthian-Casuals looking for his side to produce their second FA Cup shock, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Deres got past their Safety Net Associates Kent League rivals Holmesdale at the first hurdle, but came away from Zamaretto League Division One South & West outfit Gosport Borough at the second attempt, and now travel to Ryman League Division One South strugglers Corinthian-Casuals at the weekend plotting another Cup shock.

The Tolworth based side only have Ramsgate and Horsham YMCA below them in the table, but although Collins knows it will be a difficult game against a side that are one league above, the Kent League side are more than capable of coming away with a good result.

“We’ve had Corinthian-Casuals watched and we know we will have another difficult game,” Hadlow based Collins told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk.

“But we will go there with a game plan, as we did against Gosport Borough in the previous round, and hope to get a good result against them.

“They are a big, strong side and it won’t be an easy game for us.

“We’ll discuss things with the players at training on Thursday and we’ll go there in confident mood.”

Meanwhile, off-the-pitch, Larry O’Connell, one of the most respected figures in the world of boxing, will be sharing his memories of his career on Saturday 9 October at Erith & Belvedere.

Club spokesman Brian Spurrell said: "As a referee and judge, Larry, who is club president of the Deres, has handled dozens of title fights involving many of the sport’s biggest stars of the past 35 years, including such names as Tyson, Lewis, Bruno, Hamed, Calzaghe, Haye, Mayweather and Pacquiao.

"Larry has been involved in the fight game for over 50 years. He was SE London ABA lightweight champion in 1958 at the age of 19, and was twice runner-up in the national ABA light-welterweight championship, in 1963 and 1965, both times to Olympic gold medallist Dick McTaggart.

"In 1976 he handled his first fight as a referee at the National Sporting Club in Mayfair, and over the next few years built a reputation for his knowledge and authority, handling early fights involving Kirkland Laing, Clinton McKenzie and Lloyd Honeyghan.

"He refereed his first title fight in December 1984, when Barry McGuigan defeated Clyde Ruan in Belfast to retain the British and European featherweight title. The previous month Larry had made his big fight debut as a judge, at a British, Empire and European middleweight title bout in which Tony Sibson beat Mark Kaylor at Wembley Arena.

"Over the years Larry has refereed some 350 bouts and been a judge at over 70, from Luton Town FC to Las Vegas via South Korea and Shepton Mallet (scene of a Naseem Hamed fight in 1995). His biggest fights include Lennox Lewis v Gary Mason (referee, 1991), Chris Eubank v Nigel Benn (referee, 1993), Mike Tyson v Frank Bruno (judge, 1996), Lennox Lewis v Evander Holyfield (judge, 1999). The last of these was the controversial drawn bout at Madison Square Garden, where Larry scored the fight as a draw – and he and many others will always be ready to defend the verdict!

"Larry will also be talking about his love for Erith and Belvedere FC, who host the event - he has been involved with the club as long as he has with boxing. There will be a Q&A session so you will have your chance to ask Larry about his memories."

Tickets available in advance: £5 from the club (cheques payable to "Erith and Belvedere FC") – contact brian.spurrell@yahoo.com for further details.

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Corinthian Casuals v Erith & Belvedere

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Qualifying Round

Saturday 11th September 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

at King George’s Field, Queen Mary Close, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7NA