My priority is to improve with local players, says Rusthall boss Ronaldson

Sunday 01st August 2010

RUSTHALL boss John Ronaldson says he will field local talent as he bids to better last season’s seventh-placed finish in the Vandanel Kent County League, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rustics defeated Tonbridge Angels and Tunbridge Wells to lift the George Piper Courier Cup at the first time of asking last weekend - and they will kick-off their new league campaign with a home match against Sutton Athletic on 14 August.

“My priority this year is to be better in the league,” Ronaldson told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Hopefully a top-four finish is what we’re aiming for.

“We’ve signed some local players. In previous years we’ve had lads come down from London and it’s done us no good at all.

“We’re trying to stick to local players and bring the youth through.

“We were seventh last year and we were fourth for a long while, but we had a bad March where six or seven of our senior players were injured so it crippled us really.”

Looking forward to the visit of Sutton Athletic on opening day, Ronaldson wants to get the season off to a flyer.

“Rusthall are renowned for slow starters, so hopefully we’ll hit the ground running and get a result.”

The Kent County League have published their opening day’s fixtures (14 August, 2:45pm):

Bearsted v Stansfeld (O&B) Club

Bly Spartans v Cray Valley (PM)

Bridon Ropes v Fleet Leisure

Canterbury City v Tonbridge Invicta

Lewisham Borough (Community) v Hollands & Blair

Phoenix Sports v Snodland

Rusthall v Sutton Athletic

Woodstock Park v Charlton Athletic Community

Visit Kent County League’s website: www.kentcountyfootballleague.co.uk