New-look Boro' youngsters raring to go

STEVE FERKINS unveils his young Greenwich Borough side tomorrow night for their Bulmers Cider Kent League opener against Erith Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ferkins was installed as the new boss at Harrow Meadow and brings a very young and inexperienced side to Bayliss Avenue against the Dockers under new management themselves.

There has been a mass exodus at Harrow Meadow during the close season with all but one of last season’s squad left for pastures new.

“I think we’ve got one player in the squad who was involved last year,” Ferkins said when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the derby.

“Joseph Ogoo, who we like the look off, I think he’s only seventeen, he is a decent prospect to be honest with you - a centre midfield player.”

Ferkins, who arrives from Ryman League Division One South side Corinthian-Casuals, where he was reserve team manager, says he is familiar with his current squad.

“Most of the players we’ve known for a number of years with our links of youth sides from our youth football,” he said.

“We do know the boys and it’s good to be able to put them all together. All the boys we’ve invited down at the start of pre-season have all signed for us and are all looking forward to playing for Greenwich Borough.

Ferkins is looking forward to their opening game against an Erith Town side that are coming to terms with the departure of Mark Tompkins last Wednesday and new boss Steve O’Boyle takes charge of his new game with hardly any preparation.

“It’ll be intriguing, I wish my opposite number all the luck - but not on that night though!” said Ferkins.

“Obviously, we’d like to get a result of some sorts. We know we’re a new side with a good pre-season. We’re pleased with the way things have gone.

“We would obviously like a good start but we’re not counting our chickens - we’re confident we can do well.”

Speaking about his squad, Ferkins said: “Our oldest player is 24, that’s Kenny Jarrett-Elliott,- a centre half and our youngest being Joseph, whose 17. Most of the lads are 19-20.

“We’ve always been a big believer, they may lack experience, but enthusiasm takes them a long way.

“Our background’s from youth football anyway. They’re all enthusiastic, that’s the main thing. They’re looking forward to it - that’s all you can ask for as a manager - we’re quite happy.

“We’ve actually got 20 signed at the moment. We’ve got a couple of injuries that may take a few weeks to level themselves out.

“We’re quite pleased to look into the reserves if we need to (as) they’ve got quite a decent young side together.”

Ferkins is confident that he can stave off interest of higher league clubs that are interested in some of his players.

He said: “We have looked at this. We’ve had a few people looking in pre-season, through our contacts in the Ryman, looking around.

“There’s one or two who may be approached by certain teams. All the lads have known each other for a few years and are happy to be in that environment.

“We’ve asked them to stay for a year but it someone comes in for a good offer and goes up a level, we’ll let them go.”

Ferkins spoke about his background and was impressed by Slade Green yesterday, having watched their 3-0 win over Erith & Belvedere.

“I’ve done by apprenticeship in the youth league’s,” he said . I ran a team under Dulwich Hamlet at under 16 level and we won it that year about four year’s ago.

“We were playing under the Dulwich Hamlet banner when they were in the last year of their academy before Fisher took over - under Junior Kadi and Gavin Rose.

“Last year I was in the Suburban League with Corinthian-Casuals, which we found a decent standard of football.

“I’ve done a little stint with Croydon Athletic in the Capital League, which was a decent level of football so it will be nice (managing in the Kent League), something that I’ve wanted for a long time.

“I went to watch Erith & Belvedere play Slade Green. I was quite impressed with Slade Green, who played some decent football.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match.

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtownfc.co.uk

Visit Greenwich Boroughs’ website: www.greenwichboroughfc.co.uk

Erith Town v Greenwich Borough
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Monday 11^th August 2008
Kick Off 7:30pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ