The club is going in the right direction, says Woodstock Sports boss Ben Taylor

WOODSTOCK SPORTS manager Ben Taylor says his target is to finish in the top eight this season – the Sittingbourne based club’s highest ever finish, writes Stephen McCartney.


The artist formerly known as Norton Sports kick-off their Kent Hurlimann Football League campaign with a trip to VCD Athletic on Saturday, before newly promoted side Canterbury City visit next Wednesday.

They have made a few new signings, including former Maidstone United striker, Lynden Rowland, who was playing Kent County League football with Strood based outfit Bly Spartans last season.

“It’s gone really well, at the moment, mate to be honest with you,” said Taylor, a carpenter, who helped with the clear up in Woolwich, Lewisham and Brixton following the London Riots earlier in the week.

“We’ve got a few decent players in.  The squad is stronger this year than it was last year.

“It’s gone really well.  The friendlies have gone well, but the only problem is we’ve got Jon Neal injured, James McDonald injured, I’m suspended, Ashley Baverstock’s suspended, Tony Clarke’s injured, so we are down to bare bones.  It’s not the starting line-up I’m putting out on Saturday isn’t the starting line-up I wanted to put out.

Taylor added: “We’ve got new kits and new tracksuits this year, where we’ve changed the name.  The floodlights are up and running so after Saturday we’ve got Canterbury on Wednesday night, so we’re looking forward to that as well.  It’s all going in the right direction.  I’m well happy this year.”

VCD Athletic finished in third place in the Kent League last season, under manager Ricky Bennett.

Looking forward to their opening day clash at Oakwood on Saturday, Taylor said: “We’ll go there confident.  We can go there and get a result to be honest with you, there’s no reason why we can’t.  We’ve had some close games with them before.  It’s the first game, everyone’s getting back into it, the first competitive game.  We’re confident going into every game, to be honest with you.”

Taylor paid tribute to the club’s hardworking committee, for bringing floodlit football to the club, which is based at Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne.

“I think it’s going to be a brilliant day,” said Taylor, ahead of Canterbury City’s historic visit next Wednesday.

“All the backroom staff, who have made it happen, not just for Woodstock Sports but for Woodstock Park, who are in Step Six.  It’s been brilliant mate.  The atmosphere up there is great, with new kits and new tracksuits, so we feel like a right old team now.

“I’ve watched Canterbury play last year, they didn’t look too bad.  I should imagine they’ve got new players there this year.  They’ve got little Chris Elliott from Woodstock (Park), who used to play for us.

“I just imagine there not going to be too bad.  We’re not going to take no-one for granted.  Good luck to them this year.  I hope they get on well really.”

When asked about his aspirations for the season ahead, Taylor said: “To finish above ninth and have a good cup run, I’d be happy with that.

“As long as we progress every year I’d be happy.  Don’t forget we don’t get paid so along as we’ve progressed every year, I’m happy.”

The club have certainly come a long way after three years in the Kent League.

Taylor agreed, saying, “It certainly has!”  When we was first in the Kent League three years’ ago, we had no ground, no training ground, no lights, no clubhouse, no groundshare, we had nothing and now we’ve got Woodstock Sports and Woodstock Park, we’ve got our own ground, training ground, bar and floodlights. 

“We’ve got it all now mate so we’ve got a good set up for the Kent League so teams that come here can’t come here and moan about our club.  We’ve got a nice clubhouse, everything’s going in the right direction.  I’m really happy.”

A covered stand, meanwhile, is the next on the club’s shopping list.
“They’re sorting it out.  You can only do one thing at a time – the next thing is the stand,” explained Taylor.

“That’s the next thing to do.  The lights have been signed off now, the next move is the stand.  It all takes time.  Unless someone comes in and chucks bundles of money at it, so you can do it all in one hit, it all takes time.  They (the committee) promised me they would take it to the right direction it needs to go in and to be fair they’ve stuck to their word.

“Every month or so there’s something going up there and it’s only improving the ground so they’re doing a really good job up there.

“We want to make sure we stay in the Kent League, which is where we want to be.  Who knows, one day, they may give me some money to go out and look for some players, but until then, I’m happy.”

VCD Athletic  v  Woodstock Sports
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 13^th August 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN

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