The FA Vase is a massive opportunity for players to put themselves in shop window, says Paul Proctor

HOLMESDALE manager Paul Proctor says it’s good that his side are starting to be noticed by their rivals’.


The Bromley based outfit have normally been perennial strugglers in all but one of their six seasons in the Kent League – but this season the club have got off to a decent start and lie in seventh-place, with three wins and a draw from their opening six games.

Holmesdale are eight points behind leaders Phoenix Sports, who have played three games more.

“Well, that’s good, it’s a good thing,” said Proctor. 

“We’ve set our stall out how we like to play. We like to keep the ball on the deck and play some nice football and the coaching side of things is important to us and it’s important to the club the way we play.

“If we can play attractive football and find a way of winning, that’s what we’re trying to achieve.”

Holmesdale went down to a disappointing 4-1 home defeat to Corinthian on Tuesday night.

“A big disappointment on Tuesday night really,” admitted the former Bromley youth team manager.

“It was another test for us really. We played very well first half but I think a lack of experience in the midfield area – we missed Mark Axel and John Paul Collier’s presence – and we couldn’t hold our performance in the second half, which is disappointing.”

Holmesdale travel down to east Sussex to play Crowborough Athletic on Saturday in The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Qualifying Round.

Proctor added: “I expect a tough game. We played East Grinstead in the same league in The FA Cup and that was a tough game so there’s no reason not to expect anything different.

“John Paul Collier is suspended but everybody is fit and available so it will be an interesting training session tonight – everyone will be trying to stake a place.”

Kent League clubs voted to change the name of the league to the Southern Counties East Football League at League’s AGM to accommodate Crowborough Athletic and Rye United to strengthen the division to nineteen clubs.

However, both Sussex clubs won their appeals to stay in the Sussex County League and despite the name change all managers still call it the Kent League!

This website has made it clear that the league should revert back to The Kent League – one of the reasons being the name is simply too long!

When asked what The FA Vase means to Holmesdale, Proctor said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity, isn’t it? 

“If you look at the exploits of Tunbridge Wells last season (reaching the Wembley Final and losing 2-1 to Spennymoor Town) and you think to yourself why can’t we do the same?

“We’ve got the abilities, we’ve got the class of players’ in there. It’s a massive opportunity for players, especially younger players to put themselves in the shop window.”

The Kent club would also like to scoop the £800 in prize money available to the winners of Saturday’s game.

“It’s a lot of money for a club like us,” added Proctor.

“We’re trying to promote the club. We’re working hard on the sponsorship side and we’re working hard on promoting the club in the community to get more people through the gate so a victory would elevate our profile a little bit more.

“What’s pleased me most this season, we’ve gone from being Holmesdale, a club that everyone expects to beat and a club where someone’s doing you a favour and turning into a club where you have to give us respect on and off the pitch.

“Our facilities are growing all the time. Any money we do get gets put into the club and the ground is pleasant to come to now and it’s a club that’s on the way up.”

Lewisham Borough attracted their largest crowd of the season on Wednesday night simply because their match against Meridian in the Kent Invicta League was the only match played in Kent that evening.

Holmesdale must compete with Conference South neighbours Bromley and their tenants Cray Wanderers – down the road at Hayes Lane.

All three clubs play their home midweek games on Tuesday evening and Holmesdale will attract bigger gates if they switch their games to another evening.

“We probably will next season look to do something to maybe change the nights to Wednesday and maybe give ourselves a chance and Saturday go opposite to Bromley to see if we can get some dual support going,” revealed Proctor.

“I think Cray Wanderers have their own individual support so I don’t think that’s as much of an issue.”

Visit Holmesdale’s website: www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Crowborough Athletic  v  Holmesdale
The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 21^st September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Crowborough Community Stadium, Fermor Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 3BT