The target is simple - to finish higher than last year, says Cray Valley boss Steve Chapman

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Steve Chapman is likely to hand six players their debuts for their Kent Hurlimann Football League opener on Saturday.

Chapman takes his side to play Greenwich Borough at Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground with Chris McGinty, Mo Conteh and Paul Votier joining former Sevenoaks Town trio Sam Gent, Jordan Clarke and Richard Morgan at the club.

Chapman said: “All have done well in pre-season and Conteh and McGinty have been amongst the goals.”

Greenwich Borough finished at the foot of the Kent League table last season with five wins and four draws from 30 games.

But Cray Valley finished their inaugural campaign at this level in eleventh place (bottom six), with nine wins and seven days and Chapman is looking for improvement this time around.

He said:  “I’m not getting over complacent about our visit to Greenwich Borough – we never beat them last season!

“With games against VCD Athletic, at home on Tuesday, and away to Canterbury City, it’s a tough start to the season.

“The target for the season is simple – continue to develop and progress and finish higher in the league than last term!”

Cray Valley’s ground at Badgers Sports Ground, Middle Park Avenue has been revamped into a decent venue for Kent League football over the last couple of years.

Chapman added: “On the non-playing side the pitch is looking good and we have erected another covered stand for standing supporters.”

Meanwhile, despite his club being the worst supported club in the Kent League, Greenwich Borough boss Gerry Cox simply doesn’t want any media attention this season.

When asked how pre-season has gone, Cox said: “Ok, not bad, not bad at all.  Some new players.”

Cox, who is also the club’s secretary, added: “I prefer not to quote alright. To be honest I don’t want to get involved in all that stuff on forums or anything like that, so I prefer to leave it.

“I would prefer not to speak to you about these things.”

When asked if he would like to comment about the game against Cray Valley, Cox replied, “What game?  I’m not getting involved with all that! I’m not going to quote at all right throughout the season so you won’t get anything out of me all season!

“We’ll generate our own publicity thank you!

“There’s too much goes on, on these forums and people read stuff into them and we are what we are. Where we end up at the end of the season is where we’ll end up and I can’t say anything more than that, alright!

“I don’t wish to be offensive to you or nothing like that, but I get so frustrated with all these quotes these guys put on their forums and things like that it’s not worth it.

“Let’s just stay friends. You’re more than welcome to come to Greenwich Borough anytime you like, but during the course of the season I won’t be quoting anything on your website!”

With an attitude like that, expect the club’s crowds to plummet from an pitiful average of only 29 last season to one man and his dog!

Visit Cray Valley’s website: www.cray-valley.co.uk

Greenwich Borough  v Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 4^th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At 68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HQ