Twenty nine years without a trophy, it's starting to feel like England! admits Micky Collins

ERITH & BELVEDERE boss Micky Collins says his ambitions’ for the new season is to end the club’s 29-year trophy draught, writes Stephen McCartney.


The last time the club’s first team won a trophy was the Kent League title back in 1982 when it played at Park View in Belvedere, but now playing at a Conference South stadium in Welling, Collins’ predecessors have failed to deliver the goods and clinch promotion to where the club should be, in the Ryman League.

Collins, 40, guided the club to fifth place in the Kent League in his first season in charge, courtesy of picking up 22 points in their last eight league games.

“I’ve been in the job for a year, there wasn’t anything here when I came here.  I had to start from scratch,” said Collins after his side were beaten 5-0 by Gillingham in their opening pre-season friendly last night.

“We had a great end to last season and obviously we want to push for honours.  The club hasn’t won anything for 29 years, so we’re trying to push to win something.

“Last year I said we’d be top eight and we finished fifth and we ended up with a very good run.  We don’t have massive budgets here so we’re working within restraints.

“If we win something it will be great.  Whether that will be a Cup or any type of trophy.  Any manager in the world is going to set out to try to win the league.  However, we know it’s a very tough league to get out of with only one going up so we’ll try our hardest.”

Herne Bay have clinched the runners-up spot (and picked up back-to-back Kent League Cup final wins) in the past two years and will be one of the favourites to go one better, under a new chairman, this coming season.

When asked what Collins was targeting, he said, “I’d be happy with top three in my second season and maybe we’d nick an honour somewhere.  That will be fantastic for the club.  Obviously we’ll push as hard as we can. 

“I’ve got great support from the chairman, the directors’ and the club’s all pushing in the right direction, down to the reserves, the under 18s and youth.  It’s a good place to be at the moment.

“There’s a buzz around the place and maybe that’s not been there for a while and that’s what it needs. 

“Twenty-nine years without a trophy, it’s starting to feel like England!”

Erith & Belvedere are without a game on Saturday, as their game at Kent Invicta League side Erith & Dartford Town has been cancelled.

Erith & Dartford Town have cancelled all three of their games at VCD Athletic’s Oakwood ground, against Fisher, Erith & Belvedere and landlords VCD Athletic.

Erith & Dartford Town have hit the headlines as they’ve gone through two managers before they’ve even played a League game.

Darren Anslow parted company with the club to become Sevenoaks Town’s new manager after Kevin Levett left to become Kevin Watson’s number two at Ryman League Division One North outfit Chatham Town.

The club then appointed Michael Morgan, who managed Epsom & Ewell’s reserve side last season, but he only lasted 31 days.

Morgan was in charge of just one game – a 4-0 defeat to Tunbridge Wells in their first pre-season friendly last Saturday.

The Wells fielded much-travelled striker Ross Cable in the game and Martin Larkin’s side clinched victory thanks to four goals from midfielder Andy McMath.

Erith & Belvedere, meanwhile, continue their pre-season campaign with a trip to Ramsgate next Tuesday.

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk  

Ramsgate  v  Erith & Belvedere
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 19^th July 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN