We are looking for a good day out at Deal, says Ashford United boss Paul Chambers

ASHFORD UNITED boss Paul Chambers says he is looking forward to the club’s return to The FA Cup on Saturday.




Chambers, 40, takes his side to play Deal Town in the Extra Preliminary Round, which will be the club’s first competitive game of the new season.

Deal Town, meanwhile, have played two Kent Hurlimann Football League games already this season.

They rose to the top of the table following their 5-1 home win over Holmesdale on the opening day of the season, but they were brought back down to earth after going down to a 3-1 defeat to surprise package Lordswood last night.

Chambers explained why his side have tested themselves against higher league sides, such as Ramsgate (4-1), Erith & Belvedere (4-0), Folkestone Invicta (0-0), Hythe Town (0-4), Crawley Down Gatwick (1-5) and Folkestone Invicta (1-4).

He said: “It’s been good, we’ve had quite a good pre-season.  I thought we’ve done alright. We’re more than happy with how it’s gone so yes, we’re quite happy at the moment.

“We’ve got some good players who can play at a higher level of football and we had a choice whether to play the teams from the lower league or the higher leagues.  Quite luckily, all my mates are managers of the Ryman League teams so we decided that fitness would be better than winning eight or nine nil against a lower team.”

Ashford United finished in fifth-place – eight points behind the promoted champions - in the inaugural Kent Invicta League season last time out.

“To be fair the standard of football was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, but I think it took everybody by surprise,” admitted Chambers, whose side finished lower than Bly Spartans, Phoenix Sports, Hollands & Blair and Bridon Ropes.

“I thought it was not going to be a very good league. It was quite impressive and I was quite impressed with the standard of it.

“We were going into the unknown and now we know what it’s all about.”

It is very unusual for any club to kick-off their new campaign with a FA Cup tie, which has £1,000 up for grabs for the winners in the Extra Preliminary Round.

“It’s probably something that we’ve not done before as a club,” said Chambers. 

“Normally you play a couple of league games before you go into these Cup competitions, but we’re looking forward to it as a club. The players and the staff are all looking forward to it.”

Previously when Ashford face Deal in Cup competitions they were the favourites, but Derek Hares’ side are the higher ranked club on Saturday.

“We’re looking for a good day out and Deal are a good side so it’s going to be a good game,” said the Ashford boss.

“We know Deal are a good side. They’ve signed some good players’ this year. We’re just looking forward to the game really, that’s what it’s all about.

“They’re going to be a big and strong side, like every other Kent League side, so we know what to expect.

“A few of our players’ have played at that standard of football, so we’re looking forward to it really.”

Chambers added: “We’re the underdogs going into Saturday’s game.  It’s a shame really what happened to Ashford, but it’s a new era now. It’s a new club and we’re starting to get things right. We’re a stable club now and we’re just really looking forward to being back in the FA Cup.

When asked what his aspirations are for the season, Chambers said he wants to join Deal Town in the Kent League.

“We’re looking to try and get promotion this year,” he said.

“We’re only in the three Cup competitions this year, one’s the FA Cup, one’s the FA Vase and the League Cup.  Hopefully we can have a good run in the two FA Cup competitions.”

Chambers, who played for Ashford Town during their epic FA Cup run when they locked horns with Watford, going down to a 5-0 defeat at Vicarage Road in the second round in 1997, added: “The FA Cup can be such a big day out for everybody.  You get a good club, for us to be playing a Ryman or a Conference side or something like that, they are good days out and this will be no different for us on Saturday.

“Some of the lads it will be their first taste of the FA Cup and they have to enjoy it as these days don’t come around too often.”

Visit Ashford United’s website: www.ashfordunited.co.uk

Deal Town  v Ashford United
The FA Cup with Budweiser Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 11^th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Charles Sports Ground, St Leonards Road, Deal, Kent CT14 9AU