We are trying to do as much as we possibly can to turn it around, says Paul Blade

CRAY WANDERERS’ assistant manager Paul Blade insists his players are giving 100% in every game despite their poor start to the season.



The Wands are rooted to the foot of the Ryman Premier League table on four points from their first eight games.

More concerning is that they have leaked 31 goals in those eight games and have scored eight at the other end.

Maidstone United romped to the top of the league with a 5-0 win over Ian Jenkins’ side at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night.

The crowd of 521 was Cray Wanderers’ largest crowd of the season but results have disappointed the club’s small band of loyal supporters.

The club slashed their playing budget at the start of the season after one of their two backers pulled out.

“I’ve got no excuses,” said Blade after their Kent derby defeat to The Stones.

“Every player at this club gives 100% - no one ever disputes that.

“We always say to players the minimum requirement is to give 100%. That should be an automatic thing – that you give 100% for the club, yourself, the team and everyone else.

“Once you’ve done that you’re looking for a bit of quality. You’re looking for the player to produce the goods on the pitch. That’s the be all and end all but when you’re down there and you’re getting beat every week and conceding like we are conceding it is tough.

“But everyone who knows us, Jenko, myself and Joe (Francis) and everyone involved in the club, Gary (Hillman, the chairman), the committee and everyone, we will never lie down and we will never give up.

“We’ll keep trying and we’ll keep battling and we’ll be looking. Hopefully a player will turn up and all of a sudden give us a lift.

“You never know what’s around the corner.”

Around the corner are Faversham Town, who arrive at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon to contest a FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie.

Ray Turner’s side knocked their league rivals Worthing out of the competition in the last round with a 5-1 win at Salters Lane.

The Lilywhites arrive in Bromley sitting in eighth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, having collected four wins and a draw from their opening eight games and will be keen to pile more misery on The Wands.

“Listen, everyone will fancy playing a team that’s bottom of the league and conceding goals. That’s a fact,” added Blade.

“League positions doesn’t lie, goals against doesn’t lie, results and everything else doesn’t lie, so any team will come here and will have confidence that they’ll score goals or create opportunities.

“We have to turn that around to other teams just trying to stop that.”

Blade added: “I’ll bite your hand off, I’ll take a 1-0 win, a 3-1 win, 3-2, 4-3, anything! 

“The FA Cup is The FA Cup. It might be a little bit of a relax period for the players.

“We’ve had Faversham watched so we’ll have a set-plan. Hopefully we can get something from the game.”

The winners in this round scoop £3,000 in prize money from The Football Association and Blade hopes that money will be used to strengthen a fragile team.

“Hopefully, with the finances, it’s an opportunity to bring some money into the club,” said Blade.

“You never know, if we can get a cup run and get a few more games you never know what’s around the corner and hopefully we might be able to use the money and get a couple of players and try and help people out.”

Blade wants negative comments to stop and for the club’s small band of fans to get behind their management team and players.

“It’s difficult because they are down and are probably asking questions but hopefully they can support the boys because there’s a few youngsters and a few boys learning and they don’t want to hear negative comments from people,” said Blade.

“But these people pay their money and they are entitled to their opinion and they’re entitled to say what they want to say but they’re here supporting the club.

“I want them to know that we are trying to do as much as we possibly can to turn it around.”

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/craywands

Cray Wanderers  v  Faversham Town
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Sunday 15^th September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF