We have aspirations to move on in the FA Cup, says Chatham Town boss Kevin Watson

CHATHAM TOWN boss Kevin Watson says he is concentrating on tonight’s trip to Ilford before he starts to think about Saturday’s home FA Cup tie against Worthing, writes Stephen McCartney.


Chatham dropped down to eighth place in the Ryman League Division One North table following last night’s round of matches and travel to bleak Ilford tonight.

The Essex side sit second-from-bottom in the table with only two draws from their opening six outings.

Worthing, who are presently in third place in the Ryman League Division One South table with four wins and a draw from their six league games, visit Maidstone Road in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round on Saturday.

“We’re obviously setting our minds on Wednesday,” said Watson, 30.

“I’ve always said we’ll take each game as it comes so we’ll get Wednesday over and done with and we’ll prepare for Saturday.”

Chatham lost out on a Kent derby against Whitstable Town in the FA Cup at the weekend, as Peter Nott’s side were knocked out by Worthing in the last round, and with £3,000 up for grabs in prize money in this round, Watson knows the importance of winning.

He said: “I think that goes without saying, but they’ll have the same mentality and want to get through that round.

“Club’s at this level always do have aspirations to move on in the Cup.  Certainly it’s a bonus if you do and we look to do that.  We look to win every game, whether it’s FA Cup, or league, or League Cup.”

Watson was pleased that a crowd of 260 watched their top-of-the-table clash against Grays Athletic last weekend.

Grays won the game through two set-pieces, but Watson was delighted with the support they received and he hopes fans’ flock through the turnstiles for Saturday’s FA Cup tie.

“I cannot tell you how much the boys appreciated the support they got from the supporters,” Watson told www.chathamtownfc.net.

“I know that Grays brought quite a few with them, but I hope that our home support is beginning to stand and I hope that we can continue to play the sort of football that will continue to encourage people to come and support the boys.

“We are a team that does like to play football, and so hopefully we can send people home having appreciated our performances and encourage them to come back again and maybe bring a friend with them.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net  

Chatham Town  v  Worthing
FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Saturday 17^th September 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR