Kentish Football

We'll have the best ground in the Kent League when it's completed, says Norton Sports' Ben Taylor

Wednesday 29th September 2010
NORTON SPORTS’ player-manager Ben Taylor urges fans to get themselves down to watch the club’s first game back at Woodstock Park on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Sittingbourne based outfit return home following their exile at Herne Bay for Saturday’s Safety Net Associates Kent League clash against Sevenoaks Town and club officials have confirmed a reduced admission of £3 (adults), £1 (concessions), although under 16s with an adult can watch the game for FREE.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s training session, Taylor couldn’t hide his excitement ahead of the club’s homecoming, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’re well looking forward to it,” the 30-year-old central defender said.  “We’re training tonight and everyone knows that they’re going back there Saturday for our first home game.  It’s been long awaited.

“While I’ve got you on the phone, I would like to thank a couple of people for all their hard work.  Maurice, Woodstock’s chairman, Dave Brown, Colin Page, especially Ronnie Welling from me personally and Mark Ashworth.  If I can thank all of them that will be lovely for all their hard work to get us back into the ground.  They’ve done ever so well behind the scenes.

“I would like to say thank you to all the players for staying loyal to the club and putting in all their hard work keeping us in the Kent League.  Not just keeping us in there but doing well in the Kent League.”

“Hopefully this will be a move in the right direction, but hopefully we can step up the league now.”

When asked about the facilities at the ground, Taylor proudly boasted: “The ground’s brilliant!  Honestly it’s a lovely ground, really, really nice.  The surface is lovely.  The stand ain’t done but it’s acceptable but when the ground’s actually complete it will be the best ground in the Kent League without a doubt!

“The clubhouse is unbelievable, the pitch is unbelievable.  We’ve got new extended dug-outs.  We’ve probably got the biggest dug-outs in the Kent League!

“It’s going to be really nice down there.  Honestly mate, it’s going to be a lovely ground!”

Norton Sports have been making the 44-mile round trip to play their home games at Herne Bay’s Winch’s Field ground - but Taylor is looking forward to more time at home prior to games.

“The way I look at it is we’re all local boys and we‘ve all stayed loyal,” said Taylor.  

“If there’s a manager out there with a team that don’t get paid and takes their squad to Herne Bay every week and back, train twice a week, without getting paid and keeps their squad together in the Kent League, let them come to us about pressure.

“For me, it can only get easier as I’ve got more to persuade players to stay at the club, not that anyone wants to leave.  I’ve got more to bargain with player, we’ve got our own ground, it’s all local football. 

“As you know, we’re a local based team, but no disrespect to Sittingbourne or nothing, we train in Sittingbourne and play in Sittingbourne, we’re all local boys, all Sittingbourne boys so hopefully the supporters will come and watch and support their local team.

“I know Sittingbourne have got their name but we’re a local team.  On paper they’re not a local team as their all Dartford based players,” he said of Gary Abbott’s Ryman League Division One South outfit.

“It’s not a dig at Sittingbourne or nothing like that, but I know they’re a league higher but they’re out of town players, where as Norton are Sittingbourne boys, bar a couple.  There’s a couple on the island (Sheppey) and one in Lordswood.”

“I live five minutes away from  the ground so that will be brilliant!  I will probably be leaving my house every Saturday when we’ve got a home game at a quarter-past-one, instead of like quarter-to-twelve!”

Norton Sports lock horns with Sevenoaks sitting in eleventh place in the Safety Net Associates Kent League table, with a win and three draws from five games.

Sevenoaks arrive in seventh place in the table, with three wins and a draw from six outings.

“Because of all the hard work that’s gone on, hopefully we’ll get a few people up there,” said Taylor.

“I don’t want to turn up and disappoint ourselves and let ourselves down like, I feel, in the FA Cup when we went to Beckenham (and lost).

“I want everything to go right.  I want to get to the ground, a great atmosphere for everyone and to get three points would finish it off perfectly for me.”


Norton Sports  v  Sevenoaks Town
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Saturday 2nd October 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AQ








 

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