We must turn over Billericay, insists furious Cray chairman

Monday 17th August 2009

CRAY WANDERERS chairman Gary Hillman is fuming over Billericay Town’s refusal to play his club on a Sunday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Ryman Premier League grudge match will now be played at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium this coming Friday, with the Kent club being hit in the pocket because of Billericay Town’s depressingly sad antics.

"I feel that they have behaved disgracefully, made a mockery of the Ryman League and are going totally against the spirit of non-league football, Mr Hillman told www.craywands.co.uk.

"I feel sorry for Bruce Badcock (Ryman league fixtures secretary). He does a great job and has worked so hard to get this fixture sorted. He even managed to agree with Waltham Abbey to switch their game with Billericay Town to a Wednesday which, at first, they said they would be happy with, but then changed their minds.

“I really can't see what Billericay are talking about; first they said they wanted their players to have one non-working day off followed by two working days (Saturday to Wednesday) and now they have agreed to play on the Friday - just two working days after they play Hendon away on the Tuesday!!”

Rather bemused, he added, “We have just witnessed International matches on a Wednesday, with players having to travel back from all over the world in order to play on Saturday, so Billericay's argument doesn't stack up either!”

Cray Wanderers have a groundshare agreement with Bromley that is based on bar takings; so have to pay their landlords compensation when home games are forcibly changed away from Hayes Lane.

"Although I would like to send our sincere thanks to our friends at Dartford FC for letting us play there, in real terms it's going to cost us thousands of pounds to switch the game, causing our Supporters a load of hassle. This has totally and unnecessarily wound up everyone at our Club,” complained Mr Hillman.

Billericay’s antics will certainly inspire the management team of Ian Jenkins, Joe Francis and Paul Blade and their squad to get one over the unprofessional Essex club.

And Mr Hillman agrees, saying, “I have always said that I think Jenko (Jenkins) is the ‘Alex Ferguson of Non League' for what he's achieved and the loyalty he has shown to the club, and I think that Billericay's manager must be the ‘Rafa Benitez' as he just hasn't thought it through and has now put massive pressure on himself and his players to not only beat us but also to win at Hendon on the Tuesday and Watham Abbey on Tuesday after.

“If you'd have said at the beginning of the season that Billericay at home at the end of August would have been our biggest game of the season, I would have laughed at you, but it really has come to that, as we have made extra arrangements to have them watched, tactics, extra training etc.

“We are currently talking to some of our players' employees so that they can have the Friday off work to prepare for the game. So, while Billericay's players are struggling to get through the Dartford Tunnel on a busy Friday night, with their WAGS having a moan at them for not going out for a meal that night etc., our players will be relaxing and preparing for the game of the season.”

But before that grudge match against Billericay, the Wands look forward to their first Kent derby of the season, against Tonbridge Angels, which WILL be played at Hayes Lane tomorrow night.

The Wands picked up a point from their first ever Ryman Premier League game, as Colin Luckett’s penalty sealed a draw at fellow promoted side Aveley.

But for the Angels they were defeated by bogey side AFC Hornchurch, who came away from Longmead Stadium with a 2-1 win. Lee Minshull scoring their first goal of the new season.

Assistant manager, Francis, meanwhile, believes the Wands have the experience to be able to handle whatever Tommy Warrilow’s side will throw at them.

“We’ve still got five or six players in the squad from before Cray’s first season in the Ryman,” Francis told www.craywands.co.uk.

“Players who played for us in the Kent League, who are still in there.

“We’ve got bags of experience in the squad now. We’ve got new fixtures this year, new places to visit and a higher standard of football.

“This Cray squad now has the ability to do very well at this higher level.”

Francis has targeted a crowd of over 500 for their first Kent derby at their highest level of football, against a club that should bring plenty of support up the A21.

“Jenko and myself are indebted to the hardcore section of supporters who watch us week in, week out,” he said.

“We know and appreciate what they do for us, the players and the club.

“But we want more. We want more people coming through the turnstiles. They’ll get to see a good game every time, because I think that Cray are the most entertaining footballing team in the area.”

Angels boss Warrilow, meanwhile, who was forced to slash his playing budget during the summer, which now sees him having to play many younger players, recognises the efforts of his opposite numbers.

“I’ve got two mates over there and I’m delighted they’re up to the premier. They were knocking on the door and they deserved it,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’m looking what they’ve brought in and I’ve got no doubts that they could be dark horses. They’ve got strength in depth, so it won’t be a massive jump.

“Cray are a big side as well, so we’ve got physical battles (to win) as well.”

Cray Wanderers’ quotes courtesy of www.craywands.co.uk

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering Cray Wanderers’ opening two home league games against Tonbridge Angels and Billericay Town.

Cray Wanderers v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 18th August 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF