We need support to move forward, says Faversham boss Justin Luchford

Monday 23rd August 2010

FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Justin Luchford says he wants fans to flock through the turnstiles for the club’s first ever Ryman League game at Salters Lane on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Lilywhites came away from big-budget side Whitehawk with a creditable 2-2 draw at the weekend, courtesy of first half goals from skipper Tom Hickman and Dane Luchford.

The Brighton based side are expected to do well in their first campaign in the Ryman League Division One South having clinched the Sussex County League title last season.

But Faversham’s first major test will be on Tuesday night when established club Walton & Hersham are the visitors.

The Swans have some familiar faces in their ranks with former Bromley manager Stuart McIntyre as their assistant, and they have persuaded former Chatham Town pair, Dean Ruddy (goalkeeper) and Ray Powell (right-back or striker) and the vastly experienced Nick Barnes to leave their Kent roots to play for the Surrey side.

Looking ahead to the game, Luchford told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he wants a good turn-out.

He said: “I keep saying, we can’t move forward, no club can move forward without support - and we need support - we need people coming through those turnstiles.

“Hopefully the people that have travelled to Whitehawk will send messages back and all the people will get the text messages and will see we’ve done ok.”

Faversham left at half-past-ten on Saturday morning to get down to Brighton for their opening game, and Luchford appreciates that playing Ryman League football will put new pressures on everybody at the club - playing two games a week was unheard off in the Kent League!

“I’ve got a lot of fresh legs as well for Tuesday, which is good,” Luchford added. “Botts (Dave Botterill) and Skelts (Dale Skelton) will obviously be fresh, they only played 20 minutes, Dave Bathgate (a summer signing from Deal Town) is back from suspension and Ashley Brown will be fit for Tuesday.

“We know what it’s going to be like, the Ryman, you’ve got to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. You can’t have a few days off to recover now. We’ve got to go for it.

“We looked a bit leggy at the end (of the Whitehawk game) but first game, it was always going to happen.”

Luchford says he will be clued up on his opponents by the time the two sides lock horns.

“We’ll speak to a few people and I’ll make sure we know a little bit about them before Tuesday night, but we do know Walton & Hersham will be a tough game.

“I know it’s an old cliché, there’s no easy games, but it’s probably true in the Ryman South than it is in a lot of the non-league’s. Every team is capable of pulling out a result.”

John Crumplin’s rebuilt side defeated Ramsgate 3-0 on the opening day, courtesy of goals from Adrian Butler, Powell (who was playing as a striker) and Barnes.

Luchford added: “They’ll be buzzing because they’ve won, so we’ll just got to knuckle down and do our jobs and hopefully on Tuesday night we can get some points.”

Then on Saturday, the club welcome Sussex County League side Pagham to Salters Lane in the FA Cup preliminary round.

Pagham came away from Kent League side Lordswood with a 5-1 victory in the Extra Preliminary Round on 14 August.

They are fifth in the top-flight of the Sussex County League with a record of two wins and a draw from their opening four games.

But Luchford admitted that, although the FA Cup is important to bolster club coffers, staying in the Ryman League is much more important.

He said: “Of course it would be good to have a Cup run, the funds and everything that comes with it, it’s the FA Cup at the end of the day.

“If we go out next Saturday, I’ll certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it. We’ll obviously be going to win the game next week, like we do every game, but our bread and butter this season is staying in this Ryman League.

“If I go out of all the Cups and I stay in the Ryman League you won’t see me too unhappy. If we have a brilliant Cup run and we go down, that’s not what it’s about.

“We’ve got a game on the Monday against Whitstable (subject to their FA Cup result) and to be fair I don’t really want to go to Pagham on a Tuesday night, so we need to get it out of the way, in a way.

“We’ll be going to win the game, but for me if they win, although people will call it a shock, they can call it whatever they want, but it won’t impact me or the players.”

Meanwhile, just across the border in east Sussex, Rye United insist it’s “business as usual” after a mindless arson attack in the early hours of Saturday morning, has destroyed the clubhouse at The Salts, a venue that they share with the cricket club.

A club statement issued on the club website www.ryefc.co.uk said: “It’s a sad time for all at the club and if anyone would like to help Rye United get back on track by offering their services or donating raffle prizes, we would love to hear from you. Email info@ryefc.co.uk.

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

Faversham Town v Walton & Hersham

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 24th August 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Shepherd Neame Stadium, Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND