We need to remember how far we have come, says Foley

Wednesday 06th January 2010

WITH his side sitting in seventh place in their debut season in the Ryman League Division One North table, VCD Athletic boss Paul Foley reflects on his side’s season so far, writes Jeff Perkins.

The newly promoted side from Crayford have been at the top of the league form table for the past ten games that have seen a return of seven wins, two draws and a solitary defeat to the champions elect Lowestoft Town with six of those ten games being played away from home.

When asked for his half-term report Foley, who was speaking to www.vcd-athletic.co.uk said, “We are looking good for the target place that I expected us to finish up in.

“I won't be declaring that target but as I said before we started we were not going into the league to make up the numbers. We were there on merit and we finished the Kent League campaign with an incredible run of results and we had a strong squad of Ryman level players.

“We have played twenty two games, played all the stronger sides and played a higher percentage of games away so I am looking for a better points haul from the remaining twenty games.

“We have a succession of home games coming up and we are yet to play the two bottom sides. Nothing is a certainty in life but we have suffered three postponements at home recently and our home form has been excellent all season with only one defeat in the league at Oakwood.

“At the start of the season we had people at the club worried about getting to the safe points total of 30+ and now we are pushing for a play off spot they still find things to be negative about!

“Football fans are great aren't they?! We don't have many fans really but some of the few we do have definitely need to read some self-help positivity books! I love all that though, the same people who are slating you one day shake your hand the next. We even had it last year when we had a poor start but when we won the Kent League last year the same people fell over themselves to congratulate Dean (Frost) and myself!'

“The club had come up short continually in the Kent League and we achieved promotion in only our second year in charge so we need to remember how far the football club has come in a short space of time.

“There is a select core of good people off the field and our dressing room is a very positive place so none of it rubs off on us thankfully!”

When pushed for a prediction on what would be deemed a successful debut outing in the highest league the club has played in for 94 years, Foley replied, “That depends on who you talk to! I want to win things and move forward continually and we have achieved nothing yet this season.

“If we finished bottom which we won't it would still be the highest placing in our 94 year history so that's one way of looking at it.

“We would not be happy with that obviously and with the squad we have assembled over the course of the season on a small budget we are looking for a decent finish.

“Put it another way we have 35 points from 22 games and I will be looking for an improved points per game total from the next 20 games. That should put us in a decent position and may get our committee's bums twitching if we are anywhere near the play-offs!”

The Vickers drew their last two games against neighbours Thamesmead Town over the festive period in two close encounters that ended in 2-2 and goalless draws.

With senior players Anthony Hogg and Chris Tedder both returned from injuries the Crayford based outfit have a full squad of players available for selection once more.

VCD are scheduled to travel to Tilbury on Saturday, before welcoming troubled Harlow Town to Oakwood next Tuesday, 12th January (7:45pm).

Article courtesy of www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

Tilbury v VCD Athletic

Ryman League Division One North

Saturday 9th December 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Chadfields, St Chads Road, Tilbury, Essex RM18 8NL