We're enjoying our time whilst we're on the up, says Hollands & Blair boss Paul Piggott

HOLLANDS & BLAIR manager Paul Piggott is naturally delighted that his club have been invited into the newly formed Kent Invicta League, writes Stephen McCartney.



The Gillingham based outfit have won the Kent County League top flight for two of the three last seasons but they had to appeal against the decision not to invite them into the new Step 6 League.

“We’re not quite sure what went on there,” said Piggott.  “It’s something to do about the length of the pitch, but they came and rechecked it and from that they said it was ok.

“It would have been a big blow for the club because we would have been relegated because everyone in your league, or 90% in your league were going up in the league and you would have stood still.”

Ashford United, Bearsted, Bly Spartans, Bridon Ropes, Cray Valley (PM), Crockenhill, Erith & Dartford Town,  Hollands & Blair, Lydd Town, Meridian, Orpington, Phoenix Sports, Rusthall, Seven Acres Sports, Sutton Athletic, Woodstock Park are the sixteen sides to compete in the new league, which gets underway on 20 August.

Rainham resident Piggott, 40, was asked what he is expecting from the teams in the new League.

He said: “I think you’ll get a mixed bag because the teams that have come up have come up from the league below and some have come up from two league’s below so you don’t know what you’re going to get.

“They might be able to attract better players because they’re playing in a better standard of football. 

“Also with the new teams coming in, Ashford United and Erith & Dartford Town, you don’t know what they’re going to throw up so it’s going into a little bit of the unknown next year really.”

Piggott will be looking forward to locking horns with Tony Reynold’s Ashford side, two years ago Ashford Town were playing Ryman League Division One South football.

“Ashford, they’ve got to start again, they’re starting from scratch, so again, you don’t know what they’re going to come up with,” said Piggott. 

“Personally, I think they’ll come up with a half decent side because of the club, the facilities and what they’ve done in non-league football.  You’re pretty sure they’re going to come up with a decent side.”

Champions Hollands & Blair were disappointed that second-placed Canterbury City took their place in the Safety Net Associates Kent League.

“That’s definitely where we want to be and as we speak the works started on our new changing rooms and our new facilities that we’ve got going on at the club,” said Piggott.

“We’re disappointed that we haven’t been able to go up this year but if we keep things right on the field next season we’ll be there or there abouts to get ourselves promoted if we do the business on the pitch.

“The facilities would have caught up with us by then.”

The club’s Star Meadow ground doesn’t have floodlights, although Canterbury City secured a groundsharing deal with Herne Bay during last season to continue their rise.

On the subject of floodlights, Piggott said, “It’s hard for teams at this level, especially for a club like ourselves. 

“The team has progressed far too quickly – if that’s possible – but it did because they were winning things and the off-the-field set-up of the club wasn’t quite right to progress as quick as the team has.

“But to be fair to everyone at the club they’ve worked really hard to get people involved to help us out and the work that needs to be done will be done over the summer and I take my hat off to them.

Piggott admits his side will be the one to beat in the Kent Invicta League next season.

“All I can say is we’re a club that’s on the up and we’re enjoying our time whilst we’re on the up,” said the former Lordswood boss.

“We’ve been a successful as a club for three or four seasons now so of course that brings pressure on itself but that’s one of the reasons that keeps players and me at the club, because it’s those sort of pressures you want to motivate yourself to succeed.

“Like I say that’s what motivates us, people wanting to come and beat us because of what the club’s done over the last few seasons, that and my desire to succeed and this club wants to be in the Kent League, that’s where we want to be and if you don’t get those pressures there’s no point being here.”

Hollands & Blair will host Meridian – who last season finished second from bottom in Division Two West in the Kent County League – in the first round of the Challenge Trophy.

Technically, the Charlton based side finished one place above the foot of the English pyramid system – that sad statistic went to Westerham.

Piggott said: “They’re coming up the league’s, now you don’t know what they’re going to bring.  All I know the last two seasons the ones that came up from the league below at least one of them have finished in the top three or four.  You don’t know what’s coming up, you don’t know what they’re going to bring with them. It’s the unknown but all I can do is make sure we’re prepared for it.”

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website: www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

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