We're going to make a fist of it, says Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

SUCCESSFUL manager Tommy Warrilow answered questions from Tonbridge Angels’ fans at a meet-the-manager session at Longmead Stadium yesterday – and urges them to generate the support to give him every chance to make their first campaign at Conference South level one to remember, writes Stephen McCartney.



The Angels waved goodbye to Ryman Premier League football in the biggest week in the entire club’s history when play-off wins over Harrow Borough and Lowestoft Town sealed promotion into Blue Square Bet South for the very first time in the club’s history.

The club begin their pre-season campaign with a visit from Brentford on Saturday, knowing that they will begin their league campaign with a trip to Maidenhead United on 13 August, before welcoming foes Sutton United, who clinched the Ryman Premier League title, to Longmead Stadium on 16 August.

Warrilow told fans, “It’s fantastic.  The first half dozen fixtures are straight in at the deep end.  We are looking forward to playing at the nicer grounds on the nicer pitches with some new grounds for the fans.

“It’s important that we all enjoy it, but at the same time we want to make a fist of it, we don’t want to just turn up to make the numbers up.”

The last thing that Warrilow wants is to endure a miserable campaign ending in relegation.

He said: “I think the most important thing is not to throw away all the hard work it’s taken to get here.

“I don’t like the word consolidation.  I want to go and win every single game, but having a good look at the league this year we’ve got to have a reality check, but I’m not going to stop the boys from going out and wanting to win every single game of football.”

One thing that Tonbridge Angels do, however, is entertain it’s loyal fan-base, as the two play-off games at the end of last season proved – a nervy 3-2  win over Harrow Borough after extra time in the semi-final and who could ever forget THAT 4-3 home thriller against Lowestoft Town in the club’s biggest ever game – the play-off final.

Warrilow said: “If you look at our side our strength really is going forward with the players we have got, so we have got to play to our strengths, respect everyone and make sure when we haven’t got the ball then we are more organised and I think we were, at the latter part of the season.

“When I walked in the door three and a half years ago with Tel (Terry Sedge) we have always thought we would like to go that way, we try to entertain.”

The Angels certainly did against Lowestoft Town – 3-1 up at the break and coasting, but the Suffolk side clawed themselves back to 3-3, but the Angels sealed a historic win courtesy of THAT winning goal from Lewis Taylor.

“The play-off final summed it up, it was 4-3,” reflected a proud Warrilow.  “Anyone who came down here for the last week of football or anyone just coming here for the first time, you’re not going to get two better games of football.”

And Warrilow has issued a rallying cry to those fans to remain faithful during the coming season.

“We need you lot more than anything this year, to really make a fist of having a go at this league,” said Warrilow.

“There is no need to be scared of teams like Dartford, Bromley or Welling, or teams like that or to be in awe of them.

“We have a fantastic little club here that is run so well.  If we can get the turnstiles up to 800-900 that would be a fantastic start.”
Meanwhile, reflecting on team personnel, Warrilow has revealed that central midfielder, Robbie Kember, who played for both Folkestone Invicta and Carshalton Athletic last season, is training with the club.

“He phoned me a while back, he ended up at Carshaltton last year and whatever happened down there happened, but he asked if he could come and do pre-season, which is not a problem,” explained Warrilow.

“To be fair he has come in and actually been brilliant, his attitude, everything.  At the moment he is club-less, he is training with us and he is one of them when we get going and get the turnstiles clicking, he is someone I would go and talk to because of the way he has conducted himself.”

Warrilow added: “I don’t think (playing) is a priority to him at the moment because he is getting married at the end of August and then he will be away on his honeymoon, so he is going to miss the start of the season so he just wants to tick over for a while.”

Warrilow revealed that a couple of fringe players will be on a dual-registration with Ryman League Division One South side Folkestone Invicta this season.

He said: “What we have done already this year is Luke Blewden and Matt Hollyoak have been sent down to Folkestone so we can have them on a dual-registration if we wish.”

“What we got to do is be careful with any good, young players coming through because someone will come in and pinch them, so what we have done is let Matt Hollyoak and Luke Blewden go away and if they have been outstanding we have the luxury of bringing them back to the club.”

Warrilow, meanwhile, gave an update on injured central defender John Beales.

“Bealsey had his knee scanned and there was nothing wrong with it, but when Jon Main (a summer signing from AFC Wimbledon) became available obviously he became priority,” explained Warrilow.

“I spoke to Bealsey and he is welcome to come down here and train during pre-season and it’s a bit like Robbie Kember, just see what happens.

“I think it got taken out of perspective when I said I couldn’t afford him.  Listen, one thing about him, if we signed John Beales and someone else came down I would say exactly the same thing.  It wasn’t the fact that the budget was this, that or the other, we always had to make sure his knee was right.

“When he finished the season it was stiff and he couldn’t bend it without a reaction.  It’s a bit like Scott Gooding.  I told him just to go away and get himself sorted out.  Scotty is different as he is going to be quite a few months, but when he is fit who knows.

“But with Bealsey I just felt I had to be honest with him and say rather than come down in pre-season and not be able to give him what we did last season was unfair.”

Warrilow has been discussing Beales’ future with Margate manager, Chris Kinnear.

“I had Chris ringing me up, and I told John and he is speaking to Chris,” said the Angels boss.

“If I was Chris Kinnear I would be signing John Beales, but I don’t know whether he wants to come back and have a go and see how it turns out is another thing, but I doubt it very much.

“I think John Beales will go away and get his head down.  He needs to play, he needs to get some games and see how his knee is.”

Quotes courtesy of Chris Varney – www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk

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

Tonbridge Angels  v  Brentford
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 16^th July 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF