We're going to miss retired Luckett, admits Francis

Saturday 12th June 2010

CRAY WANDERERS assistant manager Joe Francis has today paid tribute to Colin Luckett, who has sadly decided to hang his boots up due to a new job, writes Stephen McCartney.

The cultured left-back, who has also played for Millwall, Fisher Athletic, Stevenage Borough, Kingstonian (where he collected back-to-back FA Trophy winners medals at the old Wembley Stadium) and Bromley, will be sadly missed.

“The clubs going to miss Colin, Colin’s going to miss playing,” Francis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“By his own admission, he’s loved every moment playing for Cray Wanderers.

“If there’s any better left back in the league, I haven’t seen him. He’s so consistent, a great football brain, a beautiful left-foot and a great character.”

Francis unveiled the club’s four summer signings to date, one being a familiar face to the Wands faithful - Tyrone Sterling has returned to the club following a stint with ex-Wand Tony Dolby at Ryman Premier League side Hastings United.

Francis said: “Tyrone’s back, Tyrone’s come home and we’re really pleased with that as he can make the left-back slot his own, he’s a ready made replacement.

“Tyrone’s glad to be back, he’s said himself it’s like coming home, so it’s up to Ty now to make that position his own because he’s got every single quality you need to be a defender at this level.

“He’s got pace, a great left foot and now he can concentrate. He’s got a position, if he performs, he makes it his own.”

Allan McLeod (Tooting & Mitcham United), Chris Saunders (Maidstone United) and Rhys Coleman (Whyteleafe) have all agreed to play for the club in it’s 150th anniversary.

“Ally McLeod, he’s just an excellent midfield player,” Francis said of the former Bromley midfielder.

“We’ve wanted him for, we’ll, we’ve admired him for years. He’s a good character in the dressing room, a good footballer, experienced, a good signing.”

“Chris Saunders is a former Charlton professional and an (ex) Welsh international. He’s an accomplished midfielder and also a combative midfield player, can play anywhere across the middle. I know Chris as I also had him as a scholar at Charlton, so he’s a good player.

“Rhys is a former Charlton scholar, spent a year at Glen Hoddle’s academy and then played all last year for Whyteleafe and was outstanding! He’s a centre half or anywhere across the back four.”

Francis added: “Those are our new signings at the moment. We’re interested in two centre forwards and we probably need to make three more for our squad to be solid and ready for next year.

“Obviously we’ve got our Academy boys, who have done ever so well at the end of the season and they will be a part of our squad.”

Out of last season’s squad, Francis confirmed that Mark Willy, John Guest, Aaron Day, Ross Lover, Rob Quinn and Leigh Bremner have re-signed, and that the club are hopeful that goalkeeper Jack Smelt will put pen to paper to stay at Hayes Lane.

Academy players Gio Fulloni and Francis Cronin have also re-signed after impressing when called upon towards the end of last season.

“Our Academy has been outstanding,” praised Francis. “You look at our Academy, we’ve had four players who have made their (first-team) debuts this year and one (George Porter) has gone pro and it’s looking even better next year.

“If you look at all the club’s that have got Academies then no-one has done well like ours and that’s a testament to Darren Onslow who runs it.

So, what can we expect from Cray Wanderers next season after finishing in fifteenth position in their first ever Ryman Premier League campaign.

“We go into every season with high expectations,” replied Francis. “Post Christmas our form, if you look at it, was top six. We undid ourselves last year by having a poor start and that was down to injuries and suspensions and distractions to the side and then you’re playing catch up.

“We’re keen to have a really good pre-season and that we start well, every club will be wanting to do that.

“We’ve got to grips with it, Jenko (manager Ian Jenkins) and I knew what it was all about, but we don’t play the games do we? It’s about the players getting to grips with it.

“I thought we were excellent in the second part of the year. We only played two games where we were out of it. We gave everyone a game.

“I think we will be a solid, decent side this year.”

Meanwhile, as part of their 150th anniversary celebrations, the Wands will travel to Sheffield on Saturday 31 July for a tournament between Sheffield (founded 1857), the Wands (founded 1860) and Hallam (1860).

Chairman Gary Hillman said: “Supporters of all three clubs just have to be there. It’s going to be the most unique football tournament ever!”

Francis added: “It’s a momentous year - we’re really looking forward to it as we can make a weekend of the Sheffield game and that’s good for team spirit.”

The Wands begin their pre-season preparations with a game against Crockenhill at St Mary Cray Recreation Ground on 3 July, before welcoming Leyton Orient (as part of the deal that took George Porter to Brisbane Road) to Hayes Lane on 14 July.

Manager Ian Jenkins then takes his side to Needham Market on 31 July, before welcoming Guyana to Hayes Lane on 8 August, before travelling to Ryman One South side Chipstead on 14 August - a week before the season starts.

The Wands are also in negotiations with landlords Bromley about a warm-u game too.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk