Kentish Football 
We've earned the right to face Ramsgate, says Hollands & Blair boss Paul Piggott
The Gillingham-based club, who play in the Kent Invicta League, lock horns with Ryman League Division One South side Ramsgate in the Second Round of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night.
The game has been switched to Ryman League club Chatham Town’s Maidstone Road ground because the club’s ground at Star Meadow does not have floodlights or any covered accommodation.
Hollands & Blair face Ramsgate after winning the Kent Senior Trophy for the very first time in the club’s history after beating Sevenoaks Town in the final.
And Piggott is looking forward to his club’s Kent Senior Cup debut, against Ramsgate who have lifted the silverware just the once back in 1963-64 and were runners-up in 1947-48, 1957-58 and 1966-67.
Piggott said: “It’s the biggest game in the club’s history, without a doubt.
“I spoke to someone the other day, probably half the club’s in that competition (the Kent Senior Cup) probably hasn’t heard of us or don’t know where we’re from but we like to think we’ve earned the right to be in that competition so we’re hoping we’ll be taken seriously.”
When asked what he is expecting against Ramsgate, Piggott replied, “A tough game! A very tough game! We had some tough games last year when we played in the Kent Senior Trophy, against teams in the league above and now we have to play a team that are two leagues above us.”
Piggott added: “We could have stayed in the Kent Senior Trophy and tried to retain that but we felt that we earned the right to play in that competition so that’s why we took the club into that competition and the players are right behind us.”
When asked what his players need to do to produce the club’s most famous win, Piggott replied, “A lot of hard work and a few of their players having off days and all of mine having good days!
“Let’s be realistic about it. They’re a good Ryman League side so it will be tough for us but you never know, as they say in football.
“We wouldn’t turn up unless we felt we had a chance to win any game. That will be the way we approach any game.
“Ramsgate have got some good players. We’ve had a look at what they’ve got and there’s a lot of players there who have played at a higher level and been at pro clubs.
“It’s going to be very tough for us but one thing we will say is we’ll give it our all and if it’s enough to beat them great. If not we’ve given the competition the credit it deserves.”
Piggott would have loved to have played Ramsgate at Star Meadow, but said: “Of course we’d like to play it our club, that’s our own ground, but we’d love to play there but the conditions were if we went into that cup we’d have to play at a better ground facilities wise, but we have to take that on the chin.
“Chatham is just up the road from us so we’re hoping to have a lot of local support to cheer us along with our game and we’re looking forward to it.
“It’s nice to play under lights, which we don’t do a lot at our level, so we’re going there full of confidence.
“We’ve won five on the spin now so we’re in good stead at the minute so we’re going into it with lots of confidence. All we can do is go in there, be confident, play with a smile and see what comes of it.”
Hollands & Blair go into the game on the back of five wins on the bounce and came away from second-placed Bearsted with a morale-boosting 2-1 win at the weekend.
“We’ve had a good result on Saturday against a good Bearsted side, which we needed to win because the points gap would have opened us between the two of us had we hadn’t have won so we’re buoyant from that,” said Piggott.
Blair are now one point behind Bearsted, and seven points behind unbeaten league leaders Phoenix Sports, but with a game in hand over Steve O’Boyle’s side there is still plenty to play for.
“Well there’s still a long way to go. We haven’t played them yet so we still have to play them twice and I know Ashford have got to play them and they’re still unbeaten. There’s still a lot of points to be lost and gained between now and the end of the season.
“All we need to do is keep winning our games, that’s what I tell the players. If we keep winning our games we can’t affect any other teams if we don’t win all of our games.
But Piggott just can’t wait to pit his wits against Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon, who was Dover Athletic’s skipper when they defeated Gravesend & Northfleet in the 1991 final at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.
“I know it’s an old saying, but we’ve got nothing to lose, points or anything like that,” added Piggott.
“We’ll go out there and enjoy our game, this is one I certainly will do and this is one I’m looking forward to because we’re matching up against other players and managers at a higher level than us.
“We’d like to think one day we can progress as a club and you can gage yourself what you’re up against.
“It’s only about ten years ago when we were playing pub football and the club has come a long way in the last ten years and we want to go further still. Our goal is to get into the Kent League. That’s why I’ve come to the club. I want to get into the Kent League. That’s where we want to be. The club’s done really well.
“Ramsgate are a good Ryman League side and I played against them a few times when they were in the Kent League and they were always a big, strong side. It will be tough for us.”
Meanwhile, Hollands & Blair have confirmed the admission prices for Tuesday night’s Cup tie - £8 (adults) and £4 (concessions), which includes a matchday programme.
Visit Hollands & Blair’s website: www.hollandsandblair.co.uk
Hollands & Blair v Ramsgate
Kent Senior Cup sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round
Tuesday 6th November 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd