We've got a good chance to cause St Albans problems, says Chatham Town boss Kevin Watson

CHATHAM TOWN manager Kevin Watson has told his players to create a piece of history on Saturday.



The Chats welcome Calor (Southern) Premier League side St Albans City to Maidstone Road to contest a winner-takes-all FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie.

Chatham Town are 90 minutes away from playing in The FA Cup First Round for the first time since losing 6-1 at Norwich City in season 1928-29 – 84 years’ ago.

Chatham FC reached The FA Cup Quarter-Finals back in season 1888-89, going down to a 10-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

But Watson wants his side – fourth-from-bottom in Ryman League Division One North with three wins and two draws from eleven league games – to create history.

“I think history is important but many of us weren’t part of the history but we can be going forward,” said Watson.

“What I want to get across to the players is after 90 minutes on Saturday that we’ve all got a clear conscience that we’ve done what we can to get the desired result and if we’ve got a clear conscience and got no regrets than regardless of the result that’s fine and that’s all I can ask of them.

“What I don’t want players to do is leave after the game or me leave and think ‘what if’ or ‘I could’ve done that extra.’

“We’re going to do things slightly different this week and we’ll find out a bit about them and they’ll find a bit about us.”

With Gillingham playing away to Port Vale in League One on Saturday, Watson urges as many local football fans to support his players’ on Saturday.

A crowd of 109 watched Chatham Town ease past Calor (Southern) Division One Central side AFC Hayes in The FA Trophy First Qualifying Round last weekend.

“It’s a little bit disappointing, it is frustrating,” Watson said of the club’s small crowds.

“I did have a look around with about ten minutes to go (last Saturday) and thought to myself why aren’t people coming down to watch us? They’re going to more local clubs so hopefully we’ll get more on Saturday.

“I think we try and do things right. We’re an entertaining side and we’ve got some very good players so I would like more support for the club and people to invite other people down and bring them down and if they come down and give it a go and they don’t like it, fine.

“There was somebody that was at the FA Cup game against Horsham that I took down and usually they go and watch a Premiership club and they said they actually preferred the experience because you feel part of the atmosphere so people need to come to try it. I think a lot of people will be surprised. It’s a good experience.

“If we can get people through the gate, it’s good value for money. It will be an entertaining game regardless of the result because us and St Albans will make it that because if will have that feel about it and it will be good to be a part of it because like you mentioned about history, to be a part of history to a certain extent.

“If people aren’t doing anything else on Saturday afternoon there’s far worse things people could be doing so I urge them to come down and give us a go really.”

Watson was injured for Folkestone Invicta’s FA Cup First Round tie at Chester City back in 2005 – but reflected on his own personal history in the competition.

“I was injured so I was doing some commentary for a local radio station but I was part of that team at that time,” said Brentwood-based Watson.

“I’ve done it previously. It got mentioned before we got through to the first round with Team Bath, which was pleasing. I‘ve been a part of it but like I’ve said it’s not about me.  It’s about the players and the club.

“I look back at those times and they’ve definitely been some highlights in my career and I want the players and the management staff to have those same experiences.  It’s not about any glory for me as a manager, it’s just pleasing for me that I can be a part of giving other people that opportunity.

“We’ve just got to have a clear conscience at the end of 90 minutes win, lose or draw.”

St Albans City dumped Conference South side Tonbridge Angels out of The FA Cup in the last round, which according to Angels’ boss Tommy Warrilow cost the club £20,000 in lost income.

The Hertfordshire outfit arrive in the Medway sitting in seventh-place in their league, with five wins and three draws from 12 games.

“I’ve spoken to Tonbridge because they feel a little aggrieved because I think they felt that was a game that they could have done better in,” said Watson.

“I’m not looking at it as a giant-killing because we could have had bigger teams in the competition.  It’s just a fixture.  It’s eleven men against eleven men and to a certain extent it’s just another game.

“If we play to our potential, I feel we’ve got a good chance to cause them many problems on the day. They’re a good side and they’ve got resources and they’ve got good players. It requires us to perform on the day.”

Watson hopes St Albans underestimate his side on Saturday.

“I don’t know how they feel about us, they may underestimate us, I don’t know.

“We can be a good team on our day, it’s just that resilience and that focus and people not getting caught up in the occasion really.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.info

Chatham Town  v  St Albans City
The FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 26^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR