We’ve got the heart, determination and spirit to get us through, says Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says his side’s unique togetherness will maintain their Ryman Premier League status at the end of the season.




The Mead clinched promotion after winning the Ryman League Division One North play-offs after beating Witham Town and Maldon & Tiptree after finishing a record best third place.

But life in their new surroundings has been a struggle and they go into two massive away games sitting second-from-bottom with one win and one draw from their opening nine games.

Thamesmead Town will welcome Ryman League Division One South side Sittingbourne to Bayliss Avenue in The FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on Saturday 28 September after last week’s 2-0 home win over Redhill.

In his programme notes, McMahon wrote: “I knew this was going to be a very difficult season for us – we are up against some very big clubs with massive wage bills and our goal is to stay in the league.

“We all need to stick together and stay positive.  If there are any doubters out there, let me tell you something about me – I don’t quit and walk away from things.

“In my opinion, I have done a great job in getting our little club to where we are and I know that I have a massive job on my hands but I am a very strong person and I definitely believe that I can achieve our goals this year.

“I certainly won’t be walking away from my club because the going gets a little tough.

“Instead, what you will see is me working hard and fighting for every one of my players until we get this right – and I’m 100% certain that we will.

“I have worked extremely hard throughout the ten years that I have spent here to date and we have achieved miracles.

“I’m not about to sack myself and forget about the journey of those ten years just because of a few bad results or a difficult run of form.

“I’m up for the challenge and I know that we will turn things around.”

Seven days’ ago, McMahon sold striker Stuart Zanone to newly-promoted VCD Athletic, who are presently seven points clear at the top of the Ryman League Division One North table, with nine wins out of nine, following promotion from the Kent League as runners-up last season.

“It didn’t work out with Stuart,” said McMahon.  “He’ll score goals at that level all day long. 

“He had an issue with travelling so two minutes down the road will help him out massively.

“Listen, I like Stuart as a person, lovely lad.  He done well for us last year but you can’t think about last year. Last year was last year.  This year is this year and he didn’t perform for us. He wasn’t happy, nor was I so it’s benefited everyone all round.

“VCD have got themselves a heck of a player, a good lad and he’ll score loads of goals at that level.”

McMahon had put Zanone on the transfer list and has sold the striker for an undisclosed fee.

When asked whether he is happy with the transfer fee involved, McMahon replied: “I wouldn’t have sold him otherwise, would I?  Yes, it benefits everyone. I think they’ve got value for money.

“He was going to go to Thurrock but they fell down over personal terms and VCD have come in and took him.

“It’s a good deal all round. It’s a good deal for me. It’s a good deal for VCD and it’s a good deal for Stuart. 

“I wish him all the best. He’ll do well and I’m pretty sure that signing will most get them in the play-offs or automatic promotion hopefully.”

McMahon takes his side to second-placed Wealdstone tomorrow and league leaders Maidstone United next Tuesday.

Wealdstone are unbeaten in nine league games, having won five of their nine games and are a point behind giants Maidstone United.

McMahon said: “Two tough games. The Wealdstone game is massive for us if I’m honest.

“I done the Non-League Show recently with the Wealdstone chairman after they beat Cray Wanderers 7-1 and we just had a defeat to Enfield Town. Nice fella and he showed me his team sheet and I nearly fell of my chair – there’s four ex professionals there!

“That’s what we’re up against at this level – good sides.

“They got to the semi-finals of The FA Trophy a few years ago, they beat Dartford in the quarter-finals, and they’re a big established football club.  Their manager has been there for as long as I’ve been here.  They’ve got a lot to go with and their chairman was telling me a few things.  You’re not envious. You’re sitting there thinking how well they’ve done.

“Anyone who finishes above Wealdstone this year will mostly win it. I know the Lowestoft’s will be there.

“It will be a heck of a job to go there but this is what this league is all about and this is what you want to be involved in, us going to games like Wealdstone. Six years’ ago we were in the Kent League and we’re going to these clubs and we’re battling with them.

“Now we’re going to sides like Wealdstone with 500-600 (fans’), Lowestoft (700s) and Maidstone with 2,000. That’s what we’ve done in six years’ so that’s why I’m saying about the knockers. This is where sometimes you just need to pinch yourself and go hold on!

“If we finish fifth-from-bottom we’ve won the cup here! It’s a great achievement and I believe we’ll do it.  This club produces miracles every year.

“We need to establish and build. I wouldn’t be surprised we’ll go there and we’ll grow in confidence and we can get a result. 

“We’ve played well against every side apart from 20 minutes at Lowestoft when we got blown to pieces (in a 5-0 defeat). We’ve played well in our league and we get punished.

“The new lads have settled in as well. It’s difficult.  We all need to get used to it. We need to believe a little bit more than we do. I think some lads are pinching themselves that they’re in here.  Young Sean Roberts has come through us in the last couple of years and was playing football in East Ham somewhere and now he’s playing in the Ryman Premier.

“We need to give these lads’ a little bit of a break as well and I’ll back my team 100%.

“There isn’t anyone who can say we’re rubbish and are going to go down. We’ll be fine.

“We’ve got the heart, determination and spirit to get us through.”

McMahon insists his little club deserve the chance to compete with Maidstone United on level terms in the Ryman Premier League.

“The Maidstone game is going to be massive – it’s a derby,” he said.

“They’re the complete upside down mirror to us. Great following, they’ve done well.  Obviously for Paul Bowden-Brown (former Maidstone United chairman and now company director at Thamesmead Town) it’s going to be nice going there.

“No game in this league is easy. They’ve had a good start but every team is beatable, if you play well on your day, but you’ve got to play well and try and get something.

“If we can come out of these two games with a couple of points, three would be brilliant, two points would be great, I’ll be happy.

“If you look three points catapults you up the league. Everybody’s beating everyone. You’re going to have six teams at the top who will be there.  Anyone can beat the 10-15 sides down the bottom and they’re the games where you’ve got to pick your points up.

“These are two great trips you want to go to.  You want to go to Wealdstone in front of 500 and then Maidstone in front of two thousand – what more do you want?

“That’s why we’re in this league. We’ve worked hard and won the play-offs. We didn’t get a ticket and won the lottery to get in this league. We’ve won it because of sheer hard work and the club deserves it.”

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Wealdstone  v  Thamesmead Town
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 21^st September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6JQ