Kentish Football 
We've missed the boat, admits West Wickham manager Keith D'Urso
Wednesday 22nd December 2010
WEST WICKHAM manager Keith D’Urso says the club have NOT applied to join the new Step 6 League in Kent next season, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Corkscrew Hill outfit compete in the Southern Amateur League and flirt with non-league football when they enter the Kent Senior Trophy each season - but they are not one of the 28 clubs that have submitted their application to join the new set-up.
West Wickham run ten teams, including veterans’ and a girls’ side and players must pay an annual subscription fee of £75 and £10 per game to play for the club.
D’Urso, 55, who lives in West Wickham, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk of the benefits of playing Southern Amateur League football.
“A lot of it is to do with the community, there’s a good club spirit, a good social scene and the Southern Amateur League - I don’t know if you know much about it - but it’s quite a good standard as well.
“I think we could compete on a regular basis with the majority of the Kent sides. A lot of our players have actually grown up from the youth set-up at the club and progressed to the senior section. There’s players that have played semi-professional in the Ryman League and perhaps can’t compete at that level maybe now and are finding their feet at West Wickham Football Club.”
When asked whether the club have applied to enter the new league, D’Urso admitted that the club have “missed the boat.”
He said: “No we haven’t actually! Funnily enough I’ve just looked at the Kent League website and I lost sight of the fact that was happening and that’s something I could actually mention at one of our committee meetings, if that’s something we could look into for the future.
“I’ve missed the boat this time round but it’s something to consider, maybe, in a couple of season’s time.”
The main issues preventing clubs to progress is getting planning permission for floodlights - and D’Urso said: “Our big problem is we can’t actually move forward because we haven’t got lights and it’s very difficult because West Wickham has got a very strong Residents Association and every time we’ve wanted to make some progress and put lights up at the club it’s been squashed by the residents.
“It’s hindering us progressing as potentially the club has got a lot to offer and could actually go further forward but it’s not that easy.”
The nearest venue with floodlights is Beckenham Town’s Eden Park Avenue ground, although Croydon and Bromley based Holmesdale already have groundshare deals already in place.
“The club has got a lively social scene and the clubhouse is very busy on a Saturday. To groundshare would take income away from the club,” added D’Urso.
“It is something we could look at but we’ll be losing income and it’s going to be quite expensive to groundshare with one of the Kent League sides.”
West Wickham go into the Christmas break sitting in second place in the Senior Division One (the top-flight) of the Southern Amateur League.
Leaders Nottsborough are their next opponents, but a win over the Worcester Park side at Corkscrew Hill on 22 January (1:45pm kick-off) will see D’Urso’s men leapfrog over them into first place after ten league games.
“Nottsborough are our biggest rivals if you like, not only this season, but there’s a bit of history there,” added D’Urso, who has previously coached at Corinthian, Erith Town and Greenwich Borough.
“It would be good to get one over them this season as they got the better of us last season and they’ve already beaten us once in the league this season.
“The lads will be up for it this time and try to avenge defeat so prospects of a good game ahead.”
Despite his brother, Andy, relishing his career in the Premier League, the West Wickham boss relieved he has a good relationship with his brother.
He said: “As you know he’s my brother. He’s got a thankless task. He can never win whatever way you look at it! I think he’s a very good referee, he’s officiated at the highest level, he’s on the Premiership and the FIFA List. You’d never win doing that job! I’m also a referee but not to the same level as my brother.
“He always shows an interest in what I’m doing and how the team are progressing. Both my boys are involved at West Wicham as well, although they don’t play for me, they played for me when I was reserve team manager.
“We have a great football tradition within the family as well as being involved. We all love the game, from my Dad downwards to my two sons. We always share a phone call on a Saturday evening, he always asks how we got on and how the boys’ got on. We’re very close nit from that point of view.”
When asked how he got involved with his home-town football club, Keith added: “I’ve been involved with West Wickham for some time in the junior set-up, which is very thriving, buzzing and very busy.
“After my flirt in the Kent League they were looking for someone to do the reserves so as I used to watch the two boys play I said I’ll do it if no-one else does it and now I’m the first team manager!
“It’s a very good social scene and the standard of football is very good. It’s better than I expected when I first got back involved.”
Visit West Wickham’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/westwickhamfootballclub/
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