You don't get time in football, admits promotion chasing Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

Thursday 19th August 2010

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says the talking must stop and his side must clinch promotion out of the Ryman Premier League at the end of next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels kick-off their campaign with a trip to Billericay Town on Saturday, before returning home to an expectant Longmead Stadium next Tuesday to lock horns with Bury Town.

“I must admit, it’s seems to have dragged on the last couple of weeks, so hopefully all the talking stops and we’ll see how we fare over at Billericay on Saturday,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Over there it’s always a physical encounter, a difficult game. We never have any easy games away at Billericay and I’m sure Saturday will be no different, especially being on the first day of the season where they will be strong as anybody.”

Warrilow has revamped his squad during the summer, but he wants his side to hit the ground running, especially considering the club are renowned for slow starts.

“This year we’re a lot more settled than this time last year,” explained Warrilow. “We’ve had a lot of meetings throughout the off season discussing what we want to do and how we want to try and go about things - these things aren’t done over night.

“We’ve been there and there abouts over the last two or three years and hopefully this season we can push on a bit further.

“Every year I set the target of the play-off’s. I don’t care what people think about pressure. I’m not going to lie, every season we push for the play-off’s. There’s no point me saying give teams time to gel - but in football the one thing you don’t get is time.

“Last year was a very difficult season and the club went through a wretched run of results and the club backed me, which I’m grateful for and I’m glad we turned it around at the end, because I don’t think good things come back over night but if you have a bit of faith as a club it will show what you can achieve.

“Hopefully this year it will be trying to push out and break our way out of the league but we’re going to be one, I would say, 10 clubs that will be saying that.

“I was looking at a programme at the start of pre-season and there were 12 faces that are no longer with the club. This is my third full season since I’ve been here. It’s another fresh side and we’ve shown in bits during the pre-season we can look a good side but we’ve done some bits where we look a new side, but the most important thing is to get the first couple of months out of the way and stay in contention with all the teams at the club - that’s where we want to be.”

Warrilow is attempting to entice Eastbourne Borough boss Garry Wilson to allow goalkeeper Seb Barton to play for the Angels on Saturday, as Lee Worgan is suspended.

Bury Town make the lengthy trip down from Suffolk next Tuesday and Warrilow urges the passionate Longmead faithful to back his side as they normally do.

“I mean they’re another unknown quantity like the Lowestoft’s etc but from what I’ve read they’re strong. They were trying to sign James Scowcroft (a 34-year-old striker, who was born at Bury-st-Edmunds and has played for Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Coventry City, Crystal Palace and was released by Leyton Orient at the end of last season).

“If you look at all the fixtures they’re full of tough ones and (I think) that’s a difficult place to go. The one thing I’ve learnt from the Ryman Premier League is that I wouldn’t take a so-called lesser side lightly whatsoever as you’re more than likely of losing to the and you’re more than capable of beating the top sides.

“All I’m doing this year is concentrate on us. I know what the other teams have done. We know what the (teams in the) league have done with regards to bringing players in and I know they’re going to be as strong as us.

“It’s going to be a strong league this year and I’d like to think we’re one of 10 strong sides who are going to make a fist of it this year.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

Billericay Town v Tonbridge Angels

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 21st August 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SA