Happy Honeymoons Heggers

Nick Hegley, probably our best player, shouldn't have been available for our games over the festive period. He was due to go on honeymoon. Thankfully, for us, he can't go, due to the weather. At least, that's the scoop in this week's Your Medway;

http://www.yourmedway.co.uk/p_143/Article/a_10076/Foley_not_concerned_by_blunt_Chatham_attack

Nice to end an article on a light hearted positive. Its the first thing I thought to mention. Of course, there's no need to mention the fact that scoring just 18 goals in 19 games this season, and that we've won just twice in the last eleven league games. Oh, there is need to mention it - its the bulk of the article.

Paul Foley says he's not worried. We've got Billy Shinners and Leroy Huggins. Have to agree, to an extent, but its been obvious that the frontline is a problem pretty much all season. Its been a while since we've had a home game, so its not fair to say too much, but I'm looking forwards to a reversal of fortunes in the second part of the season. We're as close to the play offs, on points, as we are to the foot of the table, despite being 18th. We can still turn this round. We need to settle, show some bottle and go out and start winning some games. And we need some home games to be on - money must be getting tight!

Whitehawk 4 - 1 White Road

I'd have loved to have gone yesterday. Whitehawk, also known as the roughest part of Brighton, hosted Chatham Town. I was supposed to have gone to Brighton last week, to visit a friend, and of course take in the delights of nearby Worthing. The weather did for it. And yesterday, the weather was that sort of perfect winter's day football weather - cold and sunny. Would have been perfect.



Of course, the result would have ruined it. 4-1. Not good. Whitehawk are something of a suprise package, sitting, as they do, in 3rd place. They were the first side to beat Met Police midweek. They weren't the first side to unpick us.



Another reason I'd have liked to have gone is the ground, set as it is in a natural bowl at the foot of the downs. It has a standing area built into the grass bank, adding an elevated view not generally found at this level. I'd like to say always next season, but I can see this lot going up, a la Croydon Athletic last year. Also, its rumoured they're moving out for a couple of years to ruin / redevelop the ground. Where's the money coming from? The attendance yesterday was 68. Maybe someone hopped the train from Croydon...

The result leaves Chatham 18th in the table, a comfortable 10 points off the drop, and 11 points off the play offs. We're the lowest scoring side in the league though. Goals have been a problem all season. Needs addressing really. We're at home to Chipstead next saturday, weather permitting. Its free entry for those who paid £4 in programme costs for the games in November, or £2 for everyone else. Season Ticket holders get a free pint. I don't have a season ticket, so will happily pay. Get as many along as you can next week to cheer on the Chats for a festive three points. Its been too long without football for some of us - lets just hope the game's on!

Medway Broadside

http://www.themedwaybroadside.com

See the back page for something Chatham Town related. See the rest for other stuff. Pretty good reading in places. Like a non political Schnews, its something decent to come out of Medway. Tristan Osborne likes it over on musingsfrommedway.blogspot, next up, who knows, praise from Rehman Chishti himself perhaps? His expenses make interesting reading. Wonder if he got into work this week, what with him refusing to claim for a second home. And wonder if he's really going to stick to that election promise to battle for fairer rail fares (muttered asides about the sum of his promises being a meeting with the head of SouthEastern and asking them to be nice, when really it was all down to government moving away from subsidy...)

Worthing P-P Chatham Town

Surprise of surprises, today's adventure to the south coast was called off due to the weather craze that's been sweeping the nation. I've been on an enforced absence from work this week. True it is, our firm closed on Tuesday afternoon and didn't re-open. Mustn't whinge, its bonus time off - but its all starting to get a bit The Shining, the snow only subsiding after the rainstorm last night. In fact, its true that yesterday I took Little Miss Sunshine out in the garden, and so as not to completely ruin the snow, I walked backwards in my own footprints. Kubrick would have loved it.

Its disappointing that the game was off. It was Chatham's third postponement in a week, and with another cold snap predicted, we're looking at the possibility of next weekend's game at Whitehawk also failing to beat the freeze. At best, if the game goes ahead, the side would have had an enforced three week hiatus. Will be some tired legs at the end of the ninety.

The following weekend, (18th December), sees the club's christmas present to the fans. Free entry to those with programmes from the home games in November (3 x £2 - and actually, what about the game on the 27th November that was called off??? - does the offer fall apart), or just £2 in for everyone else. We need a bit of publicity. Lordswood planned a free game this weekend, and it was on the back of the Medway News. We need to get the word out there. Sure someone's got it in hand. That'll be my next game, and I can't wait. It'll have been five weeks with no Chats, but for once, most of them weeks missing football will be due to the weather, not my malaise.

Enjoy the sludge everyone...

Been a while...

Frankly, I've been busy. Sorry about that. Results have been mixed, so no news there really. That's the season summed up. Today's announcement on the offical site is that Lee Maskell has left the club. Its understandable really, his first team opportunities limited. Best of luck to him wherever he lands, this being his second departure from the Chats. I have to admit to being a bit gutted that our only player about whom we can sing a song to the tune of Dizzee Rascal's Jus' A Rascal has left (he's just Lee Maskell, a big Lee Maskell...) Perhaps I'll have to try and work Matt Solly into some Grime. Nothing like the sound of UK Urban music being hollered by white middle class lads on away days.

Which brings me on to my next outing with Chatham. I can't make the home game on Saturday, due to a family commitment, but I might visit Worthing on Saturday week as part of a weekend visiting a friend on the south coast. The weather looks a bit dodgy though - perhaps I'll miss that too. The following week we're away to this years Croydon Athletic, the decidly iffy looking Whitehawk. League position versus status + apparent big budget = confusion.

I'll hopefully get some of the love back for this writing lark soon enough. The malaise has been driven in part by the lack of beauty on it. Let's get things lifting. Come on the Chats!

Sing when when I'm whingeing.

Yep. That's me. We start doing well, like proper well, and I've not much to say. Truth is, I've got a dodgy gut and a dodgy backlight on the laptop. Just found a way of fixing that for under a score though, but will use several hours of my time. In other news, Paul Foley is really fixing things up at TOSC. Kane Rice has rejoined us. That, as Foley has said (and I'm paraphrasing here) should complete things. Four recent signings of Raymone Powell, Billy Shinners, Craig Wilkins, Leroy Huggins combining with Kane will add massive depth to the side. And things are looking up.

We beat Burgess Hill Town (then fifth) 1-0 on Saturday, meaning we've taken eight points from the last 12. We'll have that. Derby time tomorrow, away to Faversham. It's bound to be off due to this crap weather we're having. And home to an ailing Godalming on Saturday (again, weather's looking iffy - are we about to be undone by the seasons??), so plenty to be positive about. Come on the Chats!

Cops 2 - 2 Cabbies

Chatham came away from the Met Police's Imber Court ground as the first side to take any points from the team formerly known as police officers (just Craig Brown for the home side is employed by the Met). It was an outstanding result, but was one that you could, if you were prone to taking analogies too far, compare to a bag snatch on the tube, Chatham coming from two goals down to steal a deserved point and hang on the latter throes of the game to avoid defeat.

Met Police started the stronger, and showed throughout the first half why they are champions elect - a 100& record going in to the match, having scored 28 goals and conceded just twice. They had that something that we don't have, and that is something that money can buy, and that's the quality that meant so many of the individual battles on the field went their way.

They were two up within 40 minutes, and it could have been four or five if not for some excellent defending. Their first goal was sublime, scored by the only police officer in the side, Craig Brown, a run through the heart of the defence and a scorching daisy cutter across to Tedder's right. The second was comically awful. The Imber Court ground is soulless, so it wasn't even noticed by some that a goal had been scored, such was the lack of reaction from the 110 strong crowd. Tedder fumbled the ball and dropped it to the feet of a Met player who fired into the empty net - I say fired, I mean passed.

In full credit to Chats, they picked up the pace when they could realistically have capitulated. Chatham had not been completely out of the game, and when Ray Powell broke into the box, he unleashed a powerful drive that was well held by the league's best keeper, Mo Mann. A very brave refereeing decision followed, and it was one that shocked the entire Met side, the ref awarding a penalty for a push on Powell that most had missed, and hadn't appeared to impede the diminutive utility man's ability to get a shot in. Powell himself stepped up, took a worrying lack of steps and time over it (I was convinced he'd spoon it over) and walloped it into the top corner, in the sixth minute of stoppage time. There was so much stoppage time that the first half ended as most second half's were kicking off.

Chatham came out first in the second half to the, I hope, ironic use of the Clash's I Fought The Law. Really. One Copper. Its like us coming out to Joe Le Taxi because Gary Ward's a London Cabbie. Word has it that Tedder's doing the knowledge - perhaps we should rename our team London Hackney Carriage Association FC?

All now redundant abuse of the Met Police team for not being police aside (the only problem I have is that they still don't have to play on public holidays due to the need to staff events, which would be fine if they still only fielded serving officers, but they don't, so they should have to honour fixtures the same as everyone else), Chatham were the better side in a second half that saw the until then composed Met Police start to fall apart, bicker and swear (proof they're not coppers then), and Chats scored a great equaliser on 60 minutes, with that man Potter again unmarked in the box. I bloomin' love Brad Potter. Without fail, he always turns up in the box unmarked and scores. Genius.

Met threatened in the closing stages, but Chats stood firm. In fact, Chatham could have stolen all three points had the outstanding Mann not beaten Huggins to a quick through ball. Huggins had a great game, and despite drawing a blank, he chased every ball which some other should take note of. And it was good to see Foley throw on Maskell and Solly together early in the second half to spice things up. It worked. Special mention should go to James Tedder and Brad Potter who played on despite injury due to a lack of subs. If Tedder had gone off in the first half, we'd have been beaten as comprehensively as a Guardian reader at a G20 protest.

In the last three games, we've taken five points, two of them against the top two. Things are improving and looking up. Burgess Hill at home next Saturday. Three points please.

An apology to Paul Foley

Hands up, I went overboard on Saturday. I'm sure you're doing your very best, and results must be frustrating for you as much as they are for everyone else. I formally apologise for putting the boot in when you were most likely already down.

I'd also like to apologise to the players for the implication that they're either a) not very good or b) not committed, this is clearly not the case.

I'll support whoever plays in the red and black of the chats, and whoever is picking the team as long as there is mutual respect for the club.

Roll on Saturday and 3 points!

Bulit your house on sand 1 - 2 Built your house on Brickies

It was awful today. Seven years since we've beaten our rivals Sittingbourne. Its the sort of statistic you expect Guy Mowbray to run out ("Its 7898 years since Blackpool beat Arsenal"), but we've been in the same division for all but one of those seasons. And today, it hurt.

It hurt that we were really quite good for the first half hour. It hurt that we seemed to stop caring. It hurt that a Sittingbourne side with as much of a budget as us won the game justifiably. Despite Leroy Huggins second goal in as many games (and a very well taken one it was too), we were never in this in the second half, and lost to frankly, two crap goals, the first, a retaken penalty , the second a placed shot across goal where the Chatham defence apart from the larger than life Kevin Winchcombe appeared to have stopped playing. It was like watching a weird sci-fi film, where some character finds everything frozen still and just walks through it.

The biggest attraction today was, in his own mind at least, referee Mr Venamore. From the off, and I mean it, it was the first tackle of the game, he called it back for a foul on Nick Hegley. It wasn't. Here was a man who dreams of the Premier League. He might be lucky enough to get a Ryman Premier game once. Every moment he could find, he gave the big lecture, took his eye off the ball to call back incidents that are just part of the game at any level (football, it should be remembered, is a contact sport). He did though, play no part in our downfall. We deserved to lose, as the Bourne keeper made not one save. He took plenty of wayward crosses, but not one save to make. His knees left the pitch as clean as they came on.

When we were good, we were very good, but we just weren't good enough. And Foley made perhaps his strangest tactical decision, one I didn't frankly understand, and that was to play Joe Fuller in the middle, where you would normally expect to find Matt Solly, or Lee Maskell. Fuller, to his credit, played well, but when you need a killer pass, its not him that will do that - its Solly.

Which got me thinking. How many of today's starting eleven are local lads? I know its about more than that, but the thing that this club always did well was local. I've not been going forever, but could comfortably say Ross Finn, Dan Larkin, Mark Brookes, Brendon Cass, Pat Bishenden, Justin Ascheri, Tommy Binks, Dave Botterill, Micky Dodsworth, Richard Stroud, Rob Denness, all local lads from Medway, and there just the ones that trip off the tongue. Today's starting eleven (Tedder, Winchcombe , Barton, Fuller, J Hogg, Potter, Powell, Ward, Huggins, Ibemere, Hegley) does not, to my knowledge (and I may be wrong, but I think I'm not) include one player either from the Medway Towns, or from the youth set up. Without wishing to sound all Daily Mail, it just isn't right. The clubs appeals to be a beacon in the community. Solly and Restell, the two greatest products of the youth set up in recent years are on the bench. What does that say to the youth coming through? The only exception to the rule is Brad Potter. He's an adopted Chat, because he's been here with three managers and still loves the club.

And there's something that's really getting my goat. We've got to put faith in Foley. We have no choice. But he starts needing to put a bit of faith in us. Have you noticed how in press interviews, and comments on the website, he refers to "us" or "we" but refers to things that are not Chatham Town FC?

Example: Kentonline, Thursday 14th October,(http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway_messenger/sport/2010/october/14/chatham_fc.aspx) Foley, when asked if he is worried by us not beating Sittingbourne since before the Industrial Revolotion says "I’m not fussed by that all and have no connection with any ‘history’ between the sides over the last few seasons." You may have no history or connection Paul, but you should bloody feel it for the fans, committee and members of the club.

When commenting on the signing of Leroy Huggins (a good one too), he says, on the Offfical Site "'I'm delighted to welcome Leroy back home really as we know him so well and he knows most of the lads in the squad." Yes. Home. Really, come on.

I'd be unhappy with this if we were winning, if I'm honest. Its like we've built a team and not a club. Let's all have a love in and sort this out.

Away from that, I've been thinking about the Bondholder scheme. Needs to be half the price, or you need to get a lot more. Why will I pay £50 to part fund a bar I won't be allowed in, and that will take the players and officials even further away from the fans? If I'm going to part with £50 I want a permanent discount in the plebs bar, and a discount of 25% on the gate. And the programme? £2!!! Don't get me started. Whether or not its any good I don't know, because I won't buy one. That plus entry leaves no change from a tenner. Not good value.

But, a positive, and that the free entry to the Chipstead game on the 18th December - free that is if you buy three match programmes for the November games. Otherwise, its £2, which is a very good idea. Its being sponsored by the nice people at Plumbase. Should be applauded. What shouldn't be applauded is the free pint at the bar for Season Ticket holders. A great idea, if you know how to buy a season ticket... its not something I've ever seen advertised or know anything about. How much are they, where do you get one etc etc etc...

Right. That's officially my last moan until the next one. I've been trying to be positive, but we were never in it today, and if the Manager doesn't appreciate what a game against Sittingbourne means to the fans, then how will the players? I'm sure Matt Solly and Ryans Restell and Laker would have a feeling, but there you go. They don't get a game. Perhaps we could get fired up for the big derby game with whoever it is that are VCD's rivals... you never know, we might meet them in the KL next year if we don't sort this out.

Home to table topping Leatherface next week. Come on lads - get winning!

Another defeat and 14th in the league.

First things first, I didn't go. I generally don't do many away games. Today we lost 2-0 at Godalming. To the unthinking eye, this seems a bad result, but Godalming are a much better side for the past two seasons than we'd previously met. But all the same its another defeat.

We're desperately short on firepower up front. Well, actually, we're not - we have plenty of forwards, but they just can't find the net. Brendon Cass is being touted in some quarters. I echo that. He's currently playing Kent League with Hythe Town. You suspect he's been brought in, and is being paid enough, to mount a serious promotion bid. On the face of it, his presence at Hythe is remarkable. He lives in Chatham, and drives there for games? Odd...

Elsewhere in the division, some sort of record probably at Horsham YMCA - beaten at home by table topping Leatherhead 11-0. Yes 11 (ELEVEN), as the old school BBC vidiprinter would say. Today Leatherhead scored more goals in one game than we've scored all season. Prior to this, they'd scored twice as many as us. That's title challenge material. We're not.

I have faith in Foley to turn this round. We have no other option! Today though he was again sent to the stands from the dugout. Now, in reality this makes little impact on a gaffer's ability to bellow instructions at this level, but its telling about the growing lack of discipline we're starting to see. I haven't seen an ill-discipline table, but I'd hazard a guess we're up there. The ifs, whys and why nots of the incident are not yet in the public domain, but if it is for some sort of dissent (which realistically is the most likely cause), PF should know that the standard of refereeing at this level is and always will be poor. The good ones quickly rise through the ranks, and there are now even more poor refs due to the lack of people willing to take control of games down to park football level. And the main reason for refs hanging up the whistle and little black book? Abuse.

We've got a tricky pointless cup tie at wounded Concord Rangers on Tuesday night (I say wounded because they were beaten by the aforemention Hythe Town in the FA Cup today), before a re-arranged league encounter against les formidables, Sittingbourne. We never beat Sittingbourne. Ever. Its time we did. And it would be timely for Paul Foley if he can pull that one off.

Away from TOSC, Hythe Town's cup victory today leaves them one game away from a possible money spinning FA Cup tie in the first round proper. I'd love to see Cassie net for them at a professional club, on ITV1, in a few weeks. And then come back to us...

Redbridge 2 -1 Motorway Bridge

Chatham Town visited Redbridge FC in the FA Trophy Preliminary Round and came away the worst in a frankly disappointing game. Redbridge, or as they're also called, the artist formerly known as Ford United (they were the former Ford plant's works team and are still nicknamed The Motormen)went into the game with only one previous win all season, that being in the FA Cup Preliminary Round against lower league opposition. The Motormen, who ply their trade in our sister league, the Ryman 1 North, currently sit at the foot of the league, with just one draw and three league goals to their credit. They sacked their manager in the week, appointed another one who quit after two days, and then appointed the first sacked manager's assistant as the new gaffer in time for our visit. Lets be honest, this had banana skin written all over it, and given that we're a little frail of foot at the moment and our guide dog appears to have gone missing, we were always going to slip up. And we did.

The first half was a dire mess played out by two sides who smacked of desperation. Redbridge limited Chatham to hopeful hoofs and headers which neither Joe Fuller or Iche Ubemere really had a sniff at. When Chatham did rarely create, they were limited to some long range efforts, and a hopeful penalty shout. Redbridge did not much more at the other end, although Tedder had to make the save of the half to keep out a long range strike that caught a deflection.

Chatham started the second period all the brighter, and you couldn't help but think that if a Hamstrung Nick Hegley hadn't gone off at half time, some of the pressure could have been turned into some magic. But with the winger absent, Chatham worked hard to get round the back (John Barnes style) and did so frequently but lacked a cutting cross or finish. The best chance fell to the lively Brad Potter, who looked a threat as he always does at corners, his bullet header hitting the bar. You started to sense it wasn't to be Chatham's day, and it was no real suprise when the home side opened the scoring with a quick counter that found James Tedder wanting for position, a seemingly innocuous cross eluding him and finding a Redbrige player at the far post for 1-0. Tedder had been let off earlier in the half, when a scuffed punch fell kindly for a Redbridge forward who couldn't and didn't finish from six yards.

Redbrige added a second, again on the break and it was just their second effort on target of the half. At this point, Chatham rallied, and pulled one back in stoppage time through Lee Maksell after a goal mouth scramble where it appeared that Joe Fuller's earlier shot had cleared the line. Cat calls from the home fans for the final whistle were met with an onslaught from Chatham who frustratingly played with more purpose than they had in the rest of the game. We should start 1-0 down. We might then win.

Its starting to appear that we a desperately short of both an out and out striker, and a plan b. With just three subs today, our only option when chasing the game was a like for like swap of Restell for Ibemere, and a continuation of attempts to pass our way through a packed defence on a difficult pitch. The effort was there, but the final product lacking. We're clearly missing Danny Penny (whom I've only seen play once), but he is a player who can poach, playmake and most importantly test the keeper from range. In a game like today's you need a big man who they're not going to settle at keeping outside the box. He's out injured for a long time, and then will have to get fit again. Lee Barnett is playing, for free as with all of the side, at Corinthians in the Kent League. He is exactly the player we need, and is, as far as I know, highly regarded by the fans. Bring him back. 16 goals in 20 games in his debut season speaks for itself. Come back Barney.

Match Report Abandoned.

I said I'd be at the Faversham home game tonight, but I have an unexpected family thing and whilst Kent Derbies looked like they'd be a premium until we were reappointed to the R1S at late notice, they're not as much as a premium as spending time with a grumpy, teething, MMR and meningitis jabbed 14month old, which is what I am instead doing tonight.

At one point, I thought about blogging other things on here, and infact did so with a review of a frankly awful Richard Gere film. I was thinking about taking this too far, and doing a report on my daughter's general temper and justifiable feeling sorry for herself, but this is a Chatham Town FC blog, not the Little Miss Magooo blog. Some people do such things. Not me. I could now start to disappear down a stream of thought about how it would be like inviting strangers into your front room, whilst at the same time taking yourself into their front rooms, which is a media dichotomy not seen since Praia da Luz and which I never want to happen. I've digressed, haven't I? Anyway, here's to a cheery evening of Calprofen and Ashley & Probets teething powders. Did my blog just turn into mumsnet? Right, back to the Chats...

They're at home tonight, and the score will be on the official site before its on here. Official. Other than that, there has today been announced a share scheme of sorts, a two tiered beast with "shares" for club members (players, their family etc) and one for supporters. Supporters pay £50 and it funds the redevelopment of the ground. You get a vote at the AGM and a mention in dispatches. And a discount on hire. I need to give it more thought, but on the face of it, it is good news. I'd like the discount to extend to match entry and bar prices, and a reduction on our ridiculous programme costs (two squids), but as I said, it needs thought.

Prediction for tonight? As I'm not there, we win 4-0. Realistically, we bounce back to old habits after Saturday's victory of Walton and Hersham and lose 1-0 to a late goal despite dominating. Old habits, like my pessimism, die hard...

Most striking was how it all went wrong...

Once sang London also-ran sub-Libertines indie-popsters Les Incompetents. It wasn't a bad song in fairness, bit too much profanity for some tastes, and a little too much gibberish, but not a bad song all the same. The same indifference could be applied to Chatham's already faltering title tilt. I say that as I genuinely believed after some of our pre-season performances that this year we could have been contenders. But we're not. Yes, yes, its early, early doors (in fact, these doors are so early that if we're to take the publican analogy any further we're talking an airport Wetherspoons), but from 3 wins in 4 to 3 wins in 7, and a cup exit away from home, and its not looking so bright.

We are lacking in goals. That's without doubt. Very few clubs have scored less than us this season in the R1S, and we're now shipping them as fast as anyone else. We need to arrest this. Two things as rare as a sober, coffee quaffing breakfasteer in the aforementioned Wetherspoons coming up for Chatham, and that's consecutive home games, including an almost holy grail like rarity, a Saturday home game! This weekend sees the visit of Walton and Hersham, followed by Tuesday's visit of Faversham Town, whom we have yet to meet in a competetive game in nigh on forever, our Kent League tenure ending before their reformation in the early part of this decade. Justin Luchford's Faversham have a defensive pairing of Matt Bourne and Richard Avery, both ex Chats who'd walk into most R1S first teams but seemingly not our own, and a host of other ex Chats including Dave Botterill, Micky Tricky Dodsworth (after the 90s urban musician to whom he bears no resemblance either physically or aurally) and Justin "My Likkle Rooney" Ascheri.

Both matches should be good. I will be at the Faversham game, and will report in due course. In the meantime, enjoy Les Incompetents and their one "hit".

Chatham Town 3 - 2 Dulwich Hamlet

Those of you who followed my twitter updates (http://twitter.com/ChathamTownBlog)on last night's game will already have an idea of the course of last night's game. Chatham won 3-2 in a game where both sides were in truth below their best, Dulwich Hamlet understandably so following the tragic death of a former youth team player, Rio McFarlane, who at 18 years of age became the latest victim of London's gun crime plague on Monday.

Hamlet had asked the league for a postponement. Many of their first team are contemporaries of McFarlane, and the first team management had nurtured him through the youth set up for which they are also responsible. News coverage of the murder is still scant, McFarlane's identity only released to the press today, and its thought he had no links to any gangs. Police dealing with a fatal accident involving a motorcyclist heard shots in Pearse Street, and found McFarlane fatally injured. Chatham Town reportedly offered a minutes silence, which was gracefully turned down by Hamlet who it is thought will choose to honour their fallen comrade at their next home game at Champion Hill. The football really fades in comparison to the 15th senseless killing of yet another teenager on the capital's streets, but all credit to Dulwich who put on a decent show and took a deserved lead in the 12th minute, when a great ball from midfield found the pacy Sol Pinnock, who whipped a low cross into the box, which James Tedder failed to get down to, and Carlton Murray-Price fired home.

Hamlet then controlled the game until around the half hour mark, pressuring well in midfield and chasing every ball with gusto. Chatham did settle eventually, and threatened an equaliser as Nick Hegley came into the game more and more. The leveller came with almost the last kick of the half, and many Chats supporters were surprised to see it stand, the first hint that Aaron Firth's tap in had counted being his almost hysterical celebration of his debut goal. But stand the goal did, a real sucker punch for a visibly shaken Hamlet as they came off, their young keeper James Dunn remaining just the right side of calm with the referee.

Into the second half, and Chatham started the brightest, and on 50 mins, Brad Potter did what Brad Potter does best, and that is drift anonymously into the box with a perfectly timed run to connect with a pin point cross, on this occasion making the best of a pin point Nick Hegley free kick to head home from just inside the six yard box and a muddle of players of both sides.

Chatham held their lead, and threatened to add further, but were pegged back by Dulwich in the 68th minute when the Chatham defence fell apart like some sort of Red Sea, for Hamlet's Tom Lancaster to make a surging run before belting the ball from all of 20 yards into Tedder's bottom right. The stalemate wasn't to last for long though. After an immediate Dulwich attack from the restart which saw Tedder save superbly at his post, Hegley won a corner for Chatham on the counter attack which Matt Solly curled for the again unmarked Potter, an identical header only at the other post for 3-2.

Chatham rallied for more goals, a refreshing site, and Jason Barton could have made it four, only to stumble into the ball from Joe Fuller's pull back. Hamlet then pinned Chatham into their own half for much of the remainder, and despite several substitutions, could not muster an equaliser, that to be frank, had it happened, would not have been robbery.

After a few anxious minutes of added time, the whistle blew on a game that saw three rather hollow points for Chatham.



Would like to see: Callum O'Shea return. We only seem to attack on the left wing. He can play the right. But that would mean dropping Brad Potter, and at the moment he scores approximately 33% of our goals.

Man of the Match: Joe Fuller. Combined superbly with both Hegley and new strike partner Aaron Firth all night.

You wouldn't believe it: The geniuses at the Ryman League, who refused to postpone this match as McFarlane wasn't registered as a player at Hamlet. The fact that he was very much a talented player with a big future (he scored in his debut for Cambridge United's reserves the day he died) , and understandably a well liked former player of the club and friend of many players, officials and the club management, seemingly ignored. And this in the same week that the same league allowed Croydon Athletic to postpones its immediate games in the Ryman Premier league because they can't fulfill their fixtures, because the allegedly criminal owner (the international cricket fixer who fell for that fake sheik) funnily enough no longer has any money to, by his own admission, launder through the club. Harlow Town's benefactor disappeared for some reason last season, and they, like many of the financially stricken clubs throughout the non league game, kept the season alive by fielding a mixture of youth and unpaid players for the season. Croydon have a youth set up that predates Mr Cricket -BetUnfair's involvement with the club, and those players should be used. Its almost as if the league are embarrassed by the ease with which Croydon Athletic bought the Ryman 1 South title last season with players of too high a calibre to be funded by average crowds of 200 bored Palace fans. Its almost as if they're embarrassed by the fact that they never questioned the money. Some including myself, did. Here's a post from 2009.

http://chathamtownfc.blogspot.com/2009/08/money-will-out.html

An early view of the season so far.

I haven't been to our last couple of games, namely the away cup game at Chertsey Town, and the recent league defeat at Walton Casuals on Saturday.

Information on the official site is scant at present, our regular away match reporter Rochester Valiant currently on cricket duties at his as yet, unnamed, local cricket side. Hopefully, he'll be back soon, his away day reportage having become an essential part of any Chats fans supporting experience over the last few years. The Medway Messenger ran a brief match report in today's edition, that has yet to make it to the online edition. Assistant Manager Mark Newson takes a view that we dropped our heads after Casuals' first goal, scored, along with their second, by Charlie Ide. Ide is a player who must be expected to bag a hatful of goals this season, his pedigree and some might say temperament detailed in the implicit in his wikipedia profile;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Ide

I predict he'll be the Ryman 1 South's top scorer this season. How can he not be?

We shouldn't be too glum about being undone by a team, who to the untrained eye should be as poor as ever, but in reality are now managed by Neil Shipperly, a son of the Medway Towns and highly experienced professional footballer. I imagine Casuals will be up there or thereabouts come the season's end.

Tomorrow sees the visit of one of those teams who conjure up all the glamour of the non-league game, Dulwich Hamlet. They boast former big names and a pink strip. They're usually a decent side, if unpredictable. I'd like to think we can turn them over tomorrow night. Matt Solly starts a ban for his sending off at Chertsey, and this should lead to a first start of the season for Lee Maskell. I'm a big fan of both players, Maskell plays with heart and talent, just like Solly. We need a win to stay in contention at the top, we're at that time of the season where, only three of four games in the wheat and the chaff start to seperate like foul milk... Tomorrow sees a full fixture list for the division, so we will still have a game in hand on most sides come 10pm tomorrow. We really need to start finding the net. Three goals in as many league outings this season is not at this time worrying, but the division looks as if its setting out an early stall for leaky defences. Joe Fuller, suspended for our last match, should return, and partner Callum O'Shea up front. Once we hit full strength, which we are far from at present, we should be unstoppable. And all that optimism...

I'll try to post an update on Wednesday on the outcome of tomorrow's match. Prediction: Chatham 3-1 Dulwich.

As an aside, assistant boss Mark Newson boasts Tottenham Hotspur among his professional clubs. Plenty of non league players and coaches name big sides in their CVs, but few are as interesting as Newson's. He was a regular throughout the 80s and early 90s at Bournemouth, and, in them days, lower league Fulham, before a spell at Barnet as their captain. Aged 35, and having never kicked a ball in anger in the top flight, he was signed by Spurs, to star in their much forgotten attempt at European glory, in the Inter-Toto cup.

And another Chatham Town meets the stars moment. Tricksy winger Nick Hegley boasted a top name Best Man at his recent wedding. Chris Kirkland. Buddies from their days as youth players at Coventry City. You never know. We might one day see Kirkland between the sticks at TOSC. He apparently wants to be a fireman when he quits the professional game. With their generous leave allowance and accomadating attitude to secondary employment, you just never know.

CTFC 2 - 1 CTFC

Chatham Town are out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. Not that we ever get very far, beaten today at Combined Counties League Chertsey. Chertsey have won their opening four league games with 13 goals scored and just one conceded. Not that much of a giant killing really, more of an oath slaying. Didn't go. No more to add. At least we don't have to face the prospect of Sittingbourne in the next round - not sure how they got on, but one less trip to the Brickies is no big loss.

Onwards and upwards for Ramsgate at home on Monday ,.

Turns out that the game on Monday is off. Ramsgate drew their cup match, and are in replay action this week so its cancelled. Can't help but think that the situation could have been avoided if the Ryman league didn't schedule fixtures for the bank holiday, 48hrs after the first cup games involving step 4 sides. I'd originally posted a bit here about the Medway News ripping off my reports. I've taken it out. I said I'd never go back and edit posts, but this time I have. I can't even be bothered to react to it other than to say, if you want to use my stuff, please ask and at least give this blog a credit.

For those of you who are interested, the report that has taken a fair amount of my Corinthian Casuals match report is here.

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/football/Fuller-credited
-did-Chats-benefit-goal/article-2567625-detail/article.html

Similar eh?

Funny thing is, posted a similar response last season, again for the first home game. Don't remember the Medway News featuring Chatham again after that...

Auteurs 1-0 Amateurs

Chatham started the season yesterday with a convincing 1-0 win over historical amatuers Corinthian Casuals at TOSC. Joe Fuller has been credited with the goal, but it looked very much like an own goal by unlucky Corinth keeper Luke Naughton.

Chatham started with Calum O'Shea and Joe Fuller leading the line, neither of whom would be Paul Foley's first choice in them positions. O'Shea is a fantastic winger, yet the two combined well and O'Shea launched many of the Chats' attacks sitting deep behind fuller, combining well with Brad Potter and Nick Hegley on many occasions.

Corinth rarely threatened, James Tedder having to make only one save of note alongside a couple of shots that had the home directors ducking for cover in the Pavillion End, and had it not been for some solid keeping at the other end by Naughton, Chatham could have won this game by at least three.

With Uche Ibemere and Danny Penny both out, we can expect things on the pitch to improve. To be frank, we still looked good without them. In fact, the football was very very good - I don't recall seeing such good passing and movement at TOSC (well, at least not be the home side).

Off the pitch, the club have announced they are now trading as Private Limited Company. This coincides with a "fanshare" scheme, similar to that of Arsenal and Barcelona, the aim being to raise much needed funds to improve the corporate facilities at the ground. £50 buys one share, and the voting rights that come with it. I'm feeling very positive about it, but would like to see some sort of reward scheme for shareholders, perhaps discounts on entry / bar / merchandise. That said, don't think this to be negative, anything that aims to improve the club's standing from its forever and a day mid table mediocrity and low profile should be rewarded.

Tuesday sees us travel to Merstham, where another three points would be most welcome. Sadly, our next Saturday home match is not until 25th September, and its then another month until our next Ryman League Soccer Saturday... plenty of Tuesdays I suppose, but in truth summer came and went yesterday didn't it? Hope we've got a good deal with our electricity supplier.

Squad announced.... Ibermere, Solly and Laker on contract.

The full squad for the coming season is on the official site.

http://tinyurl.com/2vq86q3


No room for youth product and England Schoolboy Michael Scott by the look of things, but that said, I think he's probably due to go to university this year.

This blog called for Uche Ibermere, Matt Solly and Ryan Laker to get contracts. I'm sure Paul Foley (Axel, to the fans / me / one other) doesn't read this, but its good to know he spotted the quality that I did. We've got such a strong squad, and by all accounts the football we witnessed against Ebbsfleet wasn't a one off, with a subsequent 2-0 win over Maidstone's first team, and a creditable 1-1 draw against fellow Premier side Folkestone.

This Saturday sees the season kick off. A first chance to really get to know our new players, James Tedder should start in goal ahead of new signing Adam Molloy. Why on earth Ollie Cotton doesn't want to play, who knows, but I'm sure we've got enough. Ollie was that impressive in his recent return spell, I think he'd possibly pip Tedder to the no1 shirt.

Elsewhere, Danny Penny is out for possibly the best part of the season with a sore knee. Joe Fuller and Uche Ibemere should start as our front two, but continuing the theme of "famous sons" new signing George "Just call me dad QPR and Spurs Legend Terry Fenwick" Fenwick is an interesting addition to the squad. For those of you who don't remember El Tel MkII, the joys of 80s football and tackles that were simply a part of the game, and not a straight red card, here's a treat for you from the 1982 Cup Final...



Callum O'Shea and Nick Hegley should be our wingers in a 4-4-2, with my tip being Solly and Maskell in the middle. At the back, I'll be honest I don't know who any of them are this term. Potter may get shifted to right back, but he's a better midfielder than full back. In all honesty, last season's closure of the Luton End gave many a chance to more closely examine our backline, which at times last year was much like being asked to inspect your own soil stack in the event of a blockage - ie pretty unpleasant. The Luton End appears to be nearer completion, and having been open for pre-season I'd love it to re-open for at least some of this term. If it remains closed for competitive fixtures, I should be able to give my biased and poorly formed opinions on our defence sooner rather than later... who knows.

3.00pm Saturday. Maidstone Road Theatre of Slapstick Comedy. Corninthian Casuals our guests. Let's get a quick 3 points on the board. Its going to be a season to remember (which I might have said this time last year, but you get the point...)

Until next time, C'Mon Les Chats!!

White Road 4 - 1 Wallis Park

North Kent's grimmest towns (arguably) met in a pre-season encounter at TOSC last night, with Chatham running out 4-1 winners against Ebbsfleet United.

Fleet took the chance to rest several first teamers ahead of the opening Blue Square South game this coming Saturday, and played with an experimental back four, but did feature the talents of 32 year old Leon McKenzie, a man who played Championship football for Coventry as recently as 2009, and played several times for League One Charlton last season.

Chatham took a first half lead through a rejuvenated Ryan Restell. The youth team product is coming into his own under Paul Foley and put in a man of the match performance with two goals and an assist for the fourth.

KoS media reported it as a flattering scoreline for Chatham. It was anything but. Fleet threatened often but failed to make possession count for goals, Ollie Cotton, returning to the Chatham goal after a six year absence putting in a performance that has rightly led to some Fleet fans asking on their forum that Liam Daish signs him up as a number 2 to the rested Preson Edwards. James Tedder, still not recovered fully from the head gash that has ruled him out of all but the first fifteen minutes of pre-season must be worried. Cotton looked in fine form, making several fine blocks and showing safe hands under pressure.

Restell's early goal was quickly ruled out by Paul Benjamin, who had time to take a touch and place a shot whilst unmarked in the box, but shortly after Restell scored a fine goal, using one touch to take it back to his left and wide of the last defender, before placing a fine half volley past the stranded Hagan.

The second half started in earnest, Fleet unhappy at the scoreline, but they failed to take numerous chances, underlining not only their lack of accuracy but also the need for Chatham to install a large net at the Luton end to catch stray balls going into the trees.

Gary Ward added a third after continual pressure from Chatham again exposed the Ebbsfleet rearguard, and a fourth was added within minutes of the final whistle when the debuting Joe Fuller worked well with Restell on the wing to create space before whistling a shot in at the near post.

Callum O'Shea and Lee Maskell were both very impressive, as was Gary Ward for a Chatham side still being learned by many of the Chats faithful. O'Shea, a Charlton trainee has the pace of a young professional, and can turn tricks on the wing, and provide crosses with accuracy. His corner taking was excellent, and will be a great addition to the side if Chatham can retain his services. There was no Uche Imbemere on show last night, which goes to show the real depth Paul Foley has established in his squad. So much so, Ashley Probets, released by Dartford and expected by many to be a shoe-in at TOSC, has signed today for Thamesmead Town. Interesting times await.

A bumper crowd should be expected for Saturday's friendly with a disgruntled Maidstone, before our final friendly next Tuesday at home again to Ryman Premier opposition in the form of Folkestone Invicta. The first game of the Ryman season is on the 21st when we entertain the old amateurs, Corinthian Casuals. It'll be interesting to see how we get on, and I'll be letting you know on the 22nd.

Boris Island 1 - 2 Ryanair

On a night when all but three of the 22 players who came out of the dressing rooms were stepping onto TOSCs hallowed turf for the first time, new look Chatham were undone by two sloppy moments of “defending” against Essex Senior League champions Stansted FC.

The only players in the starting line ups to my knowledge to have played here before were Matthew Solly, Brad Potter and a helpful Danny Ellis, deputising in goal for James Tedder. Lee Maskell later came off the bench and showed us glimpses what a great player he can be when fit – I like many others was surprised when he left us two years ago to join Vickers, but it seems that much like Ashley Probets before him, he has benefited from stepping away from expectation and become a better player. (Maskell was a pro at Ebbsfleet until his release in 2008)

It was a chance to see our new charges, but not our new manager, Paul Foley, absent on holiday. Its going to take ages to learn who everyone is. A few players really stood out, and as usual, in the early days its always the forwards who really catch the eye. Uche Ibemere looks superb – he can take on anyone and go round them, much like the departed Rob Denness, but unlike Mr Chatham ™, it appears Ibemere can cross the ball. Definitely one to look out for. He paired up well with Danny Penny, a man who is basically Lee Barnett in five years time. Penny, like Barnett, appears to all intents and purposes to be too fat and too slow to be any good. But his physical appearance is deceptive – he has all the flicks of Barnett and can smack it first time just as well as Mr B. He also has some pace about him – perhaps he’s not that big at all, and its just our figure hugging new kit that makes him look big.

Elsewhere, both wingers looked decent – Nick Hegley is clearly class and is the first player I’m going to use the word “contract” about. Other than that, there were so many positives last night Ryan Laker came off the bench, and even managed to showboat a bit with some dainty chipped passes. Its great news that Foley has kept such talent at the club, we simply mustn’t waste it a la Kedwell / Collin etc etc, and he becomes the second use of the word “contract”.

We are away to Hythe on Saturday, where we will undoubtedly concede five Brendon “Dirty Cash” Cass goals, before a run of home games against senior opposition.

The only concern I have is that we have no deputy for the injured James Tedder. Danny Ellis was “borrowed” from Faversham last night (the team also known as Chatham reserves), but the worry is that we’ve conceded 3 soft goals due to disorganisation in defence whilst Tedder is missing. Its very important that Tedder is fit again soon – yes, he knows his back four, but match practice is everything.

Road meets the sea 1 - 3 River rats

Chatham Town travelled to Herne Bay for their first pre-season friendly of the summer, and walked away from the Safety Net Stadium, Winch's Field 3-1 winners.

I was unable to attend due to a much more important family event, and I'm not usually a massive fan of pre-season matches anyway. I am though keen to see our new charges, but a glimpse at Herne Bay's official site already has some match photos on board.

According to their report, two of our three goals came from defensive lapses by Bay, but we have a pedigree of not capitalising on such things, so perhaps the new era is starting as it means to go on.

I mentioned photos - two of them are captioned, so we now know what Aaron Firth and skipper Danny Ward look like. We also rather comically now know what Jimmy Corbett looks like these days. Those of us with long memories will remember the Medway lad being a £525k signing for then Premier League big shots Blackburn Rovers back in 1998. He broke a leg soon after joining Rovers, and disappeared into the ether - his five years without an appearance at Blackburn were dotted with loans to Southend and Darlington. Anyway, apparently he's approaching full fitness. Maybe the picture on the Bay site isn't all that flattering, but I reckon he garnered a liking for meat and potato pies whilst in Lancashire.

http://hernebayfc.net/Herne%20Bay%20v%20Chatham%20Town.html

Sniping at megastars aside, its back to the reality of non-league footy next week. I don't like PSFs normally, as I mentioned. They only usually end in the disappointment of seeing a really good triallist that we can't afford, or the desperate sight of players on their way out of a club falling by the wayside. You just can't match a competitive game. But this Tuesday sees a first chance for fans and the intrigued alike to see the VCD side that finished 8th in the Ryman North last year under the re branded guise of Chatham Town FC. That sounds like I'm being a bit sarcy. I am. Genuinely, I welcome the new regime. The club's needed a good kick up the arse for a long time now, and we thought we were getting it last year. The impression that AOB was forced out by bad feeling in the dressing room / a lack of consistency / the club becoming an old boys network for ex Dartford players (to the point where Darts fans started coming to watch us when they had a chance) became all the stronger when you realise just how few players were an option to remain, and all of them were pre-OB - that is were at the club before O'Brien, or came through the youth ranks. The fact that there were only 8, and we used in excess of 25 players last year tells you how bad it was. Foley has brought with him a proven side who play for each other. We need a team like that - they've already bonded. I'd love to see Matt Solly fit in with it, and for that matter Brad Potter. Turns out that Ben Payne, Ashley Probets and Rob Denness will probably all leave. What happens with Richard Avery is yet to be seen. The youth wing of Michael Scott and Ryan Restell have a future at the club. Roll on Tuesday, 7.45pm - the visit of Essex Senior League champions Stansted, a side who should have gone up to our level but chose not to. I'm looking forward to the horror of trying to learn all of our new players names - as any of you who know me will testify, every game is spent waiting for me to confuse a player's name. Should be fun.

Come in number 7... you've got Ashford's fixtures.

That's certainly how it looks anyway. The big announcement is finally made - and it looks very much like we've been put straight into Ashford's shoes. The giveaway is that our "derby" games for Christmas and Easter are Eastbourne Town (the reprieved, shouldn't be in the league Eastbourne Town as some know them). They weren't exactly local to Ashford either, but expecting them to come to Medway on the 27th December is a bit silly - particularly when our obvious rivals, Sittingbourne, are away to Merstham!

The full fixtures are on the official site, with Chats opening the season at TOSC on Saturday 21st August 2010 against Corinthian Casuals. We then travel to Merstham on the Tuesday, before a cup trip to either Mole Valley SCR or Chertsey Town on the 28th. Our first Kent Derby is on the bank holiday Monday 30th August when we welcome old hands Ramsgate - who we must face away at Southwood on New Year's Day. That trip in fact will be our third to the coast in a month - we're away to Worthing and Brighton based Whitehawk on the 4th and 11th December respectively. The 'hawk match could be postponed if we get to the 1st round proper of the FA Trophy - I'd hate to miss a Saturday trip to Whitehawk. They're ground is unique, as this photo, stolen from someone else, shows - it just wouldn't work at night.

Note the crowd on the far side, standing on the hill. This ground meets standards. Our Luton End, doesn't - because of the trees. The words Ryman League Ground Graders and Farce do tend to go well, as our new manager Paul Foley would probably testify, but let's not focus on that.

Standout fixtures that might persuade me to go away from home for a game or two are Met Police on 30th October, simply for the floodlights.

Not of course for the song potential... that said, they'd have to wait for home games. I think any comments about Jean Charles de Menezes taking taxis etc would probably be better received somewhere other than the Met Police social club...

Another away trip that is very interesting is September 18th's journey to Bognor Regis Town. Late summer / early autumn trip to the coast - group save returns... could be interesting....

Full fixtures at http://www.chathamtownfc.net.

I'm off to watch Mastershout.

The South Will Rise Again...

Chatham are back in the Ryman 1 South. Its been announced today on the Ryman League's official site as a back end to a sad story about the possible demise of Ashford Town.

Ashford, plagued by boardroom rifts off the pitch and rumours of a debt close to a cool 1 million English pounds, have today tendered their resignation from the Isthmian League, and hope to be playing next season in the Kent League. If the Kent League will have them. That at least looks positive - the Kent League are so desperate for members (due to the success of member club's being promoted and not bouncing back down) that I wholly expect them to be "sworn in" like a disgraced US President at a Freemason's party.

This all follows on from the nonsense we had last week where Grays were "relegated" to the R1N having been initially accepted into the Ryman Premier. This left the northern section a club heavy - a problem that is now solved thanks to Ashford's misfortune.

Its also been reported today that Maidstone, tenants of Ashford Town, have been evicted from the Nuts and Bolts' Homelands stadium. Maidstone have met this with some incredulity - but the reasons cited by Ashford Town on their website do stand up to interrogation. It is appropriate to consider such a matter as failing to license the Sky TV that Maidstone had installed as a breach of the tenancy agreement in that Ashford as owners of the ground can probably expect to receive the fine. This leaves Maidstone potentially homeless. There is talk of them returning to Bourne Park, but it was very much a mooted point in the early summer that Stones' chair Paul Bowden Brown wanted to share at our very own TOSC. As we've already replaced Ashford in the league, it makes perfect sense for us to take on our now homeless neighbours from the county town. The fixtures simply need Ashford crossing through and Chatham replacing, and hey presto, no clashes with Maidstone. Simple enough really. All we have to do is ensure that we don't get screwed by it, and that the pitch holds up. And we have to hope that sense prevails at the league, who do not now expel Maidstone from the league for failing to have a ground share in place by deadline day (this has passed). Any such deal needs to be long term for the Ryman League - let's hope that the stupidity ends and that the non league scene in the south of England stops embarrassing itself.

The logical direction for this next paragraph is about irresponsible club owners not being limited to the professional ranks of the game - in fact, the number of non league clubs that have gone bust or taken enforced relegation this season is terrifying. Its not right to speculate about other owner's motives, but I am glad that Chatham Town are operated by a board who are first and foremost local football people, rather than big bucks businessmen. Long may it continue. I'd take a lifetime of mediocrity over anything that risks the club's future any day of the week.

Fixtures are now due out tomorrow. Which will now reunite us with Sittingbourne. Who've signed Rob Denness and Lee Barnett, if you believe the rumours. That has to be better than some attempt at Rivalry with Tilbury, surely?

Fixture inaction

We all thought that we'd be nearer an idea of exactly who we're playing and when next season by now, but the latest news has thrown everything back up in the air. To keep it brief, the meeting between the FA, the Ryman league and Grays Athletic resulted in Grays being placed in the Ryman 1 North, not the Ryman Premier as was expected. This means that the second tier of the Ryman now consists of 45 clubs, meaning at least one division will run with 23. If sense prevails, and often at this level it doesn't, we should be put back into a 23 club Ryman 1 South. We're due to find out over the weekend so that the fixtures can be arranged in the early part of next week.

The knock of of this is horrendous. We're four weeks from season start. Other leagues depend on these fixtures being out before they can arrange theirs. For example, Kent League Fisher groundshare with Dulwich. Dulwich's fixtures take priority, so Fisher can't have their games arranged until the Ryman mess is sorted.

Elsewhere, its been announced on the official site (after it was on McCartney) that Ben Payne is the latest to go to Erith Town, and that Ashley Probets is on trial at Dartford. Probets was player of the year (joint with Matt Solly) last term, but the step up to Connie South may be too much for him. Yes, he was two years a proffessional at Arsenal, and had a spell with Rochdale (he's the only Chat with football league pitch time), and he is easily capable of playing in the Conference again, but needs to make sure he learns not to switch off, which he can do sometimes - perhaps he'll be less prone to it in the atmosphere of the Princes Park Arena. And apparently Denness has gone to Sittingbourne - he should do well there and would do well to make that move.

Fixtures when I have them.

Chatham Town Welcomes Desperate Men

Yeah yeah yeah, its not the fixtures, but I just found this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aztulcg9ipM (embedding disabled... tut.)

I'd always thought I didn't like Billy Childish, but this is undeniably very good in a very pretentious way. I am particularly amused that he stands outside my old flat several times (well, probably actually just once - its the way its cut). In all seriousness, this about sums up how I often feel about Medway. Not the actual words (which, with delivery like this, work well), but the atmopshere it creates. A begrudging love for Medway in all its moribund depressed death twitching mollusc glory.

Pre-pre season thoughts... not all football.

Been a while - hello to you all.

We're at the time of year where I was about to get all excited about the release of the new season's fixtures, but instead I'm blogging about what I've been up to, things that have occurred to me and some other thoughts and follies. The reason? The Ryman League fixtures have been postponed - well, not the games, but the release of the actual fixture list. Its all due to the late inclusion of Grays Athletic, who, having had the good grace to mess about the whole league by appealing to be let into it, now appear to be going bust.

So instead of telling you all about how excited I am about perhaps going to the Cricklefield International Arena (home of both Ilford and Waltham Forest), I'm going to be pondering why you never hear the phrase "Pioneering Peadophile", the inadequacies of local government, and other things.

But having just mentioned the Cricklefield International Arena, Ilford, would be unfair not to show you it, wouldn't it?



Being an athletics ground, and with both home sides boasting massive attendances into double figures, it just like being at Juve in the 80s.... whatever happens, I'm going there at least once this season, if only to see both keepers have to run 30yards every time the ball goes out of play for a goal kick.

As soon as the fixtures are out, and I've had time to think about them, I'll be posting. I'm gagging to see some football, having missed most of the world cup due to Alpage, and the new team that Paul Foley has brought with him needs some inspection. I know naff all about most of them, apart from the fact that some of them come with big reputations (well, Nick Hegley is very much sought after and we're lucky to have him. Its generally accepted that his work keeps him from playing Conference football, so let's see if he's really that good eh?)

Anyway, I've not really been pondering the phrase about peadophiles. That's just weird. It has a nice ring to it, but that's about it.

I have been pondering the inadequacy of local government, but can't talk about it here in detail. Basically, it turns out that if you're a powerful elected representative of the people, you can abuse the rules, deny it, and then be cleared of any wrongdoing. When it goes to appeal, which this case did, it turns out you get cleared again, but with a list of recommendations that do everything but admit that you did infact break the rules... I may talk further about it on another blog, but I don't want to taint this one with a certain politician's name. This one is about something I really do like. "The Politician" as he is now called, is something I really do not.

Right - enough filler for now. Back with more news when I have it. You've been warned.

Vickers Chatham Dartford FC

A new beginning next season at TOSC. Our new manager, Theo, sorry, Paul Foley, has arrived, along with what now looks like the entire VCD squad who finished 8th last season in the Ryman North. Turns out that's where we'll be playing next year, So, perhaps not a bad thing.

We were poor last year. This, despite my mocking title for this article, is, in my opinion, all good.

Foley is clearly a talented manager. His tenure at VCD was one of success, ultimately, it would appear, let down by the club not being run as a semi-pro club should be. Let’s hope our board don’t let him down. I’m sure they won’t. We’ve got ambition off the pitch for once as well, the plans well afoot for the redevelopment and improvement of the ground.

Looks like Foley is going to be bringing some financial investment to the club too – he’s promised the commercial nous he brought to VCD.

Disappointingly, the chance to sign Brendon Cass was again on our doorstep, and we’ve missed it. This is my only criticism of the new age – the desire to sweep clean has perhaps been more OCD than VCD in this case, and Cassie has dropped down to the Kent League to play for Hythe. Now, don’t get me wrong, money does talk in this league. But surely, the combination of Ryman League football and playing for the local club could have swung it? I’m also concerned about the future of certain players who bleed the red and black. I’m talking about not only the nine who’ve been invited back for next season (Solly, Probets, Denness, Rowe, Scott, Restell, Payne, Potter and Avery), but those who haven’t been – what about Justin Ascheri for example? Dean Ruddy? Sure, there’s limited space now, but how do we know if the quality we’re getting in is better than what we had? Suppose we’ll have to wait and see.

With reference to plying our trade in the R1N next season, I am looking forward to it. As much as the club will miss the local derbies, particularly the joy of getting beaten by Sittingbourne every_single_time, I am excited about not only two trips to the Cricklewood International Athletics Arena, Ilford (for both Ilford and Waltham Forest), but two “four go mad” style trips to Suffolk, to picaresque Sudbury, and less picaresque, more Steve Wright’s Night Terrors, Needham Market. Also, we get a trip to Ware – perhaps the nicest town I’ve ever seen a football match in, a place where even the chavs seem posher than most of Medway’s finest.

Obivously, its close season, and I’m going on holiday for a few weeks. I’ll start doing some updating around the start of the pre-season friendlies, but to be honest won’t go to many of them. The most interesting is the visit of Ebbsfleet United, a team who I suspect are very close to going bust unless they sort out the ridiculous MyFC situation. They’ve got just two registered players and only two friendlies arranged. I hope it sorts itself out for them, and they can go back to being called Gravesend and Northfleet.

TTFN. Jeff from ELO.

Oh, hang on, its grim up north.

http://www.yourmedway.co.uk/kent-news/Chats-unhappy-with-Ryman-North-switch-newsinkent36307.aspx?news=sport

This is frankly very worriyng. Very worrying indeed.

I'd strongly recommend reading this link. To summarise it for you though, the leagues need further reshuffling, and it looks like we've drawn the short straw again.

I'll keep you posted, but it now looks like there's plenty of uncertainty about anything next season. It all started so well this morning, new manager, loads of Kent derbies to look forward to. At least we might get another trip to sunny Ware and a derby against Thamesmead if this goes ahead. It also must significantly undermine our new sponsorship deal - crowds in the 1North are pathetic...

We have to appeal this if its true.

New management team.

It was briefly announced on the official site, before being removed at the time of this post, that we've appointed Paul Foley as our new manager.

Now, if its true, and it goes ahead, initial thoughts are that this is an excellent, if unexpected appointment. Foley, the son of former Millwall and Arsenal Assistant Manger Theo ( a man who could say "Ricky Otto" with more finesse than any other co-commentator on ITV's local First Division coverage in the early days of the premier league) has a great track record at near neighbours Vickers Cray Dartford (VCD), guiding them in his first three season's to second and first in the Kent League, and then an impressive seventh in the R1N last season, before the club's enforced relegation.

I said before that we should appoint from within the club's family - this is of course not the case if this is true, but given his pedigree, and the fact that he is young, ambitious and proven to succeed at this level, he could be a fantastic acquisition for this club. What we have to look out for now is the calibre of player he can attract to the club on our budget. He's a history of attracting good names to VCD (he took Simon Austin to them in the kent league from Ryman Premier Horsham, and recruited Ashley Probets from the wilderness), so lets hope he can bring some star quality to add to the decent backbone that we've already got on board at TOSC.

Of course, if its all conjecture, or fallen through, this is a massive OG for the club... but let's not jump the gun. Maybe they're just updating the site or summink.

The late, late show.

Its been a while since I posted. It took some time to reflect on what was, honestly, a season marked by its inconsistency.

Chatham started the season with so much promise, ending it with four months of relegation form, seeing the Chats plummet from the edge of the play offs, to 17th in Ryman 1 South.

Alex O'Brien and Lew Watts are no more. They're not dead, if that's what you were thinking, but they've thrown in the towel. Not a surprise really.

The hunt is on for a new management team. Many many possibilities. Last time around, OB's shock appointment was one met with some trepidation by supporters, but overwhelmingly popular. His twelve game tenure as coach at the end of the 2008-2009 season saw us go on an unbeaten run. Soon announced was the signing of Brendon Cass, Steve Hafner and the arrival of two decent goalkeepers - Stroud and Ruddy. Things looked up. And then it all went wrong. OB never seemed to be able to settle the side. Frankly, there was too much change too swiftly.

The challenge now is to appoint a manager who bleeds the red and black. Both Lloyd Hume (with Alan Walker - the two were formidable at Maidstone) and Jason Lillis spring to mind, but may not, according to the esteemed John Crow be welcomed back to the club. The two are former Chats, but are not loved apparently. So, if we want to keep it in the family, who are our options - its hard to say.

Steve Binks is Mr Chatham. Not in the pageant sense, but in the Loyal and True sense. But maybe that would be a backward step. Binks could never put the side together to push for promotion , to take us to that next level.

Alternatively, we could look to another former manager, and good friend of the club, Clive Walker. He's involved at Faversham as far as I know, but perhaps the lure of the management role at TOSC may be a big draw. I'd put money on him. Or Steve Best. He was a leader for us on the pitch before his retirement, and knows the non league scene in Kent inside out. He was also tactically astute, and passion was a middle name for him.

Whoever we appoint, it needs to be swift. This is the time of year where players are out of contract. The likes of Solly and Probets will be attracting attention elsewhere. We need to keep them at the club, along with the backbone of the side, Richard Avery. Also, we need to bring back some of the players who've left. They were liked - really liked, by both fans and the wider "club" - to be explicit, I mean Lee Barnett, Brendon Cass, Byron Walker, Steve Hafner (playing Sunday league division 3 last i heard), and the dream star, local hero and Chatham's most successful product of recent years (excluding Danny Kedwell now a full timer at Wimbledon) Frannie Collin.

Its all dreams this time of year. But that's what post season is about. The power of dreams. Fire up the Honda - we're off to the Ryman Prem.

Chatham 3-0 Walton and Hersham

High flying Chatham secured their play off spot with this consumate victory over rivals Walton and Hersham at the Sports Ground Maidstone Road on Saturday, with a brace from Ray Powell and a Rob Denness stunner.

That's of course only partly true. We had of course hoped for success this year - AOB is right in that you've got to have ambiton - but with this game being the end of the home season, we're left looking to the hope of next year. Was it really twelve months ago that we all got so excited when we went 12 unbeaten and Lee Barnett was the Ziggy Stardust of Chatham Town?

Oh well... always next year... and time to look ahead (the away game at Ashford on Saturday now frankly means nowt to either side).

We need to look at who we're going to keep from the playing squad... First to spring on to my keep list is Matt Solly , player of the season. One of those players the opposition don't notice, and keeps things going.

Also to keep... both Ruddy and Stroud. Good keepers keep each other on their toes. Whether we can keep them both remains to be seen. Ashley Probets -The best full back in the league if he wants to be. Richard Avery -Let him concentrate on the job - just leave him to it. Robbie Denness - keep him and play him. And try and keep Jack Pallen. So much potential. And I'm really quite keen on Bobby Dixie. That's not to say don't keep the rest - I'm still undecided.

The performance on Saturday was so full of positives, its easy to see where it went wrong this year - to be frank too many players not turning up. That's why I'm undecided on a few of the squad. It difficult from the terrace to work out where the negativity comes from - the manager needs to identify it and remove it. Everyone had a good game on Saturday - Ruddy was superb. Wilfort was the sensible head we needed at the back, and Brad Potter complemented Solly well in the middle of the park. Jordan Kiffin looked sharper than I've seen him so far since he came in on loan, and I was very impressed with Bobby Dixie for his brief spell off the bench. Perhaps the lack of pressure told on the players. If O'Brien can keep that level of motivation going, then he should stay and show us what he can do next year. But if I'm honest, he's got ten games to prove it next season. We never got going this term - there's always next year.

So sad, so sad...

its a sad, sad sit-yoo-ayshun, warbled Elton Welsby John a few years ago, most notably for the younger patrons of this site with the boy band Blue. It sums up my feelings about Chatham Town FC at the moment.

I took advantage of an offer to visit a friend in the East Sussex region on Saturday just gone. Normally, such an offer would have been rejected with a dismissive pffffttt and wave of the hand - the Chats were at home. But with the season having already descended, in my opinion, into farce, why not take in the delights of Hove?

And I was proved correct as Chatham were beaten for the 10th time in 13 games, throwing away a one goal lead against a team who a few months ago we were able to call promotion rivals. Croydon Moneybags Athletic were the visitors to TOSC and came away 2-1 winners, Chatham's goal being scored by the spritely Jack Pallen.

Pallen's loan got me thinking about who we need to keep for next season. To be frank, there really aren't that many who seem to want it. And I can only assume that there is something amiss with the management of the club.

Brendon Cass, Byron Walker, Lee Barnett, Steve Hafner. One thing in common. Well, two. Very talented players. All left Chatham Town this season. And to be frank, they're the tip of the iceberg. It was implied in Alex O Brien's programme notes that Barnett went to Thamesmead for the money. Given that he is, to my knowledge, playing Kent League football now (last week he turned out for Erith and Belvedere), he's either had a massive turn of heart, E&B (who don't pay players) have had a change in fortune, or none of it was ever true. You decide.

And the rumours of indiscipline (some first teamers refusing to train) go unaddressed. Ascheri on a 35 day ban for a sending off playing with his mates in the sunday league. Possibly the most stupid thing to have happened since John Wilfort was affectionately termed "Mad John Wilf" by AOB. I'm not sure whether the problem here is the players or the gaffer. We've had too many players ghost in and out of the club - they must be smelling that something isn't right. And to be frank, as talented a coach as OB clearly is, tactically it's all looking a bit iffy. We never have a plan B.

If this season had another month to run, I'd be in Billy Hill's putting a ton on us going down, just to get something good out of the season. There have been so few positives this year - it started so well, and for once we looked like we might be competing rather than making up the numbers. But its fallen apart at the seams and no-one appears to care. That's why it rankles so much.

Should I stay or should I go? That's the song the artist formerly known as Don Logan is singing in the shower every morning... Whether the club will ever make the call remains to be seen. We've become an embarrassing shambles of poor tactics, thuggery, and lack of any credible talent. We have many talented individuals (Probets, Ruddy, Solly, Avery, Denness, Payne, Laker) but we are not a team. Next season must be an improvement.

Maidstone are apparently moving in. The money would be handy. And the men who took them from the Kent League to the Ryman Premier, Walker and Hume, are out of a job. Could be another "vancany" sign going up at TOSC over the summer...

Lidl's Vodka 1 - 3 Chuck Martini

This report is well, late, (four days so in fact), but the joys of parenting and a busy career in Social Housing have truly taken their toll this week.

Tuesday night saw Chatham, on the back of their first successive victories since October 2009, entertain play off hunting Godalming Town at TOSC. Godalming, a much much improved side and one of the suprise packages in the Ryman 1 South this term, came to Maidstone Road confident of a repeat of their opening day mauling of the Chats, an encounter which Chuck Martini's men (yes, that his real name) won 3-0.

Chatham started the game nervously, and were a deserved goal down on 27 mins when the impressively strong and fleet of foot number 11 Phil Williams held off challenges from an aggressive Ray Powell to fire a pin point accuract shot past Richard Stroud from an improbable angle. In a game that had offered little in the way of clear chances until that point, it was only ever going to be from such a piece of class that the scoreline altered, and the half petered out tersely, the only items of note being the substitution by Godalming of their keeper Gary Aulsberry for Rodney Chiweshe, who himself was carring an injury, and the almost immediate save by the replacement of a fierce and well struck Jack Pallen shot.

Into the second half, and Chatham came out of the blocks the stronger side. With no more than five second half minutes on the clock, the impressive Rob Denness held the ball up well in the box, and laid it off for Pallen, who's crisp drive was tipped wide by Chiweshe. On 55 minutes, Chatham were level thanks to a superlative strike from Denness with the left foot, the lanky frontman running onto a clever through ball, taking one touch and burying past the outstretched keeper into the far corner.

The momentum of the game was truly turning at this point, Chatham seemingly the better side, and a winner looking likely for the Medway side. Jack Pallen twice went close in the next ten minutes, before a Barnett-esque strike from distance by Denness was tipped over by the outstanding Chiweshe.

Then came the twist in this tale that wouldn't suprise any Chats fan this season. A hopeful punt by the Chiweshe (who had not kicked the ball with any comfort due to the knock he was carrying all game) eluded everyone in the Chatham rearguard, and was flicked through the defence to find Graeme Purdy, who buried it past the stranded Stroud.

Stroud, who'd not had much to do in the half could justifiably feel aggrieved by the yet again calamitous defending on show, but could not find fault with anyone but himself for the killer third which followed some ten minutes later. A cross into the box was caught by Stroud above a Godalming head, and immediately dropped. Stroud chased behind the big man, hoping to achieve who knows what other than a youth theatre pantomime re-enactment of a chase scene from a silent comedy (all that was missing was a clenched fist and a rolling pin),before the ball was pulled back across goal for Williams to bury it past the distraught defence. Chatham's confidence finally undone, the final ten minutes played out in a painfully lacklustre spirit, even Justin Ascheri's appearance from the bench doing nothing to dispell the painful truth that we are tactically incompetent and adrift of the depth of intelligence and tactical nous that makes winning teams.

We entertain high flying Fleet Town this afternoon. I might go.