What time do you call this? Where the hell have you been?

I'm genuinely hurt that not one person has posted that, tweeted that, or emailed me that. I've just noticed that its been over TWO MONTHS (and yes, I am shouting that) since I last posted.

Its not that I haven't wanted to, its just that I've been waylaid. That's a great word that isn't it? As soon as you say it, its like "family emergency" - most people, well, the socially adept among us, shy away when someone says that. No-one really asks what you've been doing. So, I'll have to presume you all thought I had been waylaid, and didn't know how to ask. That makes me feel much better...

Given that no-one has asked, I'm going to do the socially inept thing, and answer anyway. I've been too busy really. The Chats are still going. Its been something of a cliche ridden, rollercoaster of a season so far. Languishing back in mid-table (our spiritual home) after being among the early pacesetters, its still hard to know what to think.

Over at www.themedwaybroadside.com there will be, at some point, the option (I imagine) to download the latest issue. There's a decent enough piece on the Chats in that, that should bring you up to date to the middle of October. When I see if its working, I'll post it. Time means that the match reports will be less frequent than they were some years ago when this blog started up. I'd dearly love to do more, but IRL (which I'm told is an acronym for "In Real Life"), its all a bit busy. Sorry. It just is.

Back to the Medway Broadside. Its very much worth a read. I may end up posting match reports over there rather than here. If that's the case, I'll link them from here - all the other nonsense will of course remain part of the blog.

Nice catching up with you all - keep it academia, as Steve McFadden would say, ratchet in hand.

Welcome, Dead Novelists.

Chatham won the opening game of the season yesterday, one nil at fancied Maldon and Tiptree. Miles away, didn't go. Home to Harlow on Tuesday night - can't wait.

In the meantime, I've been seeking inspiration for the coming season. I've turned to our old mate Billy Childish and his fantastic poem, Chatham Town Welcomes Desperate Men.

You can see him perform it here.

http://youtu.be/Aztulcg9ipM

I've posted this before, but it requires re-posting.

Welcome Dead Novelists...

Bank managers who can no longer manage...

Its what makes me absurdly proud to come from Medway. Its the same pride I have in our football club. Its not perfect but its ours. And we can't help but love it.

Bargain Chats

Perhaps the biggest bargain outside of London at the moment is the Chatham Town membership scheme. Announced today on the official site, you can buy membership at the Chats for £20. This will get you in to all league games for the bargain price of £5 - a saving of £3 a game. Over a 21 game season this is a saving of £63, which will leave you £43 quid better off. If you're an OAP, you get in for £2. You can't fault it, and I for one will be doing it!

"A new decade...

The radio plays the sounds we made, and everything seems to feel just right"… warbled Wigan Warbler supreme Richard Ashcroft on the Verve’s opening track of their second long player, A Northern Soul.

It may sound like hyperbole but there’s such a genuine optimism at the TOSC at the moment, its hard not to be swept away on its waves. The foundations are in for the clubhouse extension, and there’s a genuinely good fundraising initiative to help build it. More of that later.

But what’s been happening a TOSC this summer?

Well firstly, the pitch. It looks fantastic. It is fantastic, and it’s the hard work of vice chair Barry Adams and a volunteer who apparently used to do the ground in the 70s. He supports Chelsea and hates Gillingham, and doesn’t really like Chatham. I don’t know his name, which I should do. But I don’t. Whether the pitch holds up to the possibility of three games a week is another thing; Gills Ladies are ground sharing with us, and of course there are the reserves too.

And we’ve got a pretty much new look squad again, but this time it’s a hybrid of the “old” old (pre-Foley), and the “new” old (Foley). Gladly, some of the side that finished the campaign after Paul Foley’s unceremonious departure last year are still with us, Joe Fuller, the Hogg brothers (Jon has a Mad Men haircut by the way) Jason Barton and Adam Molloy have hung around. Then there’s Brad Potter and Matt Solly, who predate that awful era from last year. And there’s the enigmatic return of Gary Tilly, who last played for us, and at this level, some six years ago before his third broken leg. There are plenty of new faces too. I’ll name them and cast opinions as their identities become more apparent, but included are Jon Pilbeam formerly of Sevenoaks Town, and non-league stalwart keeper Tony Kessell, whose experience will do Adam Molloy no end of good.

And we’ve been featured on the very widely read www.theballisround.co.uk, a great piece of publicity for the club. Take a look. Its possibly, at a push, better than my own blog. Honestly…

Pre-season has thus far been mixed – four games gone, one win, one draw, two defeats. But pre-season’s not about winning games. I’ve always thought teams who do well in pre-season tend to do badly in the league. “You can prove anything with facts” says Stewart Lee to a homophobic taxi driver. I can’t prove this as it’s a feeling. Live with it.

The season starts in two weeks away to Maldon & Tiptree. Its in Essex, and apparently is quite nice. I won’t go. I’ll start my season with the home game on the 23rd, and will do a report. I might even do a report out of context and off subject on the Kent vs India One Dayer at Canterbury on the 26th August. That could be funny, as I understand very little about Cricket.

LYL

M-A-T-T S-O-L-L-Y

If you've heard the song Tenderoni by Kele Okereke, you'll know that you can chant Matt Solly's name along to the chorus. Which is handy, because I only worked this out after he left under a bit of a cloud during Paul Foley's reign.

In good news, its been announced today on the official site that Matt Solly is back for next season. There couldn't be a clearer statement of intent from Kevin Watson than bringing Matt home. Kevin Watson is a new broom who understands what the club and the fans want. Solly is a favourite with the fans and players, a gifted player who came through the youth set up.

Also re-signing is Ryan Laker, last term's player of the year - another youth product, he's got a big future in the game and will surely be the first name on the team sheet after Solly next year.

Pre-season training has started, and we kick off on 23rd July, away to Erith Town. I'll probably miss most of the pre-season games, but will try and get along to some.

Our first official fixtures are announced this week, with the draws for the FA Cup and FA Trophy being announced this friday, and the league fixtures out a week after that. Suddenly, I can't believe the season ended over two months ago!

Come on the Chats!!!!

Been a while, and Ian Pulman in shock promotion.

Sorry I've been away. I couldn't be bothered to be frank. It was becoming a tad tedious, both on the pitch and off.

As you probably know, we finished in the relegation spots, but were reprieved thanks to the financial stupidity of other teams, and will compete in the Ryman 1 North next season. This is of course great news, and we'll be travelling to Ware, my favourite away trip, as well as Needham Market, Sudbury and Leiston which are all in Suffolk. We'll win the league. I said it. Nothing wrong with some early optimism.

In other news, Kevin Watson, 29, is our new manager. He managed to get 7 points from 9 in our last three games, and it was nearly 100% and a mental play off to stay up if not for the heroics of Bognor's keeper in the dying minutes. He's announced three signings, two of last year's squad and a newbie. Brad Potter (now skipper) and Adam Molloy remain, and we're joined by exciting Tunbridge Wells winger John Pilbeam, who scored 11 last season and fed a front line which netted nearly 50. All positive.

Going back to the old school, many Chats fans would be forgiven for not remembering Ian Pulman playing for us. It was about five years ago, and he didn't have a very good time at Chatham. Those who do recall him will be shocked to hear that his star is that much in the ascent that he has moved to Eastbourne Borough - yes, the big team in Eastbourne - the Conference South side in Eastbourne. Can Ian Pulman go on to be the next in a line of former Chats to go on to much greater things (well, the third after George Boyd and Danny Kedwell) ? Lets hope he does.

Pre season games are announced and on the website - Welling United at home on the 6th being the biggest draw, as well as derbies against both Brickingbourne and Maidstone. Can we charge Maidstone a tenner, as that's what they're charging for home games in the R1S next season? Please - its apparently to pay off their VAT bill - why clubs can't manage to pay the tax man whilst chasing success I'll never know. The state of non league finances puts many of the pro clubs to shame. Again, a reminder of all that's good about the Chats, we never spend money we don't have, and I'll take a million relegation battles over the shame of cheating.

Elton Welsby's Big Match.

Well, of course, Britain's second most famous Elton won't be at TOSC on Saturday, but its a massive game for both clubs and supporters alike.

Bognor Regis Town, the visitors, need a win to guarantee promotion back to the Ryman League Premier Division. Chatham need to win and hope for other results to go there way to avoid the purgatory that is a summer's wait to see if we're reprieved from the hellish waters of the Kent League.

Chatham have had no luck all season. Kevin Watson's come in to run the show for the last two games, and in fact scored an injury time winner on Saturday to complete a 3-2 comeback and keep the improbable dream alive. What chances a Chatham win on Saturday? Bognor are clearly a very good side, and will be bringing at least two coach loads of supporters with them on Saturday. They're in party mood. Let's hope they still go up, but only because Met Police lose. We are capable of beating them if we play with all our hearts on Saturday - what we lack in skill, we need to make up for in fight. I have a bizarre feeling that we actually have a chance of pulling off the great escape.

There is a chance of osmething very strange happening and that is this. Picture the scenrio. Chatham win 2-1. Cornithian Casuals are held 0-0 at Whitstable, and Whyteleafe win at home to relegated Horsham YMCA. This leaves the Chatham and Co-Cas with identical records, in every respect. It then goes to a head to head - these are equal too, both teams having won once, and both having scored and conceded two. This means a play off at a neutral venue - I don't think its ever been needed before, but there's an admittedly slim chance that the game on Saturday won't be our last of the season... stranger things have happened.

Medway 3 - 2 Thames

A late report this, and a little scant on detail, but Chatham started the improbable dream on Saturday with a 3-2 win over Neil Shipperley's Walton Casuals at TOSC. Chatham were actually at times very good.

The big news was that Paul Foley finally quit on Thursday, and Kevin Watson has taken over for the impossible dream. He certainly worked some magic, and a Chatham side that could name just three subs, including Watson, looked likely to struggle when first half injuries to Ibermere and Shinners saw youth players Kane Packer and Charlie Ticehurst come on. Both of them made a huge difference, combining with Ryan Laker who was played in midfield, and a rejuvenated Joe Fuller to launch pacy attacks at the Walton defence.

Chatham are five points adrift of safety with just two games remaining after Corinthian Casuals lost 6-0 at Whitehawk. This can still happen - away to Eastbourne this afternoon, we might find out that actually we're stuffed, but hope is a wonderful thing. You just never know in football...

Three cup finals and a local election

I said before we had loads of cup finals left. We've won none of them, and now are 8 points adrift of safety with three to play.





Safety is a strange term at the bottom of the pyramid. What it actually means is a summer of anxiety, wondering whether we'll be reprieved or not. We should be, as six teams have either gone to the wall or sought voluntary demotion, but its not a given. The Kent Premier League will be light on teams next year, and the FA are under pressure to strengthen it. We'll have an anxious summer, but should be OK. The most likely outcome is that we're moved to the Ryman 1 North. Again. It might all come to nothing though. We need to win our last three, including a final game of the season against Bognor Regis, who might need a win to secure the title and automatic promotion to the Ryman Premier. And we need Corinthian Casuals to lose all three of their games, two of which are against Whitehawk and Met Police, who are in the top four. Its not an impossible dream, but more of an improbable one. But it could all be decided if the results don't go our way on Saturday when we entertain Neil "Place of birth: Chatham" Shipperley and his Walton Casuals side at TOSC. They've been in poor form of late, so the improbable dream lives on.





And of course, there are nearly four months without football to wait on as of one week's time. Our season will end on 30th April 2011, so the blog will need new direction. I may turn my writing to the subject of politics and other dirge that springs to mind. I once wrote a review of a bad Richard Gere film in protest at the Chats. Maybe the comedic goings on at Medway Council's Gun Wharf will fill some space. So I'll start here.





May 5th sees a full council election. Standing again are Mark Reckless and Rehman Chishti, both Tory MPs as well as councillors. I can't help but wonder what happens, if, as expected, the council is tighter this year than ever before, and they need to vote at Gun Wharf and Westminster at the same time.

Additionally, it will be tight this year as the Conservatives have to an extent done their own legs with some, to be blunt, woefully poor administration on their watch.





Bias? Yes, of course I am. I am a nailed to the mast Labour supporter. I'd rather have an economist (Brown) run the country than an advertising executive (Cameron). In fact the only advertising exec I'd have run the country would be Don Draper. But he's fictional, and if he was real, would be dead.





Realistic? I believe so. Let's look at the mess the Tories have made here in Medway. Its a story made from incompetence, arrogance and self-service not seen this side of Liverpool since the 80s. Let's take a look at the evidence..

• The botched regeneration of Chatham, particularly the disgraceful state of the town centre's roads. Public opinion said "Don't do it - you'll kill the town". They did it. The town is dying.




• The destruction of important local heritage; the theatre royal (ropey for years, conveniently unsafe when the flyover needed to come down and the buses couldn't get anywhere); the Aveling and Porter building, now an unnecessary Strood car park (but the land value has soared), and the remains of the Jezreels site gone for good. At what price progress? What progress?

• A Conservative Councillor, Nick Brice who was cautioned for trying to procure the services of a prostitute, who continues despite his expulsion from the party, to vote with the Whip, and refused to resign his post. This may seem wafty, but its a disgrace. Prostitutes are amongst the most vulnerable in our town. They are more often than not the victims of vile men and the drug trade. They often have substance misuse problems, and mental health problems. A councillor should not be perpetuating the cycle of abuse.
http://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6329



• A Conservative Councillor, Jane Chitty, found by the Standards Committee (they oversee our councillors in relation to obeying the members' code of conduct) to have publicly humiliated a council employee, by shouting and gesticulating at her in a public area of the Council's offices. Chitty has been ordered to apologise to the employee (who worked in a paid role for the Labour group), but spent 40 minutes at the hearing defending her actions, and not apologising. Interestingly, she thinks the incident happened at a different time to both the victim and an independent witness. The arrogance says everything we need to know about our local Conservative party. http://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=4441

• The preference of the rich over the Town's poorest: Residents of Twydall, of which I am one, were heavily consulted on a far ranging road safety scheme for the ward, for which half of the cost would be met by the charity Sustrans. Tens of thousands were spent on this exercise, which was dropped when the ConDems cut budgets. The total cost to Medway would have been £330k. Too much we're told. Medway Council still managed to fund one major road safety scheme in the Towns this year (at over £130k). In Hempstead, the Town's wealthiest ward. And funnily enough, the safe seat of the incumbent leader of the Council, Cllr Rodney Chambers. Blatantly, the Conservatives think that the safety of poor children matters less than that of those with money and Tory votes. Twydall is a safe Labour ward.

• The promise that the £23 million cuts to the council's budget won't hit front line services. We've all been wondering what a front line service is, as the ConDems keep telling us they're safe. Apparently SureStart isn't a front line service. A real terms cut of £281k in Medway, whilst the Council's freebie, every-house-gets-one-you-can't-opt-out Medway Matters is still produced. In 2010, this cost £116k a year. Its a little less party political since a complaint, which was not upheld, about an interview that told us that Gillingham and Rainham PPC (now MP) Reh Chishti liked Ice Cream, every genre of music and "helping people". But its still a massive waste of money. Its too glossy. Its too expensive. It has to go.
http://www.medway.gov.uk/pdf/med_matters_issue26.pdf (page 29)



• The City Status ASA debacle. Medway Council was told by the Advertising Standards Agency to stop using the term "City of Medway". Rather than take it on the chin, Medway issued the following press release http://www.medway.gov.uk/information/newspages/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=3609 This is perhaps the most embarrassing piece of PR I've ever seen. Its shameful, and Medway's administration is so arrogant, it feels it can even stick two fingers to a respected institution such as the ASA. Face it Medway, you were caught doing wrong. Deal with it. And you question why Milton Keynes City FC are called as much - they don't even exist anymore, you insipid idiots.

Of course, you might not agree with me. If you live in Medway, you have a choice on 5th May. Personally, I think that the Conservatives have become complacent and cocky in how they run our Towns. Time to show them what you think; you have a vote. Use it.

Ten Men 2 - 1 Eleven Men

It was a big day on the north kent coast today. Kirsty and Phil fled the town as Chatham visited desperate for a win with a chance to save their season. Whitstable vs Chatham, one vital league place and three points between them, with ninety minutes to settle it. Whitstable, a great club in the most non patronising sense, fielded two players close to my own heart in Jermaine Darlington, now with the pepper pot hair of a man in his late 30s, and Peter Hawkins. Both were members of the last Wimbledon side I watched in 2001. Both still showed a class well beyond the Ryman League in this match. You'd have thought a 15th minute sending off of a Whitstable player would have made this easy for Chatham, but you'd be wrong. They failed to make the extra man count, with the strikeforce of Kane Rice (finally being played where he might be able to show some of his talents) and Billy Shinners not really getting anything from the extra man. Chatham have lacked a midfield with bite all season, and it showed here. If we'd have had a Matt Solly in the middle and a Lee Barnett up front we might have destroyed Whitstable before the half time whistle. Instead we went in 0-0 with just a scuffed Shinners shot against the post to murmur about. Chatham did dominate without looking menacing in a benign second half, and took the lead when Kane Rice took it upon himself to drift to the wing to at least get a cross in, which whipped over everyone into the Oyster's net. 1-0 Chatham. But we again, not for the first time this season, fell apart at the back, and lost 2-1, their first goal a sublime turn and shot, the second the usual Chatham defensive rubbish we've come to see, Tedder flapping at a ball, and no one dealing with it. The ten men of Whitstable were the better side and embarrassed us to yet another defeat. Paul Foley clearly won't be hear next season. We have, I'm reliably informed, registered 28 players this year who've previously been at VCD. To what end? We're as good as relegated without it happening , the news of two sides resigning from the Southern League meaning, in all probability, that the six 21st placed clubs at this lower end of the pyramid won't go down. We're five adrift of Corinthian Casuals with a dodgy run in to say the least, culminating with Bognor Regis, who have a title to win, on the last day of the season. I'll lay off the obvious calls for managers' heads etc until the fat lady has done the thing that fat ladies do, but let's face it, we're not turning this season around any time soon. What a dismal crock of the proverbial this year was. Can't say I'm fussed to come back this year. What's the point in spending money on something so bad with such an inevitable result? Its like paying to have your cat put down. Twice. Of course, I'll probably go to the remaining home games. With the sick cat. Asking for the kindly vet. And then walking out wondering why I bothered with animal husbandry in the first place. You know what I mean, stop bleating...

All aboard the Foley train!

Calling at thrashing, depressingly predictable defeat, and hopefully, unexpected salvation and hope at Whitstable. I've been meaning to blog for the last week and a bit, but just haven't known what to put. Firstly, the bad news. We're now in the relegation zone. Chatham lost 6-1 at home to Whitehawk on Saturday 26th March. That didn't go down well. Then, midweek, Corinthian Casuals won their last game in hand to go two points clear of us. Then, on Saturday just gone, we played at home to Horsham YMCA. The YM hadn't won away all year. They'd let in 108 goals already. That's three a game people. They were of course going to win, and that they did, one nil. Corinthian Casuals beat play off chasing Ramsgate to run away from us, something that looked a bit unlikely just a month ago. Fortunately, Whitstable Town seem to be doing a good job of making a mess of things too - on the weekend we were beaten 6-1 at home, they lost 6-0 at home to Met Police. They lost 3-0 at Leatherhead on Saturday. And this Saturday, we travel to their Belmont Road ground for what is shaping up to be the most important game for Chatham in years. Defeat could leave us six points off safety with four to play, with no wins in 15 matches. Its not the time to point fingers about the undoubted mess we're in. What we must do is get behind the lads on Saturday, but anything less than an enthusiastic, committed performance from anyone will be frowned upon much so. There's too much at stake. It promises to be dramatic. Let's hope there's no twist in the tale, like a bad nil-all draw. That would probably take the biscuit.

Fear and Loathing In Chatham

Seems an apt title for the article. I've been away for a week. I missed the decent 2-2 draw at Chipstead. I come back to log on and find out that Aaron Firth, Nick Hegley and Craig Wilkins have all left the club. There also appears to be some fantastic eternal optimist spin coming from TOSC, our side described as newly "resilient", and a great attempt at selling our new found youthfulness.

We've signed two 19 year olds, one, Alfie Harris from Kent County League Phoenix Sports. He's a big lad who can, apparently play at centre half or centre forward. Useful given that Firth has walked. The other is Tom Bradshaw. Both are former Vickers (as in, played for PF at VCD). There's chatter on the forum that this might be a bad thing. I've been vocal in supporting local talent, the provenance of the squad if you like. I agree with it. But I think that we have to put that aside given that we're in what would, in piloting terms, be the critical approach where the pilot and first officer aren't allowed to engage in inane tittle-tattle.

It looked like the writing was on the wall for or from Firth when he didn't feature in the Worthing game the other week. He was due to attend to present a cheque for his beard fundraising antics (not that he raised money for beards - he very commendably grew one to raise money for Twydall lad Max Walsh, who needs a £43000 operation in the US to save the use of his legs - please go to the Official Site for more details of this excellent cause). Firth didn't show. According to a very candid interview with Paul Foley, he went a bit AWOL. He didn't reply to calls, and then came forward eventually to say that he didn't want to play for Chatham anymore, due to work commitments and the feeling that he didn't get on with certain (unnamed) members of the squad. Some of you may remember that Aaron Firth went into Chatham folklore for a sending off at Sittingbourne, for dissent, which was followed by quite a vocal second half performance from the stands. So I'm told. Still, its sad that he's gone. He may have been a bit fiery to say the least, and sometimes could overstep the mark by talking the game with the refs and linos, but he'll be missed. There have been times when you could have wanted that passion elsewhere on the pitch.

Also in Foley's interview is news that James Tedder is due back from Australia. Personally, I rate him highly, but think Molloy is doing a very good job, so it will be interesting to see who gets the number one shirt on Saturday.

Which brings me on to the game. We're at home to Whitehawk. At the time of writing, Corinthian Casuals are due to play one of there two games in hand tomorrow night. They're away to fellow strugglers Eastbourne - if they win, they're level on points with a game in hand. Saturday's game couldn't be bigger. We have to upset much fancied, and much funded Whitehawk. If we are victorious, it will be even more important given that Whitehawk refused to move the kick off of the game to avoid a clash with the England vs Wales game. Chatham have gone to the trouble of having the international on in the bar. If you wanted to watch the England game in the pub, then save the hassle, and come to the Chatham game and do it. England will of course be disappointing but win comfortably. And if that's the case you can pop your head out of the door and watch some real football. Your club needs your support more than ever. See you Saturday. Unless you're on the pubic sector cuts march, in which case, I salute you. RED ARMY!

Chatham 1 - 1 Worthing

On reflection, a good result. In reality, both sides were very poor today, just three shots on target, of which two were the penalties that claimed both goals.

Uche Ibemere the only exciting thing on a truly dull game where you did have to wonder where the fight and the spirit was for a Chatham side who desperately needed three points. Chatham lacked confidence everywhere. A tough job for the manager to motivate a side low on luck and money, but the manager's job that is.

Not much more to say - young Ryan Laker did a commendable job at the back, Molloy pulled off a good save from the one shot on target, but Chatham need confidence all over the park - if everyone could play like Ibemere did, that is with drive and belief, then we would have easily has three points today against a lacklustre Worthing. The referee was even off form, failing to issue bookings for raised hands in once instance, and disgraceful abuse from the Worthing captain which he would have been justified in issuing a straight red card.

Still, Corinthian Casuals lost at Godalming, which puts Chatham five points clear of the drop, having played three games more. In a way that puts the league in perspective, Fleet Town, who beat Chatham 3-1 last week, went down 6-0 at Burgess Hill, where Chats secured a point three weeks ago. Funny old game eh?

Chatham: Molloy, Rice, Laker, Parkinson, Watson, Wilkins, Fuller, Barton, Shinners, Ward, Ibemere.

MOM: Ibemere.

What price now, mid table mediocrity?

I'd give anything for the usual humdrum midtable mediocrity I've come to know and love over the last six years. On a personal note, its sadly true that my sixth Chatham birthday is coming up - that was a 2-0 win over Barton Rovers in the Southern League back on 16th April 2005. Time goes quickly.



Since then, we've generally diced with the drop at some point during the course of the season. I remember in 2006 coming back from the last game of the season, at Wingate and Finchley, ringing round the clubs to get some idea of whether we were safe. We were. And in 2007, it went to the final home game of the season. We always pull it together at the right time and pull away from the drop. Its a bit like we've got that BA pilot who bounced his jumbo into the grass at Heathrow at the wheels - it looks like we're heading for the not so bouncy tarmac of the A30, but then we just get over the fence and bobble about a bit. Hopefully, that's what going to happen this season too.



Mike Green has interviewed Paul Foley on Kentishfootball. You can read the interview if you go to the site.



Foley has been hinting about bad luck for a while now. I was getting a bit tired of it until I realised, on reading this, that its probably true. Losing Danny Penny before the season started was a big blow. We've since lost plenty of players. And the harsh winter, and the lack of Saturday home matches thanks to Maidstone's inability to own a ground nearly did for us. (If you're wondering what I mean, rewind to July when we discovered we would be playing in the R1S rather than the R1N. We were parachuted back into our "home" following Ashford's untimely exit, and given Ashford's fixtures. As they'd been sharing their Homelands ground with Ryman Premier Maidstone, Maidstone as the senior ranked team had the right to play home games on Saturday's. So we ended up with Tuesday night games so not clash with matches being played by a team playing at a dead team's ground. Good old non-league).



In short, the budget has taken a hiding. Its a shame that the club has had to do this, but we've never overstretched, and we've never paid wages we can't afford. Most Chats fans would rather see us financially prudent and in the Kent League than risk 117 years of Chatham Town FC.


Yesterday saw Chatham go down 3-1 at Fleet Town. The result leaves Chatham five points but just one place clear of the drop zone, having played four games more than 21st placed Corinthian Casuals. Every game for the rest of the season has to be that cliche of a cup final. The most frightening part is that our destiny is, to some extent, out of our hands. Even a win a game might not be enough depending on the Co-Cas. Its got to be a cup final grandstand finish - every game, get over the line, miss the A30, get the points. Do it for Paul Foley. Do it for the club. Every single person who considers themselves to be the red and black of Chatham needs now more than ever to show that we are Loyal and True. No division. We are all in this together, at the risk of sounding like a poor man's David Cameron (one particular MP in the town's springs to mind...) Lets start it with getting behind the lads on Saturday, very, very, vocally, and terrify Worthing out of getting anything. They were beaten 6-1 at home yesterday, so will be full of fire to put that one behind them. We need to put our own 1 and 6 statistic behind us (we've got one point from the last six games) and start the fightback now.

Come on Chatham - most players dream of playing in a cup final in their career. You've got nine in a row. Get out and win them.

Institutional Misplacers 2-3 Institutional Racists

Oh dear. Where to begin. Chatham were the slightly better of the two bald men fighting over a comb in a sluggish first half, and were easily outplayed and bested to every ball in a second half where they conspired to steal an unlikely point against second placed Met Police only to throw it away deep into injury time.

Normally, to lose to such a sucker punch hurts, but in truth it was no less than the Met deserved, even if it hurts to say it.

Chatham lead at the interval courtesy of the best goal of the game, Jason Barton turning and placing a curling shot into the top corner past the outstretched trucker Mo Mann. The first half was quite poor, with the attention wandering for long periods, much like the way time passes on a transatlantic flight - you know you're somewhere, but the brain kind of switches off, and time ellipses into the human concept that it really is. Chatham misplaced many passes throughout the game, and in the first half many attacks broke down due to poor balls from midfield, most noticeably Gary Ward.

Ward must have rollicked himself at half time, because he was close to a man of the match performance in the second half, but sadly the rest of the side had lost its composure, Kane Rice, playing up front with Fuller, having to run on to far too many mishit long long passes. The art of looking up had clearly passed many of the Chatham side by. Also, the art of concentrating in defence and winning second balls also seemed to have gone astray. Usually, we're weakest after we score. Holding our lead into the second half, Chatham were confident of the final whistle's arrival bringing three points, but it wasn't to be. Met's three goals were all short distance efforts, all with some element of slapstick, aided by a stage of a muddy six yard box. The ultimate humour came from a Met shot beating a frankly shaky Adam Molloy, but not beating the mud, allowing the keeper to scramble back and claim the ball as it stuck, much in the way that a custard pie sticks to a clown's face.

Chatham rarely threatened, and substitute Billy Shinners, who moved up front after replacing Ibermere wandered offside on three separate occasions when it was probably the hardest thing to do. He did though pull out the shot of the game on 82 minutes, when Chatham, having been put 2-1 down, put together a small spell of pressure. Shinners unleashed a fearsome effort from 20 yards from the right of the box which tested Mann at full stretch in the Met PoPo goal. Mann's excellent save saw Rice swing in the resultant corner which Jason Barton bundled home for an unlikely, and tad unjust 2-2.

When a shocking 6 mins of stoppage time were announced by the referee (although by the book it probably reflected the ridiculous, and frankly embarrassing celebrations of the Met Police team, plus an injury to Adam Molloy sustained as Met Police went 2-1 up), you had that feeling that it would end badly. And it did. Met Police broke in the 94th minute, and in a moment that must have frustrated them, but those familiar with dramatic irony would have loved, the referee failed to play an advantage after a pointless foul. The Met's forward was accelerating towards the box, with the ball at his feet. Chatham were backing off. He needed to belt it so it didn't stick in the thwarting mud. He didn't. He didn't, because the ref blew up for an earlier foul. Chatham let off perhaps. Not for a moment. The freekick whipped in, Chatham again failed to clear their lines and a Met foot was first to it. They made no mistakes and were clinical in finishing the game off.

Some Chatham fan's may feel hard done by. I did at 4.55pm I don't now. A point would have been unjust. Mo Mann made just one save in the second half, and was hampered for the equaliser. We lacked the quality that we had in the second half last week. We lack consistency badly. It's frustrating. Hegley injured. Tedder injured. Firth absent. Others missing (Ryan Restell, where are you?)

Frustratingly, Chatham's was just one of three games that went ahead on an unexpectedly wet day. We're now five points off the drop, having played substantially more games than those beneath us. We've taken 1 point from the last 15 available. But we won't go down, because Sittingbourne might go bust. Or if they don't, all the teams coming down from the Ryman Premier are naturals for the Ryman South. And the Ryman 1 North is already a team short thanks to Ilford's withdrawal. So perhaps next season we can have this side play in the league that it belongs in. That is, this team of VCD, who are used to playing in the R1N, used to travelling the M25, perhaps we can perform at that level. It beats the Kent League. Relegation would be a disaster for our plans on and off the pitch.

As an aside, Phil Miles, Steve Best, Jim Lyons and Matt Solly were all at the game today. Lyons and Solly could have gone on to be like Bestie, a 500 game player, through thick and thin. I stand by the statement that it is a travesty that Matt Solly left this club because he couldn't get a start. He's Kent League with Erith and Belvedere now. With Jim Lyons. And our goalkeeping pairing of last season Ruddy and Stroud (which sounds likes a vaudeville act). What a waste of talent, no disrespect intended. And what a waste of the efforts made to develop him as a player from the age of 14. What sort of message is it to send out to our youth set up? Only Ryan Laker is a beacon to that. He had a very good game today, as he did last week, particularly given his inexperience.

But, let's be positive. Fleet Town next week, then Worthing at home. We need 4 points from them two games. We can do that, if we do the basics. Which we can do. So let's do it!

Come on you Chats!

Burgess Hill 1 - 1 Blue Brazil (well, sort of)

Chatham came away from Leyland's Park on Saturday with the feeling that it was two points dropped as much as it was one vital point gained after a superb performance on a very sticky pitch. Hours of rain in the south of the country put the game in serious doubt, yet Burgess Hill's Leyland's Park ground stood up to the rain well, meaning the game went ahead.

Chatham started slowly, Burgess Hill dominating early proceedings, and it was no surprise that the goal came when it did, after some thirty minutes, that usual problem of a lack of concentration at the back rearing its ugly, wearisomely repetitive head once more, to leave stand in keeper Adam Molloy to pick the ball out of his net and scream a few choice words at his defence.

Chatham did threaten sporadically throughout the half, Joe Fuller's belter beating everyone including the keeper from 30 yards, only to whistle over the bar, but too often the final ball was lacking, or Chatham wandered offside.

Paul Foley must have finally found the words to rally the team at the half time interval, as Chatham came out and dominated the second half, playing a tidy pass and move game all over the pitch, which was particularly impressive given how heavy the pitch was in places. Chatham won a free kick in the 70th minute which was cleared for a corner. From this, good movement in the box allowed Joe Fuller to rifle home from 10 yards, and Chatham were level. Soon after, the lively, tricksy, yet ultimately unthreatening Francis Tshikaya made a substitute appearance and could have won it when he connected to a cross into the six yard box, but found that both his stick thin legs and the ball soon became stuck in the developing quagmire that was the six yard box.

Chatham fought for every ball, and were first to the second ball each time in the second half, which should give Paul Foley a selection headache when he has a full compliment to pick from. Uche Ibermere, Billy Shinners, Anthony Hogg and James Tedder all missed the game through injury, after Fuller and Firth paired up well at the front, with Jason Dolby having an assured performance in the middle of the park in the role that Fuller would normally take if Shinners started. Can't be easy being Foley.

The only disappointing part of the game was the amount of backchat directed at the officials by Chatham's frontline - there's really no need for it, and some of the language would have vindicated a straight red. I appreciate that the heat of the moment can kick in, but the lino in question actually had a good game. He was right on most of the calls, regardless of which, the chances are that even if he was wrong, swearing in his face isn't going to make a difference. And come to think of it, if you play at R1S, the chances are that the refs are going to be as distant in quality to Howard Webb as you are to Neil Webb. As he is now. That's possibly a bit harsh, but the fact remains that if we keep allowing officials to be subjected to abuse from players, then we'll see less and less of the good ones sticking at it. Leave them alone and let the football do the talking.

Moan aside, its good to see that Aaron Firth and Paul Foley's beard growing efforts for Max Walsh's appeal have now raised over three grand. What a great thing for the two of them, and the club to do, big hand clap needed for them on Saturday, when the presentation will take place.

Saturday sees the visit of Met Police to TOSC. Should be an encounter - they're not as good as they were when we were the first side to take a point off them in October, and we've shown how well we can play when we faced play off contenders Burgess Hill on Saturday. Let's hope for some consistency and three points - its time to go on an end of season run and finish like we did two years ago, twelve unbeaten.

Chatham: Molloy, Laker, Rice, Barton, John Hogg, Dolby, Potter, Ward, Hegley, Fuller, Firth - Subs Watson, Wilkins, Azzopardi, Hunt, Tshikaya (on for Hegley 62)

Leatherface 2 - 0 Scarface

Chatham went in to this visit to high flying Leatherhead full of confidence, with something approaching form beginning to occur over recent weeks. Sadly, the good results had all come at home, the 3-1 win over Eastbourne only overshadowed by the launch of Sky Atlantic. Away trips have been a bane for Chatham this term, having won just twice on the road in 14 outings. Leatherhead, by some strange twist of logic, are actually better away than at home, but had scored 61 times in the league going in to this one. That is finished just 2-0 was testament mainly to a superb performance James Tedder in the Chatham goal, who made three top quality reaction saves in the space of two second half minutes.

The game will though be remembered by Chats fans as the game that scarred Anthony Hogg's face. In the 40th minute, Hogg, who'd had a very good game dominating the midfield, went for a header and was met by a high foot from Mark Simmons. Hogg lay on the pitch receiving treatment for some seven minutes before leaving to wait for an ambulance. He ended up with twenty stitches to his face. The full damage can be seen on the official site. Let's hope he's back in the red and black soon.

After the horror, it was soon half time. Chatham were already a goal down when the league's top scorer Greg Andrews rifled a low shot from the edge of the box just moment's before Hogg's injury.

Chatham's young side (which was missing Kane Rice, Brad Potter, Nick Hegley, Craig Wilkins and Kevin Watston) understandably just ceased to really appear up for it in the second half. If it wasn't for the acrobatics and close range shot stopping of James Tedder, it could easily have finished five or six nil. Fortunately, Tedder was having a good game. Chatham never looked like scoring, Billy Shinners coming closest midway through the second half when some rare calamitous defending gave him space to get a turn and shot in from 14 yards - he hit his weak shot straight at keeper Chico Ramos.

Leatherhead for all their hard work had to wait until the 81st minute for their second, Jack MaCleod running onto an excellent long ball and doing well to place his shot past the advancing Tedder.

Chatham could come away with some credit from this - yes, they were poor, but their hotchpotch mix of youth and inexperience did well enough, particularly given that the injury to skipper Hogg left an uncomfortable taste in the mouth.

Next up, Worthing away (tonight, Tuesday 8th Feb). Of course, far too far for anyone to go to midweek. I won't be there. Hopefully the jinx will shine through and Chatham will come away with a rare away win.

Steeped in History 2-1 Up to their necks in it

Corinthian Casuals away today - lost 2-1. Didn't go. What this result does mean though is that we're just four points clear of 21st place Whyteleafe, who have two games in hand on us. I said last week we needed six points from our next three games, this applies now more than ever.

Kane Rice and Brad Potter were both sent off today, so we ended with nine men, but were already 2-1 down at that point. Things really must improve, and improve soon. We are now very close to a relegation dog fight. What price the irony that we're "relegated" but reprieved by the bankruptcy of Sittingbourne? And anyway, as an attempt at polishing the unpolishable, at least its exciting for once...

Chatham 4-4 Merstham

Chatham went into Saturday's home match with Merstham having scored just 19 goals in the previous 20 games, a pretty poor return and in fact the poorest in the league. They managed to score four times in this match, yet conspire to concede just as many, meaning both teams left with just the one point.

It's as shameful as it is remarkable that Chatham let this one slip from their reach. Its particularly harsh on Billy Shinners, who scored a peach to put Chatham 4-3 ahead, teeing the ball up and smashing it home on the volley from 20 yards. It was a goal worthy of winning any game, but Chatham's makeshift defence left him having to make do with that might have been. It was particularly frustrating as Chatham led on new fewer than four separate occasions, only to throw it away each time.

Next up are three key matches if Chatham (18th in the league of 22) are to avoid being pulled into a relegation quagmire, and they are Corinthian Casuals (20th) away, and Fleet Town (17th) and Whitstable (21st). Anything less than six points out of the nine available over the week will be bad news. Chatham are the second worst side for form in the league, with two draws and four defeats from the last six. We've proven on Saturday that we can find the net. Shinners and Huggins working excellently together, Shinners showing glimpses of being a potentially talismanic frontman. We just need to stop making so many mistakes at the back. Three of the four goals we let in against Merstham could be put down to basic errors and allowing the opposition to abuse the obvious weaknesses at the back. We need to unite and stop the blame game that we all saw on Saturday. Six points out of nine. We can do it.