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!
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Saturday 12 March 2011
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.
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.
Saturday 5 March 2011
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.
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.
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