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!