Monthly Archives: August 2009

Previewing the new season with the managers

The season for real is full-on now and the managers all start with great expectations. Dave Smith was bitterly disappointed at going out of the Weald of Kent at the first hurdle last Saturday and makes no secret that his loyalty to certain players is being pushed to the limit as he knows this season is about results and getting back into the Premier. Ali Mehmet has assembled an exciting blend of youth and experience and takes on the challenge of not only winning but making sure he is nurturing players for future first team action. Sundays once again surely will be about having some semblance of a settled side and Steve knows that in Mackett, Perk, Lockett, Mickelborough, new signings Ryan Smith, Hayles, Cheesman and Allan he has the quality to win major awards. The outstanding early season form of Matt Wedge and Reece Hagger augurs well for the Sunday seconds with Phil Wedge and Ian Mace having the luxury of a big squad to select from. Here, the managers themselves look forward to the new campaign:

The Saturday Reserve side (Kent County Eastern Reserves Division)

Manager Ali Mehmet

With the season now upon us, I am happy to inform readers of our website how excited I am about our prospects for the coming season.  Although I am new to Bromley Green FC, don’t underestimate my desire to do well for the club. I am 100% committed to the cause and as such, expect nothing less than 100% from my players. There is no pressure being put on me from the club, the only pressure I feel is the pressure I put upon myself to succeed.
Those who have known me over the years are aware that all the teams I have previously managed have always played the game in the right manner. All my teams have been respectful to officials, opponents and to the rules of the game. Indiscipline in my previous teams has never been tolerated by myself and never will!!
We have made some exciting signings in the close season in the shape of new team captain Mark Hazell, Chris Cloke, Dan Allen, Adrian Williams, Keith Shaba, Paul Barron, Chris Gillam, Chris Cryer, Grant Moffat. And with the return to full fitness of the lively Joe Mifsud there are plenty of reasons to be confident going into the new season.
We also have some fantastic young talent who are now a year older and ready to make their mark at county level. I am expecting big things from the likes of the Hagger boys, Dalby, Hurst, Hallett, Holloway, Floyd, Fitzgerald etc.  We as a club will endeavour to win every game, that’s our target, that’s our aim.  I am determined to get Bromley Green FC back to the pinnacle of local football. It will be a bumpy ride, so hang on!!!

The Sunday First team (Ashford Sunday League Premier Division)

Manager Steve Mailey

With the new season just days away, I go into my first full season with a squad I believe has improved vastly since I arrived in February. The plan was to put together a group who are comfortable being moved around and also offering cover for when injuries etc occur. We had neither last term. The defence has grown in numbers – adding into it versatile players who can adopt various roles. The midfield has increased in variety as well as options. It’s fair to say the strength required for central roles will come from a small pool of lads, yet for the wide positions we have strong competition between at least four very talented lads – I hope they all accept the challenge. In attack we’ve gone for a rebuild! With three new faces in the changing room and the versatile approach bringing it up to six, I’m confident I now have the forwards within the squad to turn possession into points – which was also missing from last term. With a couple of others expecting to join over the coming months, selection for the Sunday managers will become quite a challenge. During the first month we are up against it from the start. We open against Brewmaster at home – on their day they can, and have, beaten every team in the league – so this will be a crucial three points if gained. The following week we welcome the current champions Market Hotel to the Swan Ground – the size of this task should be obvious to all. Our first away trip sends us to face Bliby – a strong and organised outfit who will expect to challenge for honours this term. After a free week, we then travel to face Ashford Victoria in the Ashford Charity Trophy. The division 3 side will be well up for this and will see us as the perfect scalp, so attitude will need to be right or we’ll be out. It will be a tight league – tighter than last year, and I’m looking forward to working with a group who feel they can achieve something together. Good luck to all.

The date for the Vets game has been set for Sunday 20 September with a 1pm kick off to follow the Reserves game with Fox Sunday at the Swan Ground. Full details from Ian Holloway.

Bromley Green Reserves 3 William Harvey 2

The final friendly before the real action starts next week proved to be a useful workout for both sides on Sunday morning at the Swan Ground. Dave O’Leary, Matt Wedge and Dan Allen (pictured)  netted the home goals against the Harvey whose man of the match was former Green man Steve Collins. Phil Wedge has major injury worries before the away fixture with Brewmasters  Reserves  with Chris Cloke, Kenny Hallett, Darryl Hagger and Sean Curry all facing late fitness tests.

Messages from Steve Mailey:

(1) Training on Tuesdays will from now on start at 6.30pm

(2) There will be a Managers Meeting on Tuesday 1 September commencing at 8.15pm immediately after training

This afternoon’s action…

The Saturday firsts went out of the Weald of Kent Charity Cup with visitors Tenterden nicking a 1-0 win…Dave Smith’s report to follow later.

Ali Mehmet reports on today’s friendly at Aldington

Aldington 3 – Bromley Green Res 2
We arrived at Aldington for our final friendly in a relaxed mood, almost too relaxed. I looked into the players eyes and didn’t see the hunger that had been there in the previous games.
With players such as Sid Beale, Keith Shaba and Joe Mifsud missing, we knew we would have to be at our best to win today’s game.
The first half was fairly even with Mark Hazell and Chris Gillam at the centre of everything positive.
Darryl Hagger was having by far the best game I have seen him play since I have been at the club. Sadly Darryl had to leave the field of play midway through the first half with his recurring groin injury. With Darryl’s departure we lost our shape to a certain degree.
We went one down when being caught out trying to play too much football at the back rather than just clearing our lines, the tricky Alex Williams poked home from close range. We were having the lion’s share of possession and Paul Miles (Aldington goalkeeper) was by far the busier ‘keeper of the two.
We equalised with a smartly taken finish from Dan Allen after some fine build up play involving Matt Wedge and Darryl Hagger.
Matt Wedge was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside when against the run of play, Aldington took the lead when a defensive mix up allowed big Aldington Striker Aran Slann to slide into the open goal.
Despite the defensive errors which proved to be costly, Shawn Dadd and Reece Hagger were immense at the back.
A third goal quickly followed and virtually straight from the kick off we scored our second. Once again powerful striker Dan Allen scored with a rocket of a volley from the edge of the area.
It was a good opportunity to look at other players such as Mark Floyd, Ryan Holloway and newcomer Dan Reynolds
Hopefully this is the one below par performance we were due.
The serious stuff starts next week. Bring it on!!
My MoM: Reece Hagger & Shawn Dadd
Team: C Cloke/A Williams/R Hagger/S Dadd/D Reynolds/P Barron/M Hazell/C Gillam/D Hagger/M Wedge/D Allen/R Holloway/M Floyd/J Hurst/M Dalby

Good to see Gary Mickelborough on target in the second half as Ramsgate drew their Ryman League match at Walton & Hersham 2-2. Gazza completes a trio of Green lads at Southwood with the Rams captain Warren Schulz and reserves manager Robbie Summers both members of our highly successful youth side in the days of former manager Steve Morse.

It is sad to see the demise of a number of clubs recently and we can only hope the trend soon halts. Bocca, Crusader, The Albion are examples and on Saturdays, Hamstreet have now withdrawn from the Kent County League after being voted in at the AGM. If my calculations are right, there are now only seven sides left in the Sunday League Division Two – not enough really and there is a danger of everyone losing both momentum and interest with big gaps between the action.

Links: Bromley Green FC has a completely transparent policy re its website and we include certain links to other clubs. We will add to the list as time goes by and any clubs that wish to reciprocate by including a link to this site have our blessing.

Tuesday’s training session should see plenty of competition for places in the Saturday sides with both Dave Smith and Ali Mehmet looking forward to two difficult but very different challenges. Preparations have been hit by a string of injuries to key personnel but there can be no excuses now with old rivals Tenterden the visitors for what promises to be an exciting Weald of Kent Cup tie (2.45pm).

There is always extra spice when facing your old club and Ali knows the reserves trip to Aldington will not be easy. Will players please note the meeting time at the Swan Ground for the reserves this Saturday is 12.45pm.

This coming Sunday the firsts have no fixture while the seconds entertain William Harvey (please note this is now a 10am kick off).

Please scroll down for scores and news as it happens over the weekend…

With just a week to go before the Saturday first team entertain Tenterden in the Weald of Kent Charity Cup, the lads will need to get their act together quickly and make full use of the pre-season fixture with AFC Sevenoaks at the Swan Ground on Saturday (2pm).  The reserves have a free day but on Sunday there are two home matches with the seconds kicking off at 10am against Newchurch and the firsts meeting Maidstone Tornadoes at 12 noon. Read all the news below as soon as it happens.

Saturday evening update: a very sharp and fit AFC Sevenoaks side were 6-3 winners in today’s pre-season warm-up. Two own goals and one from Mark Howells accounted for the Green tally. See Dave Smith’s report below.

Sunday evening update: the reserves enjoyed a useful run out against Newchurch, emerging 4-2 victors with the Green goals coming from Matt Wedge (2), Reece Hagger and Darryl Hagger. The midday kick off saw the first team and Maidstone Tornadoes end all square at 1-1 with Terry Perk the Green marksman (Steve Mailey’s report is below).

Bromley Green 1 – 1 Maidstone Tornadoes

We welcomed our visitors for a noon kick off, played in some very warm conditions. I had the chance to shuffle things again as we had a couple missing, including a goalkeeper. Last week I mentioned how important a versatile squad would be, and today we were able to prove it again. With BJ and Paul Allan missing, I was able to hand a debut to Neil Cheesman in defence, who put in a steady shift and showed glimpses of how useful he will be to us. Also in the back line was the ever impressive Terry Perk, along with Hadlum, who continues to look solid. Valler, L Smith and Holloway made up the ever-changing rear guard.

Skipper Mackett and Robbie were ruled out, so L Milton and R Smith ran things centrally in a midfield that we controlled for long spells. The width saw run outs for Fitzgerald, Neil, Poyner and Mercer – all talented in their own individual way and all more valuable than they possibly realise. Our new signing Rocky partnered Webster in attack and caused our guests problems all day – including a spell in midfield. 

As for the game itself, I felt we dominated the first half possession and maybe could have killed off the challenge before us, yet we were guilty of rushing things when there was no need. In front of goal we were equally hasty. The football on show was generally good and we were rewarded when a well delivered corner from R Smith was met by Perk, who rose like an ageing salmon to nod home a powerful effort to give us the lead. We really should’ve killed the game off, yet we found ourselves having to compete hard during the second half all over the pitch as the visitors became more comfortable as the game went on. As with previous friendly games, a multitude of changes upset the shape and balance of the team, although it is a price worth paying as we continue to learn from these games.

Going into the final 15, Tornadoes drew level with a well struck effort which, in fairness, they deserved as the game went on.

All in all, I’m pleased. I’ve gained much needed information during three testing pre season games against deliberately unknown opponents. The squad is strong and versatile, which was my intention as soon as last season ended. My man of the match is tough one again. Perk may well have received it had he not come off injured, and Hadlum stood out again. New boy Rocky also impressed throughout. But I’m giving it to Ryan Smith who battled non stop, breaking up the Tornadoes advances as well as offering good distribution.

My final mention is a huge thank you to Tommy Lockett – stepping in 2 minutes before kick off to wear the number 1 jersey. With no one else available, I was dreading it if I’m honest. But he put in a fine display, making some good saves along the way, one in particular stood out. His vocal input was also impressive – 90 minutes and not one swear word – the midday sun does strange things to people I guess!

Squad: T Lockett / Valler / Cheesman / Perk / Hadlum / Holloway / R Smith / Neil / Mercer / Fitzgerald / L Smith / Poyner / L Milton / Webster / Rocky

Some of the Green’s new signings are in the wars with a number already sidelined by injury. Most serious looks to be Tom Head who has a suspected broken ankle; while Keith Shaba and Chris Cloke have been out of action for the past few weeks. Of the regulars Terry Perk, Liam Smith, Chris Holmes and Robbie Greenfield are carrying injuries, Glenn Mackett had to miss out on Sunday with a toe injury and new hopeful Kenny Hallett has a knee problem following Saturday’s game. With the real action about to begin next weekend, let’s wish them all a speedy recovery.