First of all I would like to say a very warm welcome to the Directors, Officials, players and supporters of AFC Whyteleafe, who have had to leave their own stadium and play at Cray, having won promotion last year. It is a club run by really good people who have had a meteoric rise from step 8 to step 3 in only 5 years. Respect to you all and welcome to Fetcham Grove.
Last week, we started our FA Cup journey against AFC Croydon Athletic, a club that’s really ambitious and one where a slip up was predicted. I watched an interview this week by the Raynes Park Vale boss, our old manager Hayden Bird, who made the point that Croydon had a big budget and would be a threat this year. Well we dispatched them 3-0 which shows it’s not all about money but good management can always overcome deep pockets. Well done to Ian and the team who keep finding a way, and I would like to congratulate Braiden Hall on the 3rd goal. He has had to be patient waiting for his international clearance to come through but looks a real quality addition to our squad. Welcome Braiden.
On Saturday we possibly had our best performance of the season to date with an excellent 2-1 victory away at Averley. As they have been recently in Conference South I thought we were by far the better football team, with them relying on physicality and long ball, something we have struggled with in the past, but the boys stood up to a man and came away with a well deserved win.
After tonight’s game we go to Kingstonian in the FA Cup and I know this will be a real tough one, not only due to the history between the two clubs, but also as they have a quality squad of players. A certain Gallager family member will be on the wing and I for one look forward to seeing him again. We really will need our 12th man, the Leatherhead family out in force if we are to come through this tie so I appeal to all of you, get down and cheer the boys on in this, the oldest cup competition in the world.
Before all that we will need to be at our best to get 3 points tonight as we continue our fight in our new league.
UP THE TANNERS
