Manager Ernie Batten feels his Sheppey United side have enough to win the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Final.

Sunday’s Kent Reliance Kent Senior Trophy Final has thrown up an intriguing game between two County sides who have both in recent year’s experienced highs and lows as Ashford United play Sheppey United at the Gallagher Stadium for the first “senior” silverware of the domestic season.

In an exclusive interview with KSN Football, we spoke to the Sheppey United boss and legend Ernie Batten about the managing one of the clubs he played for and the resurrection of senior football in that part of Swale…

Ernie told us, “taking the manager’s job was a no brainer for me, as being an Islander, I knew the potential of the club and support, and I am proud to manage Sheppey United and work hard at the job.”

“We’ve had ups and downs at various points during the season;  the lows were mainly at the start of the season when our results were poor due to squad re-building, whilst the highs have been since around October when the team went on a truly incredible run of nineteen straight wins.”

Ernie himself pulled on the United red and white in the club’s previous incarnation, as he remembered happily.

“During my playing days, I enjoyed a couple of spells playing for Sheppey United in both the Kent League and then in the Southern League,” Ernie said.

“I remember playing for mangers John Adams, Dave Perkins and Jimmy McVeigh, and there’s one game against Sittingbourne we played one year on Boxing Day with a crowd of over 1,000.”

“I think partly because I played for the club and I’m from the Island, to return the club to their former glories would be a fantastic achievement. If honest, Matt (Smith – the club chairman) and myself talk about it most days!”

“We know the club has a fantastic fan base and those fans are very passionate about their football club. Almost proving the point, Easter Monday’s home attendance of 715 (against Glebe) was and is unheard of at this level and shows that Sheppey United has the potential to be a big non-league football club.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s Final, the Sheppey manager knows exactly what the day means to his side and what his charges must do to lift the Trophy for the first time.

“The final this weekend against Ashford United is a fantastic game for us, and an early opportunity in the club’s formation to showcase the club and land some silverware.”

“Along with us, Ashford are a well-supported club and I honestly feel there could be a record crowd for this final.  Without doubt, we will need to perform well on the day against higher league opposition, but I can’t see any reason why we can’t lift the trophy.”