The weekend sees the start of the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) season as another new chapter in Kent football history begins.

It is following the amalgamation of SCEFL and the Kent Invicta Leagues at the end of last season.

But for Lordswood’s new boss Richard Styles, he’s already facing the prospect of lifting both himself and his new squad following a demoralising midweek FA Cup replay exit at the hands of Peacehaven & Telscombe.

Speaking with KSN ahead of the new campaign, Styles admitted that the Cup exit had been hard to take.

“I’m frustrated that because of the winning position that we were in,” he told us.  “I’m angry at the manner we’ve done it because we told them about set pieces before both games and yet we conceded in both games by not setting up the way that we wanted to; I’m livid as once again we’ve got a lead and didn’t see it out.”

“We were so comfortable before they scored in both games and then one slip of concentration and then they score and I’m then looking for character.  We showed it, but we just stopped playing in the middle – players went into their shell a little bit and stopped doing the good things that they’d previously done.”

Going out of the Cup was clearly a huge disappointment for the rookie boss.  “I really wanted to set the tone for our League season with a win in the FA Cup – the draw didn’t leave me in fear and after two games, I’m still not in fear of Peacehaven.”

“I still back my side – I still believe in my side – it is a shame that we’re not going to get another go in the next round.  From that side of things I’m bitterly, bitterly disappointed.  One lucky thing we’ve had is that no points have been at stake, but we’ve seriously got to look at ourselves and rectify ourselves before the weekend.”

Styles is now looking for his side to bounce back in their SCEFL opener at home to Erith Town, but knows where his side must improve.

“I’m hoping that we can see out a lead as we’ve led the last four games now and let it slip,” he admitted.

“We’re energetic and just let things slip away.  We let three goals in both the Cup games after conceding three in each of the last two pre-season games too, yet before that we’ve played Ryman sides who couldn’t break us down.”

“I’ve got a lot to think about in terms of personnel; our shape when we’re defending because I thought we had it cracked, but obviously not after the last four games!”

The enthusiasm the new man at Martyn Grove has for his job is really quite infectious, as it must be remembered that Styles himself is a former Lords player.

“The game is my life and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.  I’m looking forward to it but with that I want to do well as I’m a heavily competitive person and I don’t like losing – it’s as simple as that!”

“I’m not going to have losers on my side – I’m a winner and I want to do well.  Whether that’s with Lordswood, or at any club that I go onto manage, we’ll have to see, but that’s what I want to do.  I never do things easy in my life and this is ‘another proof for that pudding!’”

“This place and this club means a hell of a lot to me and it always will do.  I said when I got the job it was a dream job which it is and it makes me want to do well even more here, as I played here in a good side that over achieved with League and Vase runs and now I really, really want to push on as a manager here.”