Steve McKimm is ready and prepared for the biggest challenge of his managerial career this weekend as his Cray Valley Paper Mills side makes the short trip to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic on Sunday evening.
Speaking to KSN before his sides last training session before their televised tie on Sunday afternoon, McKimm was relaxed, he told us, “We are all looking forward to it- it is going to be really good, really exciting. The build up this week has been brilliant for all the players. We have got our last session and then we will be full focus on Sunday.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on which is all for the good of the Club as the more exposure we can get the more people we might be able to get through the gates on a regular basis above what we get already.
“Everything we are doing is for the Football Club, yes there’s the game on Sunday but the exposure for the Club is paramount and the more we can get hopefully the more supporters will come through the doors.”
“The players know that Charlton is a big piece of the pie to pull. When the draw was made it was on if not the best draw we could have had.
“But these boys want to get promotion which is going to take a lot of hard work, they want to go far in the FA Trophy which again will take a lot of hard work and they set their focus on, as we asked them too, just the next game, and to be fair to them, they are genuine lads who want to do well for themselves well for the club and they do!
“They do not run away with themselves and think five steps ahead which is a good trait to have, one as a footballer, two as a manager and three as a club to know what their focus is.
“Now this week, starting after Saturday’s Trophy win at Chatham Town, they looked forward to what we’re doing at training, they look forward to the game on Sunday and then after Sunday, we’ll enjoy it Sunday night, maybe Monday, but win or lose we’ll enjoy it and then focus on Erith and Belvedere, our next League game.”
“In any player, there will be nerves. But nerves are not necessarily a frightening thing, it is an adrenalin thing as you want to do well. The older players may be more worried about the game they may be more worried about the game than the younger players because the younger players might have no fear, nerves, and anxiety!
“I think this squad that we have got will help each other through any moment at any time, that is brilliant to have in your squad, the older ones help the younger ones, and the younger ones might not know it, but they help the older ones sometimes.”
For McKimm a rare Saturday afternoon off means that he will be able to watch one of his sons play at Step Five, whilst he will start the weekend ON the TV after receiving an unexpected invitation.
“I’m going to be at Sheppey as I’ve been asked to summarise at their Cup tie with Walsall for ITV,” he told us.
“I have been invited to do the pitch side stuff with Laura Woods and Karen Carney, which is unbelievable to be asked in the first instance, and I am looking forward to it. It is a weird week, you get something like that and then you are on the telly on Sunday and then on the Monday unless you win, you are forgotten about. So, I am going to enjoy it all!”
McKimm finished by confirming that he will have a fully fit squad to choose from at The Valley, adding, “it is all guns blazing, and some people are going to be unhappy. Unfortunately, that’s part and parcel of my job and I cannot please everyone.
“I have been told that we can have nine subs in the First Round using five of them which I found out last week, so I am going to be unpopular for a time of two with some players but that is just the way football works.
“I would like to please everyone, but I cannot, but I know that they will all be together and rallying around each other as that is the group we have built!”
Coverage of Charlton Athletic v Cray Valley PM is in BBC2 on Sunday evening from 5.15pm