Steve McKimm takes his Cray Valley PM side to Isthmian Premier pace setters Carshalton Athletic this weekend with a place in the final Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup at stake. 

McKimm who was sacked by the Robins last season has only one thing on his mind – making sure that Valley take their place in the Fourth Qualifying Round draw on Monday as he told KSN this week. 

“It is just another game of football – some people are trying to make more out of it because I was the manager there. But whenever I play or manage a side that I have been involved with before, it is just another game of football.”

“There’s no added spice on it for me – I just let everyone else do that as I need to concentrate on the job at hand!” McKimm admitted. 

“It is very close to home in terms of location wise and we are really looking forward to it. It is though just another game of football and a Cup-tie that we are looking to progress in – one for the funds for the Club and for the players to reach the Fourth Qualifying Round.”

“We have watched them, and they are a decent side, so we will have to be right on it from minute one through to ninety-five or however many to get something out of the game.” 

“We are still a “new” side, and we are playing higher level opposition as every round so far has been teams from an equal level to us, but on the other side of the League.”

“It will be a massive test and we want to pit our wits against higher sides as it’s where we aspire to be next year if we are fortunate enough and we will see how we cope on Saturday.” 

“The midweek Kent Cup game at Ramsgate (which Valley won 7-1) served a purpose for us as we were able to get minutes into certain players.”

“They had a young side out that were very good – take the scoreline away as they kept to their principles – I had four youth team players playing, players suspended in the League playing, we had players who haven’t played many minutes during the season and players coming back from injury – trying to get them all ready for Saturday.”

“So, with that in mind, it was a good time to play the game – the players are in again on Thursday to run through the last things for the weekend which is a huge testament to the boys as they were all at Ramsgate whether they were playing or not!” 

“We are looking good for Saturday – there are a couple of players that will be assessed before the weekend just to see how they are, but we are looking almost full strength.”

“It is a tough job to pick a starting eleven at the moment because they are all of equal quality. There will be disappointment, but that is unfortunate and is part and parcel of my job but there’s a good unity in the squad.”