Canterbury City FC are currently sitting in 11th place in the Southern Counties East Football League, Premier Division, just five points off top spot.
Today manager Ben Smith speaks to Kent Sports News about the start his side have made to the season, the victory in the FA Vase last weekend and much more.
Giving his thoughts on the season so far, he said: “We have had worse starts to the season but it is disappointing to see how our form has dropped off in the last few weeks if I am honest. The aspirations we have are much higher than our current standing in the league but it is encouraging that with the mini-crisis we have had averaging 12 out from our squad per game we are not that far behind to catch up, especially in what I believe will be a very different league this year without one or two runaway teams.”
Home form is going to be playing a key part in what is a successful season, although as Ben admits that is tough when you don’t have your own home ground.
He added: “Every game is important, it is harder for us to have that ‘home fortress’ feeling ground sharing with another club. We are grateful to Deal Town for their hospitality but it’s not home and it’s important that the positive strides off the pitch with our new ground continue to materialize at the rate they currently are. Our form away from home over the last couple of years have been good so it’s probably better having the mentality that we are always playing away!”
Last weekend Canterbury were in action in the FA Vase, beating Uckfield Town 3-0, their reward is a home tie in the first round proper against K Sports.
Speaking about the win, Ben said: “Yes, they have some very experienced players in their ranks, have picked up some good results in their league and to win the game as comfortably as we did with some important players for us missing really improves belief and confidence in the squad which has taken a knock recently. It’s no secret that we have found goals hard to come by, despite creating chances, so to have three different names on the score sheet is a welcome bonus I have to say.”
The team have bedded in a number of new signings over the summer who look to be bedding into the team, which is pleasing for the manager to see.
He added: “I think we saw in the early stages of the season when we had a settled side the new players had mixed in well and although we were not setting the world alight with performances we had an added steel about us to win when not playing well which we have always struggled to do as club. With the squad slowly getting back to full health I expect to see more of this over the coming weeks.
One thing that the SCEFL does provide for the manager and the fans is plenty of local Kent derbies, which always promote an excellent atmosphere among the fans.
“It’s always good to play against local rivals as it creates a good atmosphere to the game with that extra edge to it, obviously we’d much prefer to be playing the likes of Faversham, Margate and Folkestone as they are a bit more local but there are some big clubs in this league which is getting stronger every year.”
Ben has an experienced management team alongside him at Canterbury and that can only help as he develops as a younger manager making his way in the game.
He said: I was and probably still am a young manager and I am always keen to take on board others ideas, opinions and constructive criticism especially from anyone with the type of experience/background that Tim has. I looked at Ray Turner, who arguably has been one of the most consistent managers in this area since he took over at Faversham and that’s no surprise with the experience that he can lean on in Clive Walker. So I felt that it was important to get a good, experienced team around me and I am very pleased to have brought Darren Beale and Tim Dixon to the club.”
This weekend Canterbury entertain Tunbridge Wells at home, it will be a tough game but it is one that Smith is confident that the team can go on and win.
“In the past this was a fixture where Canterbury City would be hoping to keep the score down and maybe nick something but over the last year or so we have a very good record against them and we are more than capable of keeping that going. They have signed some very good, experienced players over the last few weeks which will certainly make it harder and will mean we need to be at our best to win the game as in my opinion they will be right up there come the end of the season.”
Images courtesy of Ian Ralphs