In the conclusion of his exclusive KSN interview, former Faversham Town boss Ray Turner has been reliving the highs of his time at Salters Lane, before airing some views on the current make up of Step Four that may surprise.
Reflecting, Ray joked “we weren’t very good in the Play Offs, were we? I’ll always remember turning to Clive (Walker) when we made the Play Offs and him saying to me “I’ve never won a Play Off” which didn’t really fill me with much confidence! And he’s done a few more than I have!”
“It’s hard to look back as I think there are so many individual matches – I remember on of my first full seasons and we were languishing around 15th or 16th and I was still learning; we went to Whitstable and were two nil down and a man down as well and we turned it around and won 3-2 and went on an incredible unbeaten run which culminated in one of our most impressive performances in the home Hythe game when we beat them 3-0 on the night and ended up at Maidstone in front of a couple of thousand people.”
“We were never ready for that day – Maidstone were absolutely ready as a club to step up and we were this tiny club who had all the directors screaming at me whatever you do, don’t win the Final because it would have cost them a fortune, but that semi-final against Hythe and that game against Whitstable kicking off that run during that season, but I’ll never forget the Maidstone game purely because I think one of the important aspects of the club – I think we’ve always behaved properly, win, lose or draw and that’s as important to me as the playing side and I always remember dragging the players out to applaud the support.”
“Let’s face it, it is a bit of a depressing process the Play Offs for the losers, because they don’t get anything and that’s quite a depressing scenario for us! I remember going around Maidstone that day and getting an amazing reception with the players from their crowd and that will always live with me as a memory.”
“The other main memory was the season when we made a last-minute run for the post season and had to beat Hythe on the last day and Herne Bay had to get a result from Hastings to squeeze us in.”
“We had to wait I think it was about ten minutes after our game was finished together out on the pitch to wait for the result which came in in our favour! We then went to Dorking who were a strong side at the time, but we put on the most fantastic performance despite going a goal down. I remember Jon Scarborough coming up with the equaliser and then Charlie Robinson got the winner and I thought that that was our year, as it was different to the Maidstone year, but with the momentum, I though that we’d go to Worthing and win the game.”
“I’ve never been one to criticise officials, but we had so many things go against us that day – it wasn’t to be! And I think we’ve possibly struggled with a hangover that you say you get when losing in the Play Offs.”
“There have been many highs – another was walking out at the League Cup Final against Kingstonian and many individual games that you struggle to recall. I think that one day we’ll be able to sit back and say, “yeah, we did alright!”
So what has changed during Ray’s time at Salters Lane? He replied, “I do think that the standard of professionalism and the standard of football has improved massively! The condition of the players means that they’re all athletes now and look after themselves.”
“I think it’s lost something from my own point of view, because I think it’s very much money based now which when you first came in, it wasn’t the first question that the players asked when they came in – now it’s very close to the first thing they ask.”
“That’s a bit of a shame that it’s that money oriented now. Everyone whatever they say are paying money and so there’s no point whinging who’s got more and who’s less, because they all try and pay, and they try and sustain a good budget.
“I think it’s lost some of that innocence and love in terms of that real Non-League player that turns up and plays for the shirt, loves playing and loves being in the Club house afterwards mixing with the supporters and the character I feel don’t exist like they have done – I think that it’s very different now.”
“I think the younger generation is possibly a lot more serious about its football – I think many of the younger players are over rated because I think they get told that they get to first teams very early. I think the older generation for me very much earned the right to pull the shirt on and I think that there are some missing elements to the game that I don’t like.”
“These elements have crept in in the form of gamesmanships on the field and using that side of the game that has crept in. But I think that there is some innocence, there’s some coaches who have been lost out of the game, and I think it’s a poorer place because of that and I think that it’s very much dominated by finances and money which is a shame, but in terms of the spectacle and professionalism has gone up a notch.”
“I don’t think players necessarily care like they used to, they sign for clubs and then they move on and that’s a real shame! I feel that they miss out because of it, because I think that players how have been around a long time and are committed to clubs recognise what goes on behind the scenes; they recognise the sheer hard work and the amount of time that people give up – it’s all done for nothing and not many players will do that for nothing anymore and I think that the ones who do recognise that go onto have good Non-League careers…”
So, what will Ray Turner be doing at 3.00pm Saturday afternoon. Laughing Ray said, “Oh that’s a tough one! I honestly don’t know – obviously I wish Clive and the boys all the best and I hope that they get a result, but I will not be looking at the score every five minutes and looking at League tables and connotations because I don’t have to anymore. Once I’ve wished Clive and the boys all the best it’s some down time for me either at home or on the golf course!”