Erith Town will start life as an Isthmian League club with a home game on August 10th against Danny Kedwell’s Ashford United in one of the picks of the divisions opening day fixtures and boss Adam Woodward can’t wait.

As last season’s SCEFL Play Off winners continue their countdown to the debut season at this level, boss Adam Woodward has been sharing his thoughts with KSN this week after his side’s 4-1 win over Erith & Belvedere on Thursday evening. 

“We had a good run out against Erith which was our second game in two days,” the Dockers boss told us after his side had played SCEFL One side Greenways 24 hours earlier.

“That got eleven boys ninety minutes. Against Erith it was interesting. First half I think we huffed and puffed without doing a lot, but after passing things on at half time, things picked up after the break.” 

“Pre-season is going well! It is all new to us at this level – we had a good win at Sporting Bengal and then we played Raynes Park Vale which was a real eye opener as to what we are going to face, but we knew it was going to be tough.”

“We’re playing Saturday (against Holmesdale) and then have Bromley and Bowers & Pitsea to finish.” 

“We are going to have a tough game every week once the season starts – we have got to get players fit now and mould them into a side.”

Asked about his side’s opening League game, Woodward admitted, “Danny Kedwell has made some fantastic signings, but we have just got to go into every game and try to make it hard for everyone next year, every game is going to be hard for everyone.”

“It is going to be new for us, new grounds, new places, and we have to make sure that we prepare right going into the season.”

A season that will begin for Woodward and his side in the Extra Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup on August 3rd when they host Pagham – seven days before the League begins – an advantage we wondered going into opening day?

“It may be,” the boss admitted, “but I really do not think it makes a difference, but we will see as it gives us an extra game before the League opener.”

“We have to make sure that we prepare right for every game. The whole season is going to be a massive challenge for everyone at the Club – we must be right on and off the pitch!”

“We have managed to keep a lot of the players that got us here and they deserve a chance to have a go. We have added one or two – a couple of gems – and we may add one or two more to it, but that is what we can do, and we will see if we can start well.” 

“All the games in this League are great and it will be fantastic to go and play at places like Ramsgate…” Woodward said, adding, “Phoenix is close to my heart and will make it a really good game to go and play against them at this level will be fantastic…”