The Kent Non-League Football Podcast

Kent Non-League Podcast - Episode 311

Matt is back for another busy show this week, as we look ahead to the FA Cup and reflect on a busy, goal-laden week of league action. Maidstone United co-owner Oliver Ash discusses his side's start to the season, why it was a slow burner and looks ahead to Saturday's FA Cup trip to Solihull Moors. Beckenham are still top of the Isthmian League South East after a pair of wins this week, and new boss Del Oldfield discusses his start to life at Eden Park, why it was the right time to move and their spot at the top of the league. Deal Town were one of the sides beaten by the Becks, but they bounced back with a 4-2 away win at Littlehampton on Tuesday night and manager Steve King reflects on their start to life at Step Four and looks ahead to some big games this week. There's all the rest of the news from across the county, including goals galore in the SCEFL and a look ahead to some interesting fixture scheduling this week. Plus there's all the usual chat and nonsense, including Matt's holiday, reading books, freezing swimming pools and loads more besides.

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Duration:: 1h 31m
Broadcast on:: 30 Oct 2024
Audio Format:: other

[MUSIC PLAYING] On this week's show, finding their form after a slow start and ready for another stab at the FA Cup. We have a mates day United car owner Oliver Ash. It's going to be tough, but yes, I'm hopeful that we can now push our way into the playoff position, which is from the ambition from the work from the day the season started. Still top of the table, and that winning feeling continues from back in town. We hear from their new boss Del Oldfield. And all I've actually done is come into a fantastic group of players and into being involved in their fantastic club. And all I've really done is given them a bit of structure. And getting back on track with a mammoth Tuesday night trip, we chat to Doletown Boss Steaky. What I've been pleased about is that we've already managed to win 6-gate. And I think that shows that we're mourning caped for the competing at step 4. And, yeah, it's been a really good experience. Every game's a proper game. Hello, everyone. And welcome to this week's episode of the Kenanley podcast sponsored by Sandwich Sound Youth FC. League action was in full focus for us last weekend, but we're back on the FA Cup Trail this weekend. And we're going to hear from one man who's looking forward to a cup clash, as well as two other bosses who went ahead to head last weekend. Our I'm John Vips. He's getting set for a couple of days back in the motherland. On the line now is a man who's also back in the motherland. But I don't think he's that happy to be home. But I, at least, am glad to have him back. He's, of course, Matt Gerard. Come on for him. So, it's very us, me and me go. What does that mean? I didn't do Spanish, do you really go? Good, I've been on it. How was your holiday, my friend? Yes, it was very good. Major, what nice weather, 24 degrees? So, it was certain by the poor. The wife wasn't heated, so the wife wasn't happy. She didn't want to get in, but it was plenty of time for me to get in there. Once you get in, you know, it's got that war. Once you get going, it was good. So, yeah, my mother-in-law and my mother enjoyed it. It was very nice, the food was very good. Back to reality, really. So, it all went pretty smoothly. We were delayed going out, like two and a half hours, and he stuck on a plane. So, we didn't get there till late, but everything else was pretty good. So, yeah, really enjoyable. So, very nice placing on the marina in the Villamore in Portugal. So, very nice, friendly people, lovely people at the hotel. So, good food, all good, and thanks for Trevor, 'cause I thought about coming on, John, but I thought I'd better not save Trevor. Thanks for Trevor. Bidding or stepping in last week. And he did a fine job as well. I know you wouldn't have listened, but he did be good. No, no, no, no, I didn't listen. I did listen to a couple of podcasts, but yours wasn't on the list. Oh, it wasn't on the list, sorry, mate. I don't think, I'll say before, I've never listened to one back. There was that one time when we had to edit something out. Well, I said something at all, we thought we'd better not say that. Yeah, I think Trevor said to me, like, he'd listened to it, and I texted him, and I said, "You've listened to more podcasts "that you've been on the mat ever has." Yeah, I probably should listen to it back to, I'll probably say the same about rubbish each week. Yeah, but you should listen to last week, 'cause it was really good, actually. I haven't talked nicely about you and Dover. Oh, that, bro, fair play. The mighty Dover, yes. Won't do it again. No, no, exactly, but I'm here for a while now, Jon, so no holidays coming up. Have you got any holidays coming up? Two nights down in the, towards the Kent Coast, from tomorrow is my next meeting. Oh, near me? Not as far as you, but not, we'll be able to launch some stones that might be able to end you up in your sort of direction. So, yeah, we're staying not far from, no, we're not staying not far from sandwich, so we're going to head back. Oh, you're not too far at all, then. Yeah, so we're going to just be nice. Oh, very nice. Yeah, it's actually going to be nice. Have you got anything, nice pubs in the sandwich, nice food and everything down there? Yeah, that's what we're planning. Just going to go out and have a couple of meals and some drinks you might, on Friday, might drive around further afield and go to some other places. But yeah, just, just nice of a break, you know, half-term and I've got four days of work so I'm making the most of it. Oh, we do want to go back to you talking about the cold swimming pool. Yeah, a legendary story in my family. I mean, obviously, when I say my family, I mean, the three of us, because it is just the three of us, me and my dad, and of course, fee now. But one of my childhood legendary stories is when I was 14 in 1996, February half-term, 1996, we went holiday to Lanzarotti. I mean, my dad self-caped me in place and we were in a fairly small place, but there was also another place down towards the beach where we could also use their pool. There was a pool at our place and we thought, oh, that'd be nice, we'll go in there. And my dad, and I always forget these things, but my dad at this time was like 38, which I find back to, you know, 'cause like, yeah, it's always been like a proper growing up to me, well, some of the time. And anyway, so we're, first day of the holiday, the weather was all right, get ourselves down to the pool. My dad jumps in, gets in the pool, goes, "Oh, come on in, son, it's absolutely lovely." It was February, I just want to clarify, it was February. So me being an absolute idiot, jump on in the pool. By the time I've hit the water, he's outgoing, my God, that's cold. And we never went in that pool again, but we did manage to go down the other one, which was slightly heated and on the beach. So we didn't have a week of no swimming, but that still brings shivers to me when I think about how cold that pool was and also how calculating my dad was. - Well, my wife, basically, we went to Cyprus last year. It was like, in August, 35 degrees, the pool was like mega hot. I think she thought it would be like that, but because it was only 24 degrees, it wasn't it. She just, we like playing the catch game. She got in eventually out of protestation, but she didn't like it. But once you got in it, it was fine. So, but again, I don't think these places, they don't need a heated pool because probably the main three, four months of the summer, it's probably absolutely roasting when they're getting 40 degrees. So, and I presume a heated pool must be bloody expensive, probably. - Oh, I'd imagine so. - I've got one in my back garden, sort of say, so. (laughing) - And I would say, how was your pop concert? - Amazing, absolutely incredible. - Did they play them all the songs in order? - So, yeah, they played the whole of the album in order, and then they played another about a dozen songs afterwards. And they were fantastic. And over the, so they did three nights, I've said this before, I said this last week, but I did the first album for the first night, the second album for the second night, and the third album for the third night. And in every night, they played a different selection of songs. So, over the three nights in Shepherd's version, and the three nights they was in Glasgow, they played 78 different songs. How about that? - That's not bad going, is it? - Unbelievable, and they are magnificent. It was... - When they're coming again. - So... - They surely they must be Margate bound at some point. - I don't know, they might have outgrown it, mate, but I think they're back in the studio now. - You before see a Margate? - Not Margate. That's not, that's not changed the argument. But I think they're back in the studio now, putting the finishing touches to their tenth album, and then next year, at some point, I'm sure there'll be a nice, big arena tour for us to enjoy. Before we move on, we went to London on Saturday, myself, and lovely Fiona. We went to meet some of our friends, and had a lovely time. When we were walking between Victoria train station and the first pub, I saw something that you don't see very often. Would you like to hazard a guess what I saw a woman doing? It was about 1.30 on Saturday afternoon. What do you think I saw a woman walking down the street doing? - Going through the bins. - Oh no, I think that actually would have been preferable to this woman who was brushing her teeth while walking along the street. - With an electric or a normal toothbrush? - I think it was a normal toothbrush, but even so, I don't think that makes any difference to the importance of this. - Where does she get rid of the residue? - That's one of my questions. How does she rinse? Is my other question? Where was her mouthwash? - She looked like a normal person or a little bit. - Yeah, no, she looked at all intents and purposes. She looked like she was quite normal, but she was brushing her teeth, so no, she didn't look normal. - Maybe she was going on a hot date and had to get it right, rather than going to mince him. - Well, maybe. - Oh, that's a lander for you, mate, you see? You won't get that sandwich. - No, definitely not. But though, if you are in sandwich on Thursday or Friday and for a laugh, you feel like making me laugh, just walk around brushing your teeth and I will chuckle if I see you. - Oh, well, you could do it yourself and say, well, I reckon if you did that in sandwich, you probably, yeah, well, maybe we should do that. Wonder through sandwich, bring it out. I don't think it was one of those travel toothbrushes, or you think it looked like, oh, we might be just be like once you get in a hotel. - Do you know what you're asking a lot of questions, Matt? I'm gonna be pretty honest with you. - Oh, it's the dentist again. It's got to be a lot of money. So, again, if it saves you a bit of money, that's the main thing. - Yeah, but it's just odd, isn't it? It's just odd. Well, well, well, it's London for you, mate. - Yeah, absolutely. It's our 311th episode this week. And that took me straight to the US band 311. Veterans are 14 studio albums. I've never heard any of them. And even created of their own day, 311 day, which of course, by the American Date System, means it is in March. It used to be every two years, but now it's every year on the 11th of March, actually, my half birthday. So they should actually show me some respect. Their name instantly comes from the police code for indecent exposure in Omaha, after a friend of the band was arrested and cited for skinny dipping in a public pool. 311 is also the telephone number of local information service operated by some local governments in the United States and Canada. So there you go. Maybe people will be throwing 311 this week and saying, who should I vote for? Because I think that's going to be quite interesting. - Don't know who's gonna win that anyway. - Oh, it's either gonna be Carmen's or Donald Trump. - Yeah, do we know? Is it, I think he was at 1% with it? If Trump loses by 1%, he's not gonna take that, is he? - Of course he's not. It's very close. And if you listen to them all, they'll both tell you that they're winning, which is a strange thing to do. Because surely you wanna be saying to people, no, no, we're losing, come and vote, come and help us. 'Cause I think, and we're not getting into this, but I reckon if the, if the remain campaign had done that what eight and a bit years ago, we may not be in part of the mess. - Do you expect him to win? - No, I don't think he's gonna win. - Oh, no, that's my point for you. - Yeah, maybe our American listeners are a big Trump, Trump is this whatever they are, but no, we don't want him to win, 'cause he's a lunatic. - Absolutely, he is a lunatic. So, you know, it's not for us to discuss it, but you know. - That's our point, mate, say there you go. - Absolutely. - We said our point, carry on. - Yes, let's get on with the show then, and let's start with a look ahead to the FA Cup first round, where two of our sides are flying the flag. This time last year, may say, you know, we're about to travel to Chestham for a first round tie, and I don't think any of us would have anticipated that that Cup run would end at Coventry in the fifth round with three football league teams dispatched, including Premier League-bound Ipswich. This weekend, it's National League Solihull-Mores, which is the destination for the Stones and Matthew Gerard, and head of that tie, Matt caught up with the Stones car owner Oliver Ash. So, I think we're on and up, but I put curve at the moment. It was a slow start. There are some question marks, I think, about our recruitment, quite rightly, during the summer period, but the team is sort of gelling a little bit now, and we've reinforced a couple of positions, and they're starting to play together much better. So, yes, I think we're in a good position now and moving in the right direction, just to shame we had such a slow start. - You mentioned the recruitment, and how difficult is it to recruit it, or did you have a lot of players who wanted to come to you? Well, for what you did last season? - I think, though, yeah, I think big players are attracted to come and play at Maidstone, and I think last season certainly puts on a map for a lot of people, but it's a very competitive market out there, and most of the Kent teams try and recruit, you know, within the Kent or South London or Southeast ethics area, and we're all after the same players, and there are some quite rich clubs around. We're not the richest, so it's a very competitive field, and it's not easy to find the right players and to make the team, to put the team together, put a squad together within a strict budget, which, as you know, we always adopt a pretty strict budget and try and keep to it in the interests of the financial stability of the club. So, yeah, those are all the challenges, and I think we have perhaps made one or two errors in the way we've gone about recruiting this time, and we've had to correct it, which is why, to some degree, the season started slowly. - Yeah, sorry, study. Was Georgia under any pressure? Would you say, maybe from the pressure from himself, but from above, because some of the fans were, you know, particularly after the Chelsea game, which, in fact, tennis was your last defeat, that there was a bit of murmurings. - Sure, well, the fans are very demanding, though we know that, and we're demanding too, but we're certainly not gonna rush to take any silly decisions after a few games, given the difficulties of the job. I mean, being a manager is extremely difficult. We believe in George, we've spent now, I think, three seasons working with George. We know George knows us. We signed a contract for two seasons, so we wanted to give him the time to show what he can do and to mature into the role, which is a new role for him. So, no, we were certainly supporting him, and I think rightly given the fact that the season is now starting to turn around and our squad is showing what it can do. - No, I mentioned that, I think, one goal conceded in the last five games, and I'm beaten away from home as well. I presume it was pleasing on Saturday, when you first home league win in the season, you'd be absolutely convincingly in the cup, but it was nice to get that one off the mark in the league as well. - Yes, absolutely. You try and do as well as you can in front of your home crowd and for obvious reasons, because you want to boost the crowd, keep the crowd big and spend money in the club, because that's what allows you to spend money on players. So, it's all for that reason that we want to do well at home. So, doing badly at home has been a real problem for us. I mean, doing well away, compensates to some degree, but really it's at home in front of your fans that you want to be performing well and getting good results. And so we're pleased now that that has hopefully started and that now the handbrake is off, the players can show what they can do. In the last couple of games, we have squandered a number of very, very good chances. So, I'm hopeful that at some stage, we will start to put those chances away and hopefully give one or two teams a bit of a hiding. That would be very pleasant. - I think when your game's in hand, you move into a playoff position, I think in quite a tight division. I said on the pod before, this season maybe has a bit of a similar feel or start as when you won the league a few years ago. Have you thought of it that way? - Yes, I think inevitably, in spending all your time thinking about the club in different ways, those sorts of reflections to cross your mind. It's a very different squad to that sort of years ago now. In fact, it's a very different group of players, a different manager, so it's... The comparison is limited, but yes, certainly, we're aware of the fact that if we do pick up speed and continue to win matches, that we can get into the playoffs, perhaps even better, but there's a long way to go. We have a lot of respect for the other teams around us. Many of whom are very strong, have good budgets and are extremely competitive, so it's gonna be tough. But yes, I'm hopeful that we can now push our way into the playoff positions, which was the ambition from the day the season started. - I suppose you love a fair with the FA Cup starts this week. I'm off to Solihull this weekend as well. Your initial thoughts of Solihull are way, it's not a sexy draw, but arguably winnable, because you haven't beaten away from home all season. - Yes, well, you have to look at the positives, and it's exactly that, you know, it's a good side away from home, and we've proven in the past, recent past that under George and Craig's leadership, anything's possible in the FA Cup. So, although Solihull will be strong favourites, understandably, they're a good side, I think they beat Barnet for them at home recently, and we've not traditionally done very well against them. So, all the indicators would suggest that it's gonna be very, very tough for us, but George's great mantra is believe, and, you know, will believe until five o'clock on Saturday and see where we are. - Again, this game has to be completed on the day, because, again, I presume your views are pretty similar to mine, maybe, you know, you're not. Replays have now been abandoned in the FA Cup, so I don't know if that changes the mantra of a manager, how he plays his team, but first of all, what's your thoughts on FA Cup replays being scrapped? - Well, I like replays, and I think they're part of the tradition of the FA Cup, and I like the FA Cup as a competition. I think it's a great shame that, thanks to the power of the Premier League, the FA has been sort of pushed into a corner and forced to regularly yield on protecting its flagship competition. I think it's a great shame. So, I like the traditions of the FA Cup. It's the most important competition, the most prestigious competition to smaller pro clubs and semi-pro clubs like ourselves. It's something about it that gives a real buzz to everybody associated with the club, when you win a match against a higher opposition in the FA Cup, there's something special about it. So, yeah, I would prefer to have replays, but if we can somehow beat them without the need for a replay, I'll be pretty happy with that as well. - Yeah, okay. I don't know your thoughts. I don't know if managers look at it a different way now, 'cause sometimes you think, "Oh, we keep it tight, then we'll, you know, hold on and we can get bringing back to our plays." I don't know if it'd be interesting to see some of the results this weekend when it is a one-off game. - Yeah, I mean, you'd have to talk to George and the tactics, but I would've thought that he probably won't change his tactics, but hopefully he'll be running through a few of his penalty takers and trying to work out a way of helping them, should it go to penalties, but I think we'll be, I think probably on paper, we'd be very happy if we got to 90 minutes drawing given how strong Solihull are on paper. But, you know, I'm looking big positive I'd like to win the game, but it's gonna be tough. - Okay, I presume after last season, you presume you don't budget that you budgeted that you may have gone out in the second round, qualifying round of the cup. So everything from here is a bonus, I presume, again. - Yes, we don't budget for any success in the FA Cup. We try and budget to make a small profit every year and give ourselves a reserve. And if we have to, because there are so many unforeseen in football, there are countless areas of expenditure that sort of turn out to be more than you expected, or just, you know, you find you have to do maintenance or things around the ground that cost money that we try and budget for a reserve every year. We wouldn't budget for making any money after the FA Cup, yeah, it is a bonus. And we have over the last 12 years with Terry Casey, my partner, if we've had short-term needs for cash, we've funded them out of our own pockets and then tried to refund us and repay us when we can out of firm surplus cash, but that's the way we operate. We don't have a, we wouldn't budget for FA Cup success and then get ourselves into trouble if we don't get past the fourth qualifying round. No, we wouldn't do that. - A few of you, Zoom is, if you can win at Ipswich, there's no reason, finally you can't win it, it's only how more. So I'm sure Maestro fans will follow their sides in numbers and there's no reason why Maestro United can't be at a side who's put on the FA Cup map once again this year. - Well, I'll leave you to make the comparison between Solihull and Ipswich. I think it's, that's the problem. - I should have said Coventry, it's down the road, I suppose, but we don't like it, it's like. - Well, I think they're totally different games, totally different challenges. And I think Ipswich, there's maybe a one in a hundred at Ipswich that we will remember, all those associated with the club will remember forever, but Solihull will be much more down to earth, much more of a down to earth fight. And I think knowing George, he'll probably try and keep it as tight as possible in the game and try to straighten what we should see. - Lovely to hear from Oliver, as always, Maestro. And some really, really interesting points there. And when I listen to these interviews, I always sit there and I think what bit I'm gonna use for the titles at the start of the show. And I was thinking straight away, I was gonna use the bit where he said, we're gonna battle some teams, but then his points on replays were absolutely brilliant, wasn't he? - Yeah, it's gonna be an interesting game. I didn't know, when he mentioned them, got a good record against Solihull, I looked after after that, they played eight games and haven't won any against Solihull, and actually haven't scored against Solihull away from home. So all in all points to hopefully a Maystone United win, Maystone at play in decent form, Solihull, a solid national league side, always in and around, it lost a couple of times in the playoffs, haven't they? So I think Maystone can go there with a little bit of confidence. Again, it'd be one of the games, John, I think, oh, fancy them for a replay, so I'm thinking it's gonna go all the way in there. But at my point on that team, as a manager, do you change how you wanna play it? When you know you've got to win on the day, or not, 'cause again, a draw doesn't mean anything, you've got to go straight to record times and maybe penalties and could point he made in that as well, that maybe they will be practicing their penalties this week. - I think that's the thing that the likelihood of penalties has increased without a shadow of a doubt because the game has to be decided on Saturday. So I think that's definitely something you've got to take into account. And I suppose the point that we've made a couple of weeks ago and the point that we've made, you've made there with Oliver as well, is along the lines of, will teams be resistant from shutting up shot? But then maybe teams might think, actually, if you're the underdog away from home, maybe you will still think, well, let's shut up shot, let them try and batter it, and then try and hit them on the counter. And if it goes to penalties, make sure we're better at penalties than everybody else. And I suppose that is the way that some teams will attack it. I don't think made a stone necessarily will. I think that the belief that they've got, especially with their good away form and the good current run will eight games unbeaten, I think they'll go, they're actually full of confidence. I've got the nationally table in front of me here. Three wins, two draws, three defeats at home for Solihal Moore. So it's not a fortress that they're going to. I don't think it's quite like the Marine in Portugal, either map for you. But I think it's going to be, it could go either way. And I actually think maybe it could be made stones day. If they go there with the right attitude, then they've probably got nothing to fear, even though they haven't got a good record against Solihal, because as we kind of said before, all of the pressure is on Solihal Moore's. People will be expecting Solihal Moore's eighth in the National League to swat a side made to the United. The home support there, most of the media there will be confident of a home win. And I think that's where it helps mates though, who we've seen a quite good adversity in the FA Cup. Yeah, I think they've just got to work as they did last season when they got through the rounds. Again, Chasm was a bit of a banana skin for them. They got through that. Again, they're good away from home. Maybe most, we've seen size before, like the Bourn Wood. So they've got to the fourth round. I think they constantly get to the third rounds from it. So they know how to win these games. Most of them will go there on underdogs. But I've got nothing to fear. I see John Benton won't be able to play because he's the man who scored the winner last week. He's on loan from Solihal, so they won't let him play. So they'd have to be a bit of a change in the side. But again, if they can weather the first bit of storm, and it'll be interesting to see the different level between National League side. mates don't swat it aside. Absolutely united who are National League side. So they'll know what they're going to come up against. You fancy them at home against Solihal. Away, it might be a little difficult. But the longer the game goes on and they're in the game, you just fancy masting United being a cap side. They can go on and get into the second round. Yeah, and of course, George Hillary knows how to win a Cup time. I thought it was very interesting there. When Oliver said, the fans demand success, but so do we. But we're not going to make any rash decisions about when you ask if George was under pressure at any point during the start of the season. And it was a tricky start to the season. And he did question the recruitment that they did over the summer for their slow start. But it looks like they've hit their straps a little bit now. And getting that first home league win will be a massive fillet. Yeah, I think it was a big, again, I think the clean sheet too important as well. I think it's one goal conceded in five games. So, again, Alexandria Jr, I've seen him before, but I think he's earning rave reviews for Maystone United. So he could be key in this game as well for them. And Blair up top, so yeah, I think they've got goals of them as well for Maystone and defensively tight. So I think it should be an interesting tie on this one. It's probably not one of the sexy ones that the media will be all over, but I think it should be a good game. And fingers crossed on my trip to a deep start to Birmingham that I can come home bringing Maystone United back with me. - Well, my favourite commentators go into it. So the media are obviously interested in it in some way. But you say you've made some goals in them. Well, I'm going to kind of dispute that because I've only scored 14 in 12 league games. I'm only letting third. - No, I'm a mate. They've got, I think they've got goals in them. Yeah, they've got goals in them. But it's almost like the strikers haven't hit their form yet. And that's what they need to be doing. But that is a decent win. I mean, I couldn't believe when I looked at the table last week and saw they were down in 19th, they're still 15th now. But they are only what five points outside the playoffs. And to beat a side like Hemmel, who've had a really good start to the season, they're within five points to them with two games in hand. So the league table does lie, I suppose, a little bit for Maystone there. - Yeah, they win the games now and they'll be in the playoffs. And everybody expected Maystone to be in the playoffs. There's a few sides in that. You expect to be where they are, and a super few, aren't. So I think Maystone, again, if they go out, they FA Cup, I'm sure if Georgia the Kobe said, we'll concentrate on the league. But, you know, they had the dreams last season. And as a Maystone, you know, I'd find you want to relive that again. And I'm sure they'll go there in numbers, hoping they can get result. - Yeah, and all of us always good value when we have them on the show matter. And it's so sensible the way that he looks at things. I think it's obviously incredibly passionate about the club and everything that he does. But he has, when he's certainly when we talk to him, he seems to have an almost unique way of actually taking the passion out of it and looking at it from a businessman point of view as well. And I think that's something that you really need to do if you want to be a really well-run stable club, look at it from both angles. - Yeah, I know some of the Maystone fans, you know, would want to spend the money, let's get back into where, probably where they should be, supported club in the National League. But, you know, as you say, I'll have a look at it from a different world of view. Maystone don't want to go down the route before of going out of business where maybe they spent more than they actually had. But again, last season was a great season now. It's a different one, different cup competition. I'm sure if you asked all your Maystone United fans, can we get to the third round or maybe get promoted? After what they did last year, they'd probably say you'd get promoted and back to the National League. But this can't do it in a good run. And again, they did ever so well last year. I've got a funny feeling. That means a lot going into this big game coming as well. I think people don't underestimate Maystone. You know, I was in the FA Cup, that's what I'm trying to say. - Absolutely, I was well in Saturday. Tommy Daniels will have an FA Cup first round time front supporters for the first time in 45 years in Harbor Town of the Southern League. Premier Division Central are the visitors. They're 16th in their step three league. So this is a winnable clash for Angels, but they're going to have to be wary of a solid. As we discussed a few weeks ago in the rain at seven oaks, a bit like Maystone on Saturday. Nothing to lose, don't they? - Yeah, I don't, I don't, I thought it was, it's not market. Is it market hardware? That's wicked, where are these based? - Yeah, they're based in market hardware, yeah. - Is that linkage here? - Yes. - Yeah. On paper, if you would expect Tommy Daniels to use, Harbor have done very well to get to this round. And it is a bit of a banana scheme for Angels, isn't it? There will be a story this weekend. And again, history will be made, because one of these sides will get to the second round for the first time in their history. Jay Saunders, I'm sure he's done his absolute homework on Harbor, he's a 16th place in the league. I think it's a difficult one. Everybody's going to expect them to win, I'm sure there's going to be a massive crowd there urging them on. I think Angels just got to take it a little bit carefully because you'll be absolutely heartbroken if you lose to Harbor Town. If you lose, like they did to Bradford, you know, you lose to Bradford, but Harbor Town at home, there'll be massive favourites from that. But their home form's good, John, and over the last few weeks away from home, they've lost a few in the league, but their home form has been really good this season. And if that continues and their players perform to the capability they have, there's no reason they can't be in the second round. So yeah, if you're Tommy James fan, you'll wake up on Saturday thinking, right. But I think they've got to make sure you go into that game, not running before you can walk because you've got to get this one out of the way and then dream from there, because it will be a banana skim for them. And again, in this game, I feel the first goal absolutely crucial. Yeah, I think it's very similar to the sort of homemade stone clash, but in this case, all the pressure's on our team because people will be expecting Tommy James to get there. There will be an expectation of, well, you know, we've got this this tie that we should be winning. And I suppose we can also tell they're Tommy James, they've been excellent so far this season. I've been excellent at home as well. We thought they had a couple of tricky ties on the way through and they've managed to get through them every single time. So actually it's, you know, I'm probably being a little bit facetious here and a little bit playing devil's advocate, I suppose. And I say, oh, it's going to be tricky for them. I expect Tommy James to win, but they've got to be on their game. Absolutely again, Jay Saunders is an experienced manager. He knows how to get sides promoted and he'll know I've got to, you know, play a bit of history here for the club to get into the first round of the, the second round of the competition. I think they've got a really good chance. Again, I'm confident with, with Jay Saunders in, he won't let them get a little bit carried away and thinking we're going to do this. Just right, go out there, do your job like you've done. Majority of home games a season and you'll be in the second round. And that'll be absolutely magnificent achievement. And hopefully they can get the reward if they do get into the second round by bringing a lead team home all the way. Yes, absolutely. Massive good luck to both of those teams in their ties at the weekend. Tommy Jones were beaten 2-1 at Truro on Saturday and it was the same score for Welling in their loss at Dorking Wanderers with the wings in league action on Saturday when they host Chippin'em on Tuesday. No going for Tombre to its mainstone travels to Dorking and the wings are on the road too, just a mile or so from my house as they take on Eastbourne Borough on Bonfire Night. What a way to spend your Bonfire Night. Let's head to the Ishma League Southeast now where Beckham are still top of the table and seven points clear no less after back to back wins this week. Firstly beating Deal Town 4-1 on Saturday. And then when he 3-0 at Ashford, as they continue their great start to life on the Mibos Del Oldfield. I spoke to Del earlier today and I started by asking about those two wins this week. Yeah, very pleasing. Also the, I mean, the group we have here is unbelievable, really, you know, not a lot needed to be changes when I came in and they're just doing everything that they're being asked to do, which is, yeah, which is pleasing. I obviously deal on Saturday that they're new to the league but they've done okay. But to beat them 4-1 is a good result against the team who don't lose like that very often. No, deal with the away home mugs and we knew that and they still aren't, by the way. We just, it was one of those games where we knew that if we took our chances, we could make things that maybe a little bit more comfortable than what they were but yeah, they certainly know mugs and made it hard work for us. And then obviously Ashford and Chelsea now as well. They've not had a great start to the season but always a tough place to go. Yeah, do you know what? It's funny, people talk about their start but they've played a hell of a lot of cupcakes. So again, you know, I think it's very easy to look at Ashford's position in the league and maybe some more is what might or might not be going on but now that they're a very experienced outfit and again, we had to work extremely hard to get anything we got out of that game. More generally, it's not often that you get the opportunity to come in and take over a side that's top of the league. Was it an easy decision for you to take on the role of Beckham? You know what, it's funny because people don't know me. We'll know that this wasn't an easy decision because I'm generally quite a little. So then each one of those things, when I was involved in a little project, obviously at step seven, I was really enjoying doing but when this opportunity came up, it really was a case of, you know, I'm 15 this year. It was too good of an opportunity to turn down. It was, yeah, so yeah, that's pretty much it. And obviously the team is going great guns and I suppose when you took over, it was probably not too much you had to do to mold them into a good team. No, listen, and to be fair, all the credit even over since I've been there has got to go down to the players and the rest of the club really is not really down to me. All I've actually done is come into a fantastic group of players and getting involved in a fantastic club and all I've really done is given them a bit of structure to what we do and how we do it. That is basically it. Yeah, no, this is all down to the players and the people before me. - Obviously you've played more games than the teams around you, but you're still a long way clear at the top and I suppose the objective is to just keep winning games and see where you end up. - Yeah, again, you know, our position could look very false to a lot of people. You know, certain people will go around saying we haven't played anyone yet, but you know, we have played the likes of Margay, Burgis Hill, Sinking Boom, and Ashford, you know, like I say, and so, you know, we've done okay in them games, but, you know, a few indifferent results, but time will tell. - It's a lovely place to watch a game of football and he's backing them up. I suppose you'll enjoy getting to grips with it all. - I would, backing them was actually the last club I was trying to, as a lovely player myself, so I had been involved with Jason from, knowing Jason for many, many years. It was, you know, everything's very familiar. - And I suppose obviously, you know, when you come into a team, as you say, all we had to do is do a little bit of structure to kind of give them a bit of a boost, but I suppose confidence must be through the roof already. - Oh, yeah, I mean, the confidence is there. I mean, obviously you have to juggle confidence with cockiness and make sure that it doesn't go over that line. But the confidence is definitely there for the squad. You can see it, I think the only sign that I've actually made is a goalkeeper, young arty bird, who's done two clean sheets so far. He's been brilliant, but then he's got a fantastic wool head in front of him, you know, with Jack Holland and Rob Carr and, you know, young Oscar Williams and Woody, they've been absolutely brilliant in front of him. But then that confidence comes from everyone, you know, knowing their roles, knowing what they should be doing, you know, what we should be doing in position, out position, everything like that. We've actually gone over in a short space of time and the boys have just bought into everything that, you know, we're trying to add to what is already an existing, very good, competent team. So, yes, there wasn't a lot of changes need to be made to. - You mentioned Jack Holland there, obviously, I know it's a team game, but having someone with his experience, you know, in a real sort of non-league legend in these parts is a massive boost. - Yeah, again, I mean, you learn yet to watch a performance last night against Ashford and he was an absolute towel man last night. He, again, a really nice, really nice man off the pitch as well. I'll let that, you know, he's fully invested in what we're doing and what we're trying to do. And again, you know, we've got somewhat perceived as a bit of an obvious manager at this level in myself. He's also bided into my ideas and the things that we want to do as well. So that that's great to have. - As was the last few years have been a bit sort of up and down for Beckham, obviously, moved to the combined count. He then went up and then had a good start and it fell apart. And then obviously last year I only stayed up by a reprieve. And I guess consolidation is important for the club at the moment. - You know what, it's funny, you know, when Jason first won me and presented the opportunity to me, I don't know, he's one of the first questions I ask, you know, what is the expectation? And the expectation really was initially this season. It was just to consolidate and stay up. That's it. - So I think one more win. And I think, you know, we kind of done that. But obviously with good results comes maybe a little bit more expectation. So it's going to be interesting to see where the rest of this season would take this, you know, especially when the people around us are kind of caught up and, you know, we've all played similar manner games here, be interesting to where we are then. - Also you mentioned what you were doing at Kent United in step seven. How big is the gap between step seven? And I suppose, first of all, step six and then where you are now? - Yeah, it's huge to be fair. And I don't think people realise how huge it is until you are, you have been involved in both in such a short, short space of time. I mean, this and Kent are a novice club. They're coming up. I was really invested in the project. The project's great. And I still think it's a good project for anyone that might be going in there. I think they can go along way with the people that they've got beyond the scenes there. But the gap in players as well, you know, just the technicality and things like that. It's quite big. And I don't think some players appreciate it. I think that is either, you know, I think it's quite easy for any fan or player to watch a game of football, think, "Oh, I can do that." But until you're in and amongst it, it's very different. - And obviously you said about, you know, you felt you had to take this opportunity. And I guess for you, it's a real chance to show what you can do at this level. - Yeah, again, I say, I've been in for jobs in the past, you know, even interviewed for certain jobs in the past, but just haven't managed to get it over the line, which is never a problem. You know, you know, it's going to happen in football. And, but I think all my other jobs that I've taken on as a manager that have been rebuilding projects. So this was very different, whereas there was no rebuilding to be done. The building had already been done. Like I say, it was just a case of putting in a little bit of structure and that was it. Yeah, like I say, too good of an opportunity to turn down. So, yeah, I'm very glad to be here. And yeah, I'm glad I'm with an amazing group at what I've got. - And just finally, chef, you're not on Saturday. That's a tough one, isn't it? 'Cause they're a good side. You've had a good start. - Yeah, listen, again, we're going to be coming off of, this is going to be our third game in eight days again for the second time in, I think, eight, two, three weeks. So it's not going to be easy. We know how good they are. We know the qualities they've got. But I also say this is that we've also got a lot of quality, and we're very good at what we do and how we do it. So we're not one of these people or one of these teams that's going to be too concerned with how other teams sit up and do things and do that. But as long as we do what we do, well, we will give anyone a good game, that's for sure. - I suppose, mate, it would have been easy for Beckham to fall away after their change of manager, but Della's come in and he's carried on the great start. Yes, lots of teams can overtake them by winning their games in hand, but 11 wins from 15 games. It's not to be sniffed out, is it? - No, really. From what we gathered, when the manager left, there was maybe a falling out somewhere. You felt, well, maybe the wheels would come off, but he's come in there and picked up a couple of really good results. Well, that's four wins on the spin too. Three away from home as well. I think it's a really good result against a decent Ashford side as well. It shows the quality they've got in the squad at the moment and a good result against Dale. His name rings a bell, that guy, but as he managed his level before, he mentioned that he managed to catch United, but has he been around this level before? - He's been around step five, I'm sure. - Yeah, he's been around a few places in and around. As he said, he's 15 next year, so this was an opportunity that he didn't really want to turn down and a great opportunity for him to really go and see what they can do, I suppose. And as I said to him there, and I've said this one of these you've managed before, you don't often get the chance to come in and take on a team that's top of the league. And that's the opportunity that he's got. Very level headed about. We said, you know, the first aim is to consolidate, stay up, that's what we're looking for, but actually, do you know what? We're just going to keep winning and see where it takes us. - Yeah, and again, I think my concern, well, fully for them is that some of the players would leave to follow the old manager to where he's new job, but you know, people like Jack on a great player, shook clearly, he's the things that the project, as he said, there is a good one for him to get involved in. And again, just winning games, and you can only win the games. You know, teams will catch, you know, if they win their games and these things, they will catch them, but really good. And again, look at their way record. We know how good the array record was for cray last season. They've played nine games away from only one seven of them, John, which is really, really good. And they are a free score inside. So yeah, fair play to him. So they're in a good position here, where you expect them to at least get in the playoffs from here. They'll be disappointed if they didn't in the position they're in at the moment. So big game against Sheppy again, see if they can do that. Some really interesting games coming up. But the size they've played, they've had some really good results as well. So yeah, interesting times then. Good luck to Darren. He seems, you know, he's got, he's 50 next year, and he's got a football manager's job. And that's basically giving him some sort of thirst for life. Maybe what do I need to do for when I would say I'm 50 next year? Kit Man at the Crubble. Oh, dream, wouldn't it? Yeah, something like that. Yeah, something like that, I have to say, yeah. I didn't want to say it earlier, because I didn't want to, I wasn't a hunter at the job, but he was the manager at Irith and Belvedere. That's where we know the name from. He was there between 2020 and 2021. So experienced manager. But as he said there, you know, it was good. He's known Jason Beckenham for a while, but still to take a bit of a punt and bring someone in who's been at that managing step seven to do that. But I guess also part of it was they didn't want to bring someone in who was going to say, right, I want to bring in 10 of my players, because these are my players. So to actually have that, have someone who wasn't tied to a load of players that would come with him and a bit of continuity in the playing squad, when they've got some really good players there, was crucial and that, you know, they're going great guns. And yes, very easy to look at the league table and say, well, Ramsgate have not far behind them. And of course, fully expect some of those teams that have got the games in hand to overtake Beckenham. But all they can do is win games of football and under De Laude Field, that's all they've done. So you can't complain, can you? - No, absolutely. And I did like his point as well when you asked him about the difference between step seven and step five, whatever, four of this, what it is, is the quality of the players. It's interesting from that, because we probably don't appreciate how good a play you have to be to play at this level, isn't it? - Really? - I remember years ago, we said on the pod, oh yeah, if I played 42 games for somebody when I was younger, I would have scored a few goals. But what I'll think about that, that is absolutely rubbish 'cause I'm a terrible footballer. But to get to this level, you have to have a certain level of fitness and be a certain letter quality. And it's interesting what his point was made there, yeah. Yeah, some good thing is, but the difference is the quality, that little bit of vision, that little bit extra. And I think it was quite an interesting point. So to go from, must be quite difficult to get to this level from maybe a couple of levels below, but if you work hard, you can do it. But I think it's a good level that some of these players plan out. And you have to be a good standard. - I wonder maybe we should, before you're 50, we should send you to a training session with the team. And you can-- - You've got a promise of life. - Oh, that'd be interesting. Yeah, that'd be quite interesting. What would, I'll be blurring John pretty quick. I don't think my fitness is that good. But yeah, it would be quite, yeah. The fitness, yeah, the fitness of these guys must be five. Has to be good in 90 minutes. - Probably better than a 49 year old man who works in IT. - Yeah, exactly, yeah, with a porch. - Well, maybe we'll see if we can, if we can make that happen. Yeah, I don't plan your managers listen. So if you'd like Matt to come and do a training session with you, do please get in touch. - One of the things I did realize, you know, when I went on the kick of ball grunts at Crabble, how hard the bloody balls are these days? - Yeah, I couldn't even get it. You know, as a kid, you used to, you know, the balls, you could kick it, but I couldn't even kick it. - You probably hadn't warmed up, mate. - No, yeah, that's probably true, yeah. And I'm all right for it, there's no left for me at all. I'm just using that to stand on. So right back in the danger room is probably very low level. - I reckon the thing for me is I watched teams doing their warm up before the game. And I think, God, I'd be absolutely not good after that. Never mind them going to play 90 minutes afterwards. I think that's the thing for me. But I mean, I am unfit. - Did you ever like, I'd never you liked heading the ball either. Did you ever like in the ball? - Yeah, exactly, yeah. - I played up front all through my youth career and I scored one header in all of that time. It was in year 10, into form football. And I scored one header, but yeah, I hated heading the ball. - Yeah. - You know, it was something I never enjoyed doing. But which is ironic, really, for you, Matt, because you love watching the people head the ball. - Well, I mean, good chess control job, but I would never edit. Knock it down and run, or very slowly, or turning like the Titanic on to it. So, but I, when I did play a bit of five aside, one of my mates, he was absolutely quality. And I loosed to love giving him the ball, setting him up, 'cause he'd always score. I prefer to assist him to scoring in the end, 'cause he was so good. You know, if I got the ball to go, he was score, 'cause he was that good. - Well, there you go. The offer is out there anyway. As we heard there, Beckon and Towne did big deal at the weekend, but deal bounce back on Tuesday night with a four-two win at Littlehampton. A long way to go on a Tuesday night. And when I spoke to the Hoops boss Steve King earlier on today, that was my first question, Tim. Now that you've played Littlehampton away on a Tuesday night, do you realize you've arrived at step four? - Yeah, we were sort of warming up and I said to the boys, come on boys, this is why we hold the effort into game promoted. So, I'm in a 250 mile round trip on Tuesday night, but it's part of being at that level of football we're used to traveling. It's not uncommon for us, but we're delighted to go and get the win. - I suppose it's a difficult one, 'cause I guess you wouldn't have got home to a wall approaching midnight last night? - I don't know, but about a quarter past one, I think. So, yeah, we left about a quarter past 10, it's about a three-hour journey home. So, yeah, luckily obviously I'm a teacher, so it's half-term, so not too bad, but the boys that I've had to get up to go to work this morning. Yeah, that's probably a tough one, but all the better with three points. - Yeah, I was gonna say that the journey home made a lot better by getting those three points. - Yeah, we knew after the weekend, we were disappointed on Saturday and we needed to bounce back, and we did that and, yeah, everything feels better after you've won a game of football, so you don't mind a journey when you've got a win. - 12 games in, six wins, six defeats. What have you learned about yourself at Step Four so far? - It's been really interesting. We've competed in every single game. We've played a lot of the top sides. Unfortunately, we've come out on the wrong end of the result to them, but we've competed in those games. What I've been pleased about is that we've already managed to win six games, and I think that shows that we're more than capable of competing at Step Four, and yeah, it's been a really good experience. Every game's a proper game, which is enjoyable to be involved in. There's no game that sort of tail off in the last 20 minutes where you've won comfortably. I don't think any such things have come from a win for sides like ourselves, but we've been very pleased with our start in terms of performance. We're a little bit disappointed in terms of points, tally, because we've thrown away quite a few leads and some late goals have cost us, but I probably would have taken 18 points in the first 12 games if you'd offered it me before baller being kicked, so, yeah, I'm relatively pleased. - Oh, good friend, he's in charge at Corinthian, always says to me that the big difference between Step Four and Step Five is you can't afford to switch off at all. Is that something you'd agree with? - 100%, you just, every side's got good forward players and you get punished, whereas last year we've probably dominated the last 20 minutes of every game regardless of what the score was. This year, that's not been the case and we've been punished late quite often. But a good side and a good side to keep going, if you're 19 minutes, but we've really enjoyed it and we're learning, we've got to remember, we've got a lot of players who haven't played a lot of Step Four football. So, although they have very experienced names, they haven't played at the level for a long time, some of them, and we're still learning. - Is that partly a fitness thing as well are the teams at Step Four fitter than Step Five? - Yes, yeah, I don't think it's half fitness. I think the other teams, obviously, the opposition are fitter, 100%. People have maybe mentioned about our fitness levels because our second half record hasn't been great, but we track everything on GPS trackers, and our numbers have been very good. I just think that the more opposition teams attack, the more likely they'll have to score, and we've played Beckham twice, so we're top. We played Ramsgate, we played Sitting Ball, we played Marlgate, we played Erichtown. All sides are in the top seven, and then the games we've lost. And those good sides, they, like at any level, the good sides always score lots of late goals. Look at the Maggie Knight, Fergie teams back in the day. I mean, you just scored Arsenal now, score lots of late goals, and we've just found that against the teams that were on the top of the league, that they just finished the game stronger than what we have. - Obviously, you mentioned nearly to bounce back from Saturday, you've not lost a lot of games by four-one in the last few years, so I guess that was a tough one to take. - Yes, I know, John, I'll be honest with you. We're one all along 72 minutes, and probably on top of the game at that point. So it didn't really feel like a four-one, because if you thought we game at 72 minutes, our fans just have a chance to go on and win it. We had one clear off the line, but Beckham and Matop, because they are blistering on the count for attack, and they are very good going forward. And almost as we got a little bit more dominant in the game, they become more dangerous, and they just went bang, bang, bang, three goals in nine minutes and killed us off, but it wasn't really a four-one. Been involved in four-ones where you get battered and you might score the one in the 93rd minute. But we were one all at 72 minutes, and it was just, we were actually frustrated that we didn't get anything, rather than being like disappointed that we've been whacked, if that makes sense. - Absolutely, yeah, you're back at home. Two home games this week, starting with Hyde on Saturday. They've had a tricky start to the season, but obviously they'll be up for it, won't they? - Yeah, it's a tricky one for us, really, because we've played them twice in cup competitions at home. We've played them both in the velocity cup and they can't see in your cup. So we sort of know each other well, but league games are completely different. We've mixed up our side in those two cup games, played a lot of younger players, so we'll obviously be full, I mean, full strength Saturday, but then they've had a great win. Three-nil last weekend, Nick's getting them sorted and all the guys are on paper. They've got some really experienced players. So it's probably the first time in a few weeks, we're probably going to be under pressure in terms of people looking at that game and saying, well, deal should win that. So we just got handled that and hopefully go and put in another positive performance and try and string back to back wins together. - That's why it's a challenge for you, isn't it? It's a manager. When you've already, as you say, you've beaten them twice at home already, the expectation will be that you'll beat them again and you've got to make sure that your team approaches the right way. - Yeah, I trust our players completely. If we don't win the game Saturday, it won't be a complacency issue. It won't be a lack of focus. We prepare for every game the same way. Whether we're playing a team at bottom of step five or whether we're now playing a team at step four, our process is exactly the same. So I don't worry about it from that side but our players don't think like that. It's just the fact that we've got to reach our performance levels. We had a tough away trip on Saturday, obviously it's a tough away trip on Tuesday. It's not a huge amount of recovery time. Obviously, however, we haven't played midweek. We've just got to make sure we get our energy levels up and we produce what we know we're capable of. But I don't worry about complacency. That's something that is not a problem. - And then choosing obviously, Margate, you lost late on to them in the return picture, but Margate at home, that's the sort of game that you're willing to get into these level four, isn't it? - Oh, it's crazy, isn't it? They just keep coming. So I think you think like we should be really excited. I think we just sort of got used to them and it just feels like another game. But when it comes round, I think we're like hockey. I mean, this is a big game, but I thought we were very good at their place. I thought we were worthy of a point on the night. Obviously, I think '96 or '97 minute they scored. It's going to be a real tough test at home, but if we can get a win on Saturday, it'll be, we can really go into that with some momentum and that if a deal can be playing Margate and a league game is brilliant for us. And we'll see if we can get that result. We haven't had that yet. That's my only disappointment is we haven't had that big result yet that everyone looks back and goes, "Oh, I mean, that's impressive." Obviously, we're two left against Simborn. We should've been two left against Rampere, Mr. Penelope. We were one that'll up at Margate with 25 minutes left. We've had the opportunities to get that real sort of statement result, but we haven't had it yet. So we'll see if we can maybe get it next week. You'd like that one on Saturday, though, wouldn't you? You've got a massive crowd in on Saturday against Margate, wouldn't you? Yeah, if we would've done, but there's so many Kent diaries that people win if you have to travel level around mid-week or something has to give if you know what I mean. We were lucky to get Rampere at home on a bank holiday and we obviously had a huge crowd for that. We got her and babe boxing day, which would be another massive crowd. So we can't be picking, but it wouldn't be nice for it to have been a Saturday, of course. You've obviously seen that the challenges, I suppose, of being coming up this level and doing well when you're spending Monday a couple of weeks ago. And I guess that was a tough one to take from what I've seen you said elsewhere. Yeah, look, I haven't got a bad word to say about Bill, he's been fantastic for us. I was a little bit frustrated with the timing, and I do prefer players to move in the summer. I think it just gives everyone a chance to sort of get yourself salted for the season, but look, Rampere's got a club on the up. They're going very well and they've got resources that we just haven't got. And I know Bill was very torn about what to do. He certainly wasn't looking to leave or wasn't looking to go. He turned down some good options in the summer. But this off-fire, as he said to me, was just too good to turn down. So I was disappointed, as I've said to him, I believe in our club and I believe in the progress of our club. And I think he could have been a big part of that. We don't ever want to be seen as a club that just loses our best players. But on this occasion, we had to take you on the chin, obviously wish him good luck. We still all mates with him, and he's just telling me to be the massive part of what we've done. And we'll crack on and look for him. We'll try and prove him wrong. And I'm showing him he made the wrong decision moving on, but I don't blame him. And I'm sure Ramscale will get promoted this year. They should have got promoted last year, getting 96 points, whatever they got. I'm sure they'll get promoted this year. So I understand it, but yeah, it was a little frustrating. - And just finding the kids in a cup draw was made earlier this week. The result was last night, you must be looking forward to playing Dover. - Yes, and I don't know the last time when Dover and Dil played in a competitive game. I've got no idea it must have been a long, long time ago. Again, I think it's just another mark of our progress. Everybody knows that we watched over for a number of years. So it's a club that's very close to my heart. We've got a good relationship with them in terms of players and stuff like that. And I'm hoping it's a really good night for everyone involved. We've got their top of ramen prep. So they'll be massive favourites going into the game, but we'll look to go there, give a good account of ourselves. And I hope this is a real good evening for local football. I think Marlgate Round's getting the Kansas City Cup, saw a big crowd in one of the previous rounds. And I hope it's a real good night that showcases every thing that's good about football in the area. I think the more successful clubs are having an area, it's sometimes very stupid. The easier it is becoming to build up that positive rivalry. Players want to come and play for those clubs. You get good crowds. And I think both of us and Dil could do him well, can only help each other. A good value as always there was King E. You can sense his frustration that they've got six wins and six defeats from their games have scored 29 goals in 12 games have conceded 27. So it's been a very even start for Deal Town. And in their first season at this level, that's pretty good going, isn't it? Yeah, I think they'll be pleased. It's interesting that the stat he said, that all the top sides they haven't actually beaten, which is a little bit concerning for them. Next, well, two games after Saturday, they've got a good chance to change that. But yeah, I think they'll be absolutely delighted with the season has gone free scoring, of course. They have been. And I think they'll be really pleased with the start. It's quite six wins, no draws at this season. I'm sure he'd probably like a draw maybe at some point, maybe against a Margate on Tuesday, just to get that on the ball if they can't win a result. But yeah, I saw them against Margate and they probably were to deserve the point in that game. So yeah, I think clearly there, I am sorry, we're not going to trouble the relegation zone. They've beaten the sides in and around them. It's just the sides at the top of the table. But that will come on experience when these players get to know the levels as well. So yeah, I think he'll be absolutely delighted. I didn't think they thought they would be challenging at the top of the table in a division, which we think is very tough this year. But I think they're doing very, very well. And Kingi will be absolutely delighted with the start. But now, again, with just the lead to concentrate, I must not think they're still in the velocity cup, but they can look forward to. I think, you know, when they play some of the bigger sides, right, that's the chance. Can we get a game result against them to build confidence? - Well, if I tell you the teams they've beaten, Matt, I want you to come up with something that they've had a problem with. Okay? - Yeah. - Dancing, Broadway teeth, East Greenstead town, Eastbourne town, Merstham and Little Hanson town. What do all of those teams have in common, Matt? - They're not part of our beautiful county. They have not beaten the Kent side yet this season in the league. - All right. And it's a Kent dominated league. That is a bit of an insane cycle. - Exactly. You know, it's probably just one of those things. And I suppose, knock on the fact that actually our Kent sides are dominating the league and doing incredibly well. So that's one he'll be very keen to get over. And I suppose Saturday is a good opportunity. But as you said there, the difficulty is they've already beaten hard twice in cup competition. So now there'll be a little bit of expectation as well. You've got to beat them again in the league. This is the bread and butter where Tyve will be like, let's show them what we're really all about. So actually it's a tricky game on Saturday. - Yeah, I think it is. It was a high, you know, Nick Davis. I think he's slowly, surely trying to get, move them away a couple of good signings they made as well. Right, Alice Brown, wasn't it, in between the two? So yeah, they've got a good squad. Medi-elito, Alice Brown. I think they've got Fance Bola. They've sort of taken a few players from Ramsgate and got a few players on loan. I think, yeah, it'd be an interesting tie. I think they're slowly coming out at the other end. Hi. Again, you would expect them after beating two, but going in the right direction. So a tough game there. But again, I think, as he will say, that probably is, you've probably just said he's a team talk to him. We haven't beat the Kent side in the league. Let's do it today and show you what they are, one of the sides you can compete in this division. Yeah, and I suppose the thing is for Dealtown, their ambition isn't to win the league this season. It's to stay up first and foremost. And once you get to that level, then you can start looking further up. So do you know what? So far, they're on course. And I reckon, if they're looking at getting, probably doubling their points tally from here, they're probably not far off having enough points to stay up. So that tells you, actually, that they're in a pretty good shape, that they can afford a few slip-ups along the way. But it's just about the building blocks. And as he said there, he's got a lot of experienced players, but not a lot of them have played at this level that recently, if at all. And we know there's a difference between step four and step five. And it is difficult. And it's very interesting, where you said, it's nothing to do with the fitness of my players, but the fitness of the teams that we're playing this season compared to the fitness that seemed to have played last season is a massive difference. So I think that's a very, very interesting way to look at it. And I've never really noticed that. I suppose the frustration for King is, they are in these games for so long and they've had opportunities that just slipped away at the last minute against some phenomenal sides, really. Well, going back to yesterday, I think they may be a little concerned, three and a half time coming back three, two, or 20 minutes to go, but they managed to hold on and get another result. So yeah, he has got, we know how dominant they've been over there at the scaffold last season, kept a majority of that squad, just added it to a little bit. But it would be interesting to see, yeah, I think he'll be pleased with that. And these players, young squad, they're only going to grow with experience at this division as well. And lots of Monday to Ramsgate. You can't compete with that if they're going to do, you know, offering more money. And he's a good player at that level, but I'm sure that deal will have other people coming through, hanging with his eye out just to improve the squad. But yeah, all in all, a good start to the season. I think he'll be disappointed in the cup. So it's another, another statement. But yeah, then, and I guess he said, playing Margate in a cup game, in a league game at home, a deal on Tuesday, will be front of a big crowd. Not many people have said that, probably a decade ago. - Well, I think even what five years ago people would have said, dealing with Margate, that seems an unlikely fixture there. And of course, the other game, which we did mention at the very end there, the Kent Senior Cup, I think it's the quarter final stage, Matt. What a great tie that is for your local area, Dover against deal. - Yeah, I've seen plenty of friendlies between the two, but since I've been supporting Dover, which is a long time, I'm not aware that Dover have ever played deal in a competitive fixture. So I don't know when the game will be, probably in the new year. Again, if the Dover market is right with a bit of help from deal, hopefully, that they can, you know, I know there's Ramsgate Margate, as he said in there, got 1,800 people, but you might be able to get, you know, at least, you know, near 1,000 people watching that game if you market them right. And again, it'll be a massive game for deal. And a bit of a banana skin for Dover, if they're treating the competition seriously. - And a massive moment for King as well, 'cause we know he's a Dover fan, a Dover lad. So, you know, for him to go and manage at Crabball will be a really proud moment for him in a competitive match. - Oh, yeah, absolutely. I think he'll be absolutely over the moon. I remember one time when he, I think in a reserve game, he tried to, he nearly got attacked by a reserve team, goalkeeper when he was guiding him as a Dover. That might not be true, but I'm sure that definitely was. It was in that he's a character, King, and again, he's a Dover fan, but a proud moment coming back, you know, managing it in the dugout at his club as well. So, yeah, he just, but he's again doing a good job and again, very grounded as well. So, and again, this season is all about getting to know this level. And maybe this time next year, they'll be in and around the playoffs and then anything can happen from there. - Yeah, I'll swear in that division on Saturday, you're the town people will achieve one-nil. It was a four-nil win for Sheppie United against her by her high-town beat lancing, three-nil. Margate beat Eastbourne's town, four-nil. A lots of nills here. Merston beat Phoenix sports, five-nil. It was Ramsgate, two, Burgess Hill, two. The Rams coming back to get a point there. At seven-oh-three-nil winners at Stenning Town. And then on Tuesday night, Stenning Town were involved again. I think, Matt, they turned up with the wrong kit at Stenning Town. I mean, the game had to be delayed, or a city ball found their change kit. It didn't really affect them too much. A city ball man out, five-nil winners in that one. Ramsgate also hit five in their five-one victory over 7-0's town. At the top of the table, we will just run through it very quickly because we have mentioned some of the teams at the top of Beckham, 35 points and 15 games. Followed by Ramsgate with 28 from 10. A city ball, we've got 26 from 11, Sheppie. We've got 25 from 11. Margate also got 25 from there, 12. That's the top five. So looking pretty good. If you have a Kentis persuasion, it's safe to say. Do you think those are the five, John? Possibly, I wouldn't. Yeah. Yeah, I think there's some other teams that will be looking down there thinking we've got a chance. They've got games in hand, maybe a Hearn Bayes, you're Ashford, but it's quite a long way to go. Actually, you want some Burgess Hill fancied as well. Got the first team to stop Ramsgate as well. So that'll be an interesting one. But for a Cape perspective, it's open in quarter of the season. It's been really good for our sides in this situation. What has we expected? Absolutely. On Saturday, Hearn Bayes, Charlotte, IFC, Croydon, Margate, also on the road to Broadbridge, Heath. Ashford, go to Burgess Hill, as you've already heard. It's Deal Town against Hyde Town. If Town, go to East Grintard Town. Ramsgate are just down the road from me at Eastbourne Town. It's Phoenix, sports against Stenning Town community. Seven Oaks Town take on Little Hampton. Sheppie United at home to Beckonham, as you've already heard, and it's sitting on against three bridges. And then on Bonfire Night on Tuesday night, Ashford at home to Ramsgate, Deal Against Margate, Irith Against Sheppie, Hearn Bayes against Hyde, Phoenix, sports against sitting on. And that is it for your Kent size. Plenty of big dabbies in that division, but I get a feeling we'll be talking about a slightly bigger one later on. Again, we're saying about a picture. Why have they done this on Bonfire Night? I didn't know this. It's absolutely, absolutely crazy. Let's talk about the FA Trophy very quickly then, or Matt won't want to talk about it for too long. But it didn't go very well for your boys beating a game by Sittingmore, while you weren't there to enjoy it on Saturday. Matt Elsewhere, focusing it to on three-nil at Barton Robis. Chatham also threw, as they beat Bowles and Pitzy, one-nil. Cray Valley went out in a thriller, losing four-three at Brentwood Town. Just mentioned Dover-Nills, Sittingmore, two was the final score, and it was finished two-two between Lewis and Ashford United. Lewis winning that one, eight-seven on penalties. And Lewis were training that one, two-nil. So Ashford will be disappointed that they weren't able to move on. The draw for the second round, which is being played on the 16th of November. Folks will be at home to Hanwell. Thomas Angels go to Gospelsboro. Maidstone go to Horsham. Chatham Town will also be on the road. They go to Slough. They played in the FA Cup, as well, didn't they? Welling at home to Havant and Walter Louisville and Sittingmore and go to Winchester. You didn't want to go to Winchester anyway, did you, Matt? I'd like to go to Wembley one day, though. But yeah, I'd like to sit on board again. They've went down to 10. Miss Super Mitch Walker in goals, injured. But I'm led to believe he's going to be OK, which is good. But sitting on, again, nothing but praise for the job that Ryan Maxwell's doing there. Did a good, really good job. They're on a good result for them. Winchester's a bit of a pig tie from what they, you know, ones they could have got. But, you know, I fancy anything that Ryan Maxwell, I think, they're in such a good side and did a job on Dover. Congratulations to him. Yes, absolutely. One game in the league on Saturday in the Ismani Premier Division and a much needed second win of the season. First, since the opening day for Cray Wanderers, as they won 1-0 at Chessant, takes them off the bottom of the table, as well, above Bogner Regis. And hopefully, they'll be using that as a category. It's very simple with this thing. So we've looked at it now, doom and gloom for Cray last week. Now, there are only four points off 13th. So that's, you know, it's amazing what one win can do for you to do that. This weekend, this is where this is done off. This Saturday is the reverse of the opening day of the season. I don't know why we've got to this stage whereby these games are being played already. So on Saturday, folks can go to Castleton. It's Chathamy and it's Lewis. Cray Wanderers at home to hashtag United. Dartford against Cray Valley. Potter's bar will be hoping to fare better in the other game on Saturday than they did on the opening day when they lost 8-0 to Dave Raphletic. So, you know, I guess Potter's bar will probably be up for that one on Saturday, Matt. Yeah, Potter's bar has done so well. I think they haven't seen that many goals since then, haven't they? He's been waiting the first game. So, yeah, it's a banana skin for Dover. But again, if Dover can get a result against them, do the double over, clearly, a decent Potter's bar team. That will be good, yes. Again, you know, obviously, game 12. How many teams in this division? 22, is it? 22. So, there's, you know, you play inside twice in the opening 12 games of the season, or 13, because the game won't choose, you know, right? It's the second game of the season of the first. So, it doesn't make any... Why can't they just do it? You play everybody once and you reverse the fixtures. Where's the fun in that? What we wouldn't be out with. Look at all the content we'd lose for this show. If we couldn't have a go at this many fixtures. I mean, it's a recurring thing. Yeah. So, David would have played, basically, near enough, haven't played half the sides, but they've all played Folkestone and Potter's bar by Bonfire Knight. Unbelievable. Yeah, those games on Tuesday night, as we've already heard, are the second games of the season reversed already. Chatham go to Billericki. It's the Cray Derby, Mark II, Cray Valley against Cray Wanderers, Dartford are at Potter's bar. And it's the big one at Cheriton Road, focusing in victory against Dave Rutherford. I'm assuming that you'll be putting on your hard hat and heading over there. I am going to the game, yep. So, I missed the game on the first one, so... Should be a good one. I think the exception is expecting a big crowd. I've sold a lot of tickets already, so... Dave will be looking for some revenge from the first game. Hopefully, there's not going to be any trouble. But it should be, you know... With fireworks going off in the distance and a night game at Cheriton Road, should be a cracking atmosphere. Going back, John, Dartford against Cray Valley. Massive game as well, on Saturday. Probably for Dartford, they need to get a result, I think, there. Just put down a marker. Yeah, absolutely. Oh, you nearly bloody missed this game between folks and Dave, because all it is, well, you're just never in the country. That's the problem. Exactly, yeah. Well, again, if somebody had told me at the start of the season, you'll be playing Focus in the Victor A, the second game of the season, and the reverse of Buddy Bonfire, right? And I said, "Well, have you been smoking?" So it's been primarily fixture writers and things, can really hopefully, if Dover in this division next season, which could well happen, and Focus in the same division, hopefully they can sort this out and have it a little bit better. But it should be a cracking atmosphere next weekend. Next weekend. We'll discuss that next week, I'm sure. Absolutely. Let's move into the Skefel. Then the Skefel Premier Division, where, on Saturday, Corinthian beats Snobden Town 4-1, with a hat-trick from Centre Half, Tom Fitzgerald in that game. It was Irith and Bellbally 3-beasted, Neil Faubisham 3, Stan Sveld 1, Fisher 1, Susson Athletic, Neil, Cleed Beat Hollins and Blair by 4-Golson, and one-one draw between Holmesdale and Lottfield and Newheith. Rustall, freshman, there's 6-6 draw, 1-4-3 at Lordsworth, as lid 4, Punjabi United 1, Whitsaw were two no winners at Tomridge Wales at British BCD 4, Kennington 2, and there was a solitary game on Tuesday night and having one with a hat-trick on Saturday. It was the exact reverse for Corinthian, who led 2-0, just after half-time in their game at Lottfield and Newheith, but Tyler Rives scored three goals in the second half, including a free kick and a penalty to give Lottfield a 3-2 win. You'll probably won't be surprised to hear, Matt, that the manager of Corinthian was not very happy yesterday evening. I have to say, football's got her own to bite you on the bum. When they won, were they 2-1 down and 1-3-2? Two in late goals, one time, was it 2-1? Football again, got a funny way of getting that high when you did it, then that's only a way, the other way. Disappointing, good result for Tyler Rives and Tyler Rives with a hat-trick. So, I know we're down to 10. Men like for the new high as well. I think one of the frustrations, shall we say, the manager of the away team was that it didn't really look like it was 10 against 11, and I think he was there. A frustrated presence, shall we say, on Tuesday evening. It was a big game, really, as well, because that knocked them out of the playoffs as well, isn't it, as well? So, looking at that, I'm sure they'll bounce back, but, yeah, as he said, what I saw was against the Ashford game, he said, "Maybe it's a season of consolidation for them." Absolutely. Well, they go to Whitstone all this weekend. One of a virtually full programme of fixtures in that division, based against Fisher, Holland's a Blair against Tombridge Wells, it's Kennington against Holmesdale, a lot for the new high against Irith and Bellwoody, Lidtown against Gleib, Rostell against VCD, Stan Sveld against Lordswood, and Sutton Athletic against Snodland of the other games in there. And we should just really talk about it very quickly. I've got two more things to acquire in this game for permission. First of all, Lordswood. Great start to the season, great FA Cup one, but the wheels have kind of fallen off, haven't they? And lost in the vase after a 4-4 draw, one Saturday, and then on this Saturday they lose 4-3 at home to Rostow. And, you know, we had high hopes for Lordswood this season, and it's just not working, is it? Yeah, Nikki Southwell will be really disappointed as well. I can see the two in the last two minutes to lose that game as well. And Jake Embry sent off in that game. They've got a good, you know, really good sort of squad there. It just hasn't worked out, can see a lot of goals in Nikki Southwell. You know, I think he'd be really disappointed how it's gone this season, particularly, you know, in that FA losing to Rochester in the vase was a bitter blow. But, you know, I think he needs to get back on the track. Stan'sfield always, it's a big game for them. I think they need to, Nikki Southwell will know, let's get back on the horse and maybe try and keep a clean sheet and try and win some matches. But, yeah, not going as too well for them, as we expect them to be one of the sides in and around the playoff positions. Yeah, and I did put a bit in last week on Wednesday evening about the bonkers game of football that happened at Stan'sfield on Wednesday night, but we should give it a little bit more airtime. Have you ever heard anything like it, Matt Stan'sfield 6-Rostle 6? Absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing. When you text me when I was on holiday, I thought, "Blimey!" Again, the scenes must have been when Rostle, who were full one down at half time, thought they'd got a winner to make it 6-5. Again, amazing, but they'd fair play the Stan'sfield four minutes later, in the 97th minute, get an equaliser, absolutely unbelievable. I don't know what the crowd was, but you will never see a better game than that, probably. Absolutely, and that really tells you what the schedule's all about, fair play to Stan'sfield. So, first play to Rostle, scoring 10 goals in two games, and they've only come away with four points. So, fair play to them, they never give up, maybe their fitness is good, having scored two late winners in those games as well. So, fair play to also, John, but I say, didn't see Lid four, Punjab one, did we? No, well, I've been looking to move and improve. Obviously, got stuff I'm playing in now. But, yeah, a good result for them against Punjab side. They've been very, very hard to beat so far this season. Let's move into the schedule first division now. You know, let's have another cracker, shall we? On Saturday, Rostle, 1993, Canterbury City 4. Again, Rostle had one nil, picked back. They went 2-1 up, picked back, went 3-2 ahead in a 90-second minute. Canterbury City thought, "No, we're not having any of that. Leo Dodd's 95 minutes." And so, I'm in Commander in the 98th minute, 148 people to see that one, a big game at the top of the Skefal first division, and another three-level. And, Rostle, United, a 4-4 draw, followed by a 3-4, David? Goals, goals, goals, the Skefal, fantastic for Canterbury. Maybe clearly, clubs that really shouldn't be at this level were clearly getting it right, showed a great bit of character, currently in second place. Yeah, I think it sounded like absolute cracker, so great, great game, great game. But that's what the Skefal's all about, plenty of goals, all over the Skefal to be fair, wasn't it? Yeah, absolutely. Well, we will go through the rest of the results. Now, it was FCM, said two caps in Community 2. Barbara's dropped for some massive 1-0 win for them against the leaders for Rostle Park. It was Hall's Athletic 1, Brydon Ropes 2, Greenway's 3-2 winners at Radium VP, Sheppy Sportsbeak's Wellington by 3 goals to 1, Croydon 3-1 winners at Sol Tower Hamlins, Stapeless Monocs 1, Sporting Club Thamesmed 1, and 2-Tingbeck 3, Lewis Schumbara 4 in another thriller in that division in the fixtures. In that division on Saturday, a Brydon Ropes against West United can to be City, home to Sol Tower Hamlins, Croydon against Forest Hill Park, Fabrian Strike Wars against Stapeless Monocs, It's Greenway's against Claps and Community, Hall's Athletic against Brydon VP, Lewis Schumbara take on Wellington with Sporting Club Thamesmed 2 against FCM, instead of 2-Tingbeck against Sheppy Sports. And amazingly, Matt, we're talking about all the fixtures that there are higher up the pyramid next week. There's hardly any games at Step 5 and 6. In fact, there's no league games at all. There's a couple of Challenge Cup second round games in the Skefal on Wednesday 9. But a virtual free midweek for our teams there, which is make the most of it, because you're probably not going to be having too many more Tuesday nights on the training pitch over the coming months. Yeah, I suppose I've got to fit in the cup game. It's like, OK, but it makes sense not to have games in the middle of November, but it's going to be freezing cold and on probably a day that a lot of people won't go to football, because they've got other things to do on fireworks tonight. So, big up the Skefal, fixture man, Matt Panting. Absolutely always a popular man. He does a very good job of those fixtures. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's sensible. Yes, and that is why he's never gone higher than the Skefal to do the fixtures, because he's far too bloody sensible. Playing games when they should be played and not having games repeated so early in the season, we don't want any of that nonsense. And it's really spokesman. Mad of the week, Matt Panting. And that just seems to be the National League and they're going to organise the fixtures as well, where it looked like more doom and gloom for every team of artists. They trail two-nil to two-second half goals against Will Stone, the team just above them in the table, not directly above them because they did win last midweek. But late, late drama, an 86-minute from Aaron Cosgrave and then the 91st-minute Kwame Thomas, nicked in to get absolutely an eye to the point. It wasn't the win that they probably so desperately wanted, but I bet coming off the pitch after that felt like a win, didn't it? Yeah, yeah, I didn't see that they two-nil down when I looked at the thing, that probably has given them a bit of a boost, but two steps forward, one step back, for absolutely only one win in eight from the new manager, probably could do with a week off now. Again, it was a bit concerning. They are, well, eight points, I'm thinking the goal difference as well, nine points really from getting out of the relegation zone. But a couple of wins on the spin and it could all change. So they haven't really been taken apart by any other teams, or some of the sides above are still sort of in catching distance inside that relegation zone. So they don't know what sort of fixtures they've got coming up, absolutely, but they need to start winning some matches. Have a look at their fixtures coming up, Tamworth away, Tamworth had a good start to the season, then Soliho again, so then filed. So, yeah, they've got some big games, absolutely. Hopefully, in these two weeks, I've read some of the squad getting rid of some of the players as well. Interesting to see what they do from here. But, yeah, we're still concerned. Besides, after 16 games, 30 games to go, can you see sides getting out of this hole? Dovar will probably in a position like this when Hessen Tyler came in and he survived that season. But that was, you know, half a new team came in. So, if I actually might have to do that to get them out of this hole, they're in. Yeah, it's going to be difficult for everybody to deny to it. As you say, they're going to have to use these two weeks that they've got now without a game, you know, really well, make sure that when they go to Tamworth, a week on Saturday, they are ready to go and really hit the ground running again. So, we shall see how that pans out. Well, it's been lovely to have you back, mate. You say you've got no more of this plan now? Not this year. Well, next year, no, nothing planned. Well, I've got to be drilling for a factor in April. But that's, but nothing here, nothing here. Now, that's it, me now. I'm fully focused on the Ken Nolley podcast now, John. Excellent. That's what I like to hear. I guess you've not been watching too much. So, what books did you read on holiday? I read Slow Horses. The next one, the TV show will be based on, which is very good. And I also reread "Fever Pitch". No, nice. So, I need to watch the film because... I don't think the film really does not really about... He talks about football in a different ways than... I have seen the film years ago, but I don't think it's really based... It's not very loosely on the book, but... Yeah, but it's a bit of a date now and you think it's 30 years old, 32, 33 years old, that book, so... But if you know I read it, it's quite interesting about some of his views about football and sport. And I'm surprised, isn't that a follow-up as well? I know he's a bigger fish to fry when he knows, because of all things like that. Nick Hornby, but... Yeah, very enjoyable work. I thought I'd had it on my shelf for a while. I thought I'd better read it again and I did enjoy it on holiday. I have seen the film a long time ago, but there is a scene... I don't think you can find it anywhere. There is a scene in it where there, with some school footballers in the background, just sort of extra sort of knocking about, and fun fact, they were from my school. When you did it? No, I wasn't in the team, so I didn't get a look at it. But yeah, there were people from my school in the background on theatre picture. No, I'll have to. Well, I don't know if it is on any streaming services. So, part of that part, I did catch up with Bake Off, so John, have you caught up with Bake Off? I am up to date with the annoying people, yes, and I'm still finding them quite annoying. There is, especially the incredibly talented young lady who talks like this. Exactly, but Sarah says exactly the same. She can't stand her voice. It's really grating on me, right? But one of them, he came, spoiler alert, probably the only character in there is now God. Yeah, I'll tell you another one, actually. Is it Jill, the northern woman? Yeah, like her. I really wish she'd let us in on the joke, because she's laughing at a lot of things that aren't funny. Yeah, yeah. And I just wish she'd tell us what, I just wish she'd share with the group. But again, last night... Well, bye week back, bring back eyes. Nothing again, next week, what was it next week? I thought, oh, it's not even nothing exciting next week, but... So, apart from that, I need to catch up on, I think, Shrinking is back on Apple TV, which I'd like, which I think the first two. So, I need to catch up on that. First question, actually, having watched, having read the Slow Horses books, does that not take some of the drama away from watching the TV programme? Because I watched the TV programme without having made the books, and I've got no idea what's going to happen. Is it a different experience for you? No, again, somebody I know has read the books, read the last book, which the TV series was on, and she said it's completely different than to the book, and they took loads of stuff out. So, one part of me thinks, when this comes on, I'll be able to say, "Ah, that happens differently, and I'm going to read the next few books." So, it's been, I think, another two series are coming, aren't they? So, I'm going to read the next one as well, when I can get it. But, no, I enjoy it so much that I thought I'd read the book, and it's good to read a book rather than read by phone. Yeah, we've still got one more to watch of Slow Horses. We almost got there, and it was decided that it probably isn't the wisest thing to watch just before bed. No, it's a bit of a full-on, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. But, and also Bruce Springsteen's documentary about his talk, which I went to, is also on one of the Disney. So, I've got to watch that as well, but I'll have to wait that till the wife goes out. So, but, but apart from that, the night's drawing in, depression now. So, it's time to cuddle on the sofa and watch TV more, more so other programs. I've started watching Bear again, the third series of Bear, so, there you go. I've just got to say as well, I've been out to a small retail park, not too far from me today, and a clothing store. In fact, you know, I'm going to name them. Next, I've got Christmas trees up in their window. No. They have, they have got Christmas trees up in their window, and it is the 30th of October. What are you doing? People, I'm going on the basis that really, after Banffi and I, it is basically Christmas now. Everything I'll tell you will be about that, so. Which is a bit of a go-soon come quick though, unfortunately. I think it was last year. I was watching just some rubbish on the telly on the 1st of November in the morning. And it came up on the screen. Festive entertainment, proudly sponsored. And I'm like, no, no, no, this is not festive entertainment, it's November the 1st. So, if you could piece, wind that in. It's too, I mean, I'm seeing stuff about Christmas everywhere. It's just too early, it's rubbish. I don't like it. Why do people want to wish their lives away and get ready for Christmas now? Wait, worry about it. I'm a money spinner, John, that's what it is. It's all about money. Not about the big flat man anymore. No, no. Wait, whoa, I can enjoy Christmas as much as the next man. Hey, I'm here all week. Actually, I'm not because I'm going to wrap up this week's podcast right now. You can find us on social media or on X. We are at Kent NL Podcast. You can find us on Facebook. Search for the group Kent Non-League Football Chat. We're also there if you search for Kent Non-League Podcast. Also on threads and Instagram. That's Kent Non-League Podcast. I'm at John Pips81, Max is at Matthew_Jarrard. As always, we love to hear from all of our listeners. And thank you everybody for listening. Thanks all of our guests. For their time today, for helping us put this show together, I really, really appreciate it. Thanks again to Trevor for his help last week. A really good show, that one, and really enjoyed it. But Matt, it's been lovely to have you back. Are you glad to be here and home? Yeah, I am glad it's starting now. I'm very excited. Looking forward to my trip to Birmingham. Let's hope for a couple of our sides. Particularly time with James. Lovely to see him in the second round of the FA Cup. But, business season starts now. As we get the reverse-fictionist, John, you feel like the season's coming to a close. It's not, we've got a long way to go. Yeah, looking forward to it. Yeah, I'll be back here and I should be here for the long run for the next few months. Absolutely brilliant, that's what we like here. Well, thank you everyone who we've listened to this week's show. Hope God's okay there on Matt. And we will speak to you all next week on the Kent NL Podcast. I'm off to put my trunks back in the drawer for another year.

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