Reserves

Unlike 1st team football, the Reserve team is not wholly results-orientated as it also acts as a player maintenance and development tool, whether it is for 1^st team squad players maintaining match fitness or returning from injury, or for younger players gaining senior experience and improving their game.

This means that the team can change slightly from game-to-game, however it is important to keep a good balance between senior players and those still playing in the final years of youth football, to ensure that developing players meet their full potential and are capable of stepping up to the higher level of 1st team football if the opportunity presents itself.

With the advance of the Club up the football pyramid, the gap between local and youth players and the level of skill that the 1^st team needs has increased, and so the role of the Reserves has shifted even further towards bridging that gap. To do this the Reserve team training complements that of the 1st team, as well as having joint sessions with the 1st team and the U18s/U16s.

For 2011/12 the team will again compete in the Kent Football League and Kent League Floodlight Trophy, and the Kent FA Intermediate Cup, however these matches will be supplemented by a programme of midweek ‘friendly’ matches against academy sides and reserve teams from Football Conference and League clubs to ensure the team has sufficient games at an appropriate standard.

The Reserves will also have the benefit of two very experienced coaches to ensure that players continue to develop to their full potential. Phil Fennell, a well know local youth coach and experienced manager at this level, takes over the management of the team with the assistance of Malcolm Potter while Dennis Leyser, previously with Chipstead and Charlton’s community team, will be responsible for the coaching.