BILLERICAY'S MANAGEMENT HAVE TURNED THIS INTO OUR CUP FINAL!
By Trevor Mulligan
Saturday 15 August 2009

Wands Chairman, Gary Hillman has told me that everyone at the Club is fuming over Billericay's refusal to play on a Sunday.

"I feel that they have behaved disgracefully, made a mockery of The Ryman League and are going totally against the spirit of non-league football," he said.

"I feel sorry for Bruce Badcock (Ryman league fixtures secretary). He does a great job and has worked so hard to get this fixture sorted. He even managed to agree with Waltham Abbey to switch their game with Billericay Town to a Wednesday which, at first, they said they would be happy with, but then  changed their minds."

Gary continued, "I really can't see what Billericay are talking about; first they said  they wanted their players to have one non-working day off followed by two working days (Saturday to Wednesday) and now they have agreed to play on the Friday - just two working days after they play Hendon away on the Tuesday!!"

Rather bemused, he added, "We have just witnessed International matches on a Wednesday, with players having to travel back from all over the world in order to play on Saturday, so Billericay's argument doesn't stack up  either!"

Cray Wanderers have a ground share agreement with Bromley FC that is based on bar takings, so have to pay the landlords compensation when 'home' games are forcibly changed away from Hayes Lane.

"Although I would like to send our sincere thanks to our friends at Dartford FC for letting us play there, in real terms it's going to cost us thousands of pounds to switch the game, causing our Supporters a load of hassle. This has totally and unnecessarily wound up everyone at our Club," Gary added.

"I have always said that I think Jenko (Ian Jenkins) is the 'Alex Ferguson of Non League' for what he's achieved and the loyalty he has shown to the Club, and I think that Billericay's manager must be the 'Rafa Benitez' as he just hasn't thought it through and has now put massive pressure on himself and his players to not only beat us but also to win at Hendon on the Tuesday and Watham Abbey on Tuesday after," Gary pointed out.

"If you'd have said at the beginning of the season that Billericay at home at the end of August would have been our biggest game of the season, I would have laughed at you, but it really has come to that, as we have made extra arrangements to have them watched, tactics, extra training etc.," Gary said, obviously extremely disappointed with the Essex-based club.

He concluded, "We are currently talking to some of our players' employees so that they can have the Friday off work to prepare for the game. So, while Billericay's players are struggling to get through the Dartford Tunnel on a busy Friday night, with their WAGS having a moan at them for not going out for a meal that night etc., our players will be relaxing and preparing for the game of the season."

Cray Wanderers -v- Billericay Town
Princes Park , Dartford on Friday 21 August 2009