Bostik Supporters Preview 17/18: Thamesmead Town

For the next in our supporters season previews, we head to Thamesmead (well, Dartford now), and get the lowdown from Steve Panther.

We asked a supporter from each of our member clubs to answer the same series of questions as part of our preview of the new season. We also asked them to predict how their particular division would finish, from one to 24- and their answers will be revealed in a collection of Supporters Prediction Tables to be released the day before the big kick off.

Here are the answers of Steve Panther, representing Thamesmead Town

1. What was your favourite moment of last season?

Quite a few actually! The final whistle at Thurrock on Tuesday August 16th after our win and dreaming of the play offs ( this elation lasted until Saturday the 27th with a 2 0 defeat at Brentwood), our best ever FA cup run which included some much welcome exposure following our freak goal at Guernsey, jumping around like a teenager after Tom O’Connor’s lovely extra time goal against Hanwell in our second round qualifying replay, and fantastic away wins at VCD, Aveley, play-off chasing Phoenix and the 5-1 drubbing of Tilbury.

2. And what was the worst moment?

The abandoned pre season friendly with Clacton which was much publicised at the time. Losing some good players from a squad which I felt would be in with a real chance of a promotion push, this included a terrible injury to our goalkeeper Andy Walker which took a while to recover from. Going out of the FA cup at Merstham. Losing 3 0 at home to Hornchurch when I felt we were doomed to relegation.

And obviously leaving Bayliss avenue in Thamesmead to ground share with Dartford this season for the next 5 years.

3. How will you do this season?

If I am honest I don’t have high hopes of a play off push, but you never know at this level. Things can change week upon week if we can keep our best players and add a few we can dream.

We have lost our player of the season Jay Porter, who has been magnificent for the Mead and really deserves a chance to play at a higher level. I like what I’ve seen of our new left back, Jake Macintyre but he has big boots to fill. Bode Anidugbe continues to impress and I hope he can have another good season and help lift the weight with some goals; we really need a 25 goal striker but so does everyone else!

Tom O’Connor is a player I have all the time in the world for. He has been unlucky with injuries but he has everything. and if he has a big season who knows? Play offs here we come, ha ha!

4. Which matches are you most looking forward to- and why?

Guernsey -flying to a match!
Hastings away for pre-match crazy golf and fish and chips.
Phoenix and VCD always big games as our local rivals.
Sittingbourne- if we win might make a night of it at the dog track !
Faversham Town- do they still have the Shepherd Neame brewery tour there? (yes, but you have to book- Ian).
Ramsgate- nice beach there, and fish and chips.
In fact, now we are in the South division after moving over from the North no driving through the pipe-the Dartford tunnel means every match has a positive.

5. What is your favourite away ground?

Thurrock and Witham Town.

6. Who do you consider your biggest rivals- and why?

I suppose VCD, due to the fact they have our previous long serving manager and Honorary Vice President- and the close proximity. Phoenix is also a big one we would hate to lose.

7. What advice would you give to an away supporter visiting you for the first time?

As we are in a new home it is going to be learning curve for everyone, so if they come across anything please share.

8. Who is your favourite player (for your club) of all time- and why?

Well I could mention some obscure player from the eighties when we had no ground! When I was growing up we had some unbelievable players- how none of them ever made it I don’t know. But I decided to ask someone much better informed than me, Peter Tierney- a servant of the club for 45 years and an honorary vice president- and he tells me it would be Dean Bowey.

9. Finally, predict who will fill the top five positions at the end of the forthcoming season:

Corinthian Casuals, Cray Wanderers, Greenwich Borough, Lewes, Phoenix Sports.

Where next?

Bostik Supporters Preview 17/18: Burgess Hill Town On this occasion our supporters preview takes us to the land of Green Elephants, and our prediction master is Dan Gander.
Get with the programme Award winning editors from Enfield Town, Thamesmead Town and Corinthian-Casuals tell us the darkest secrets of the programme makers art, and discuss the future of the format.

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