Steve McKimm: My Cray Valley PM title winning squad will get a chance in the Isthmian League Premier Division

EXCLUSIVE
BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Steve McKimm has only made one signing this summer as he wants to give his Cray Valley players a chance to show they can perform at Isthmian League Premier Division level.

Ex-Crystal Palace youngster Andre Coker is the only new face brought in and they have lost loss top scorer Kyrell Lisbie to National League side Braintree.

Cray Valley lost just once in their 38-game league season and finished six points clear of Ramsgate to take the only automatic promotion spot in the Isthmian League South East Division.

“We have kept faith with the players we signed on last year,” McKimm, right, told the South London Press. “We said we would give them an opportunity and we’re giving them that. They deserve it. What they did last year was outstanding. I don’t think people really put a mark on how good it was.

“Two points dropped away from home all season and one defeat all season. The amount of goals we scored and the FA Cup run we had, which had a lot of replays. When you reflect on it, it’s remarkable. It will take someone extraordinary to do that again.

“They now have to step up and be counted.

“Andre has come in – he has experience at this level. He’s the only player we have brought in – that’s all we’re looking to do at the moment. We have a squad of 19 and three players will be unhappy each week.

“How long that lasts? I don’t know. Last year it lasted for quite a while because they knew they would get a chance and we were doing well.

“But when you’re not doing well, do players stick about? That’s the test. We will endeavour to keep them, but it’s ultimately their choice.”

Cray Valley will face Dulwich Hamlet, Dartford, Billericay and Dover.

“We’re little old Cray Valley that people will take liberties with,” said taxi driver McKimm. “I know that. People will think that we’re easy targets to go down.

“We will try and show them different. We were always there and thereabouts for the league.

“Everybody talked about Ramsgate – nobody spoke about us until we went on a good run.

“We got 40 points from 42 at the back end of the season.

“All we have to do is keep playing our game and let everybody speculate if we’re good enough, or if our ground is nice enough, or if we’re going to get relegated.

“We will play our game.”

Lisbie, the son of former Charlton favourite Kevin, netted 29 times in 44 outings last season.

McKimm confirmed to our paper that Cray Valley have a sell-on clause included in Lisbie’s deal.

“It was brilliant for us as a club,” added McKimm. “It shows that with young players, we don’t stand in their way.

“Kyrell was under contract and we sorted out a deal for the future.

“What we didn’t want to do was ask for loads of money or have a stumbling block for these youngsters who have signed a deal with us.

“It’s a win-win for both parties.

“If he goes and does what we think he can do, the club will be reimbursed. If he doesn’t, he still has the opportunity where we haven’t stood in his way.

“A lot of clubs stand in young players’ way due to finances or down to darn right being not nice and not letting them get on with their careers.

“We have an agreement with Braintree where if there is a sell on, the club get something for it which isn’t a king’s ransom, but it’s something.”

Cray kick-off their campaign tomorrow at home to Dartford, who were relegated from National League South last season.

“I’m excited for the club more than anything,” said McKimm.

“I class Dartford as the biggest club in the league. Dulwich have a bigger fanbase but for what Dartford have done, won and achieved, they are the biggest club in the league.

“To come to us for the first game of the season is brilliant for our football club.

“Hopefully we can get a good few numbers there to help support our club.”