Tucked away in Barnehurst, non-league soccer membership Phoenix Sports activities FC is marking its ninetieth anniversary this yr. However with the membership engulfed in a battle towards relegation, it’s a little early for anybody to be celebrating.
Competing within the Isthmian South East League, the eighth tier of English soccer, Phoenix have a protracted historical past in non-league soccer. Nonetheless, for a lot of this season, they’ve been combating to remain afloat. Final weekend, for the primary time since August, the membership climbed out of the relegation zone, a major milestone in what has been a tough marketing campaign.
A disastrous begin noticed Phoenix backside of the league after 12 video games, incomes only one level from a potential 36. However a mid-season takeover introduced new administration, contemporary funding, and an overhauled squad, sparking hope of survival.
Now, with simply eight video games remaining, Phoenix have discovered kind on the excellent time. They’ve collected 10 factors from the final 15 accessible, together with essential wins over Erith City and Herne Bay, to present themselves an actual shot at avoiding the drop.
This Saturday’s residence conflict towards Ashford United holds additional significance because it coincides with Nationwide Non-League Day. With no Premier League or Championship fixtures scheduled, Phoenix are hoping for a bumper crowd in one other essential fixture of their battle to keep away from the drop.
One key determine within the membership’s revival is Bradley Pritchard, a former Charlton Athletic midfielder who performed over 100 video games for the Addicks and was a part of their promotion-winning squad to the Championship in 2012. Now the membership’s first-team coach in addition to a mainstay within the Phoenix midfield, Pritchard is set to assist information the membership to security.
“After we arrived, I feel realistically, to be in with an opportunity of survival at this stage of the season is all that we might actually have hoped for,” stated Pritchard.
“Rebuilding a squad mid-season is all the time a problem, however we’ve acquired a group now that’s combating collectively. Now that we’re right here we’re right here and it’s in our personal fingers I feel will probably be a unique stress however one the entire membership must relish.
“We’d like a lot of assist in all of our residence fixtures, beginning towards Ashford on Saturday, as a result of once we’ve had that we’ve acquired some nice outcomes.”
Pritchard, who performed towards the likes of Kieran Trippier, Jermaine Jenas and Riyad Mahrez in a Charlton shirt, is now having fun with passing on his information on the coaching pitch to the younger Phoenix squad.
“Darren Anslow, our supervisor, has put collectively a very good group, and it’s been nice to work with them,” added Pritchard. “There have been challenges, and there shall be extra, but when we are able to keep up, this membership can actually push on.”
The membership’s new chairman, Tony Crowder, an area businessman who has been a passionate follower of non-league soccer has helped oversee the membership’s resurgence and is hoping for a robust finish to the season:
“It’s been a curler coaster that’s for positive,” Crowder stated. “Darren and his administration group deserve numerous credit score for constructing a squad that has wrestled it again into our fingers.”
“It’s not been simple and no matter occurs now it’s going to be a nervy finish to the season so native assist at our residence video games shall be actually essential.
“It’s a particular membership with an amazing environment and wonderful group really feel. So in case you’d usually be heading to Crystal Palace, Millwall or Charlton on Saturday, your assist could be so welcome, and we’d like to have you ever with us at Phoenix.”
Because the season enters its ultimate decisive part, Phoenix sit only one level behind Littlehampton City in seventeenth place with a recreation in hand. With their destiny now in their very own fingers, the following few weeks will decide whether or not their ninetieth yr shall be one among celebration or determined disappointment.
Followers can rejoice Non-League Day with Phoenix by getting a ticket on the day utilizing money or card on the turnstiles or by visiting www.phoenixsportsfc.co.uk
