Pitchero Non League

Mark Bartley

.....dream start towards their aim of promotion.

He says it's a given that Blues should be looking to bounce back into the Southern League at the first time of asking following last season's relegation.

They've scored eleven goals in their first three league games and knocked fellow Hellenic League promotion-hopefuls Witney Town out of the FA Cup and ambitious Bartley says it's no less than his new side deserve.

He said: "We couldn't have asked for a better start. It's a dream start - anyone would want to start this way. "In the FA Cup it was nice to test ourselves against one of the favourites for this league in Witney, then we've gone to Binfield on Monday and got the better of them on their own patch.

"We've laid down a bit of a marker and teams will have a bit more of a buzz about them when they come here. We'll have to make sure we're ready to deal with that.

"The lads have worked hard and that's come out in the performances. We've had enough about us to navigate our way through what have been some tricky fixtures early on."

Bartley moved to Marlow from Reading Town in the summer as his ambitions didn't match those of the board at the Berkshire club.

He rescued them from relegation as caretaker before winning some silverware in his second season - then having the desire to push on.

But he said: "The Reading Town board said they didn't want to get promoted. I felt we were ready to push on. Our ambitions weren't aligned and the minute that happened I had to look to do something about it.

"I became aware of the situation at Marlow. I remember playing against them at Slough and remember it being a tough place to go and get a result.

"I came down and had a chat with chairman Terry Staines and it was exactly where I wanted to be."

Asked if promotion was an aim for this season, Bartley said: "It was a given. I said I wanted to go on. We want to go back up and have to be competing at the top end of the league. I'd be disappointed if we weren't.

"The club's a Southern League club - they are geared to playing in that league. Everything about the club, the players, staff, board, volunteers, is geared towards moving forward."

Tags: News | Marlow

• Uhlsport Hellenic League
  • + Ups and Downs in the Hellenic League
• Premier Division
  • + Fontaine Reflects on Terrific Season
  • + Herridge Backs Assistant for His Job
  • + Champions Hit Saracens For Six
  • + Fisher Looks Like Staying
  • + Kidlington Seeking New Manager
  • + Ackling Handed Wantage Post
  • + Herridge Teams Up With Binfield
  • + Shone Joins Heathens as Number Two
  • + Slimbridge Make Western League Switch
• Div 1 East
  • + Hellenic League Lower Divisions Reviewed
  • + Gardner Leaves Rayners Lane
  • + Bedwell Takes Milton United Helm
  • + Hanley Steps Down at Henley
  • + New Management Team at Henley
• Div 1 West
  • + Winstone Puts Family First
  • + Turner Lifts Lid on Bassett Departure
  • + Wilkinson Quits Carterton
  • + Funding Boost for Rocks
  • + Turner Helps Town Up - And Then Quits