Pitchero Non League

Paul Martin

....players to the Ryman League Division One North club.

Since 2008 the club has been based at Aveley's Mill Field ground but decided to find a new home for next season after the Millers got relegated. "It would have been awkward to share a ground with a team in the same league as us," Martin told the Brentwood Gazette ahead of his eleventh season as manager.

"I'm not really sure it would have worked. So when we knew they'd got relegated we contacted Thurrock.

"It's a new chapter for us. The pitch at Thurrock is in fantastic condition and the facilities are really good – that could attract two or three players."

The switch was rubber stamped at the league's AGM last week and Boro have signed a two-year deal.

"Since the resurrection of the club in 1992 and then again in 1997 they have never had their own home ground. Instead they have led a nomadic existence.

In 2009 they did receive planning permission to build a ground at Westlands Playing Fields but the £1.3 million build cost proved prohibitive.

Last season the club finished thirteenth in the league – it's a position Martin was more than happy with when you consider they can't afford to pay players any wages or expenses.

"If the players have to go through a toll on their way to a game then they have to pay it," he said.

"We normally have to rely on younger players and we give them the chance to test themselves at this level.

"At other clubs they wouldn't get that chance.

"We're having trials for next season at the moment. About eighty people turned up to the first one so we're not short of players.

"A lot of players want to play for us and we are a real family club and we're really well supported."

Martin has also decided to set up a reserve team for next season. They will play in the Essex Senior Reserve League and Martin is hoping it will give some youngsters vital competitive action before they are ready for the rigours of first-team action.

He said: "I've got some really good under-18s that I don't want to let go but they're perhaps a bit lightweight for the first team at the moment.

"Having the reserve team will give me a pool of youngsters that I can dip in to during the season if I need to."

Tags: News | Romford

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