This Tuesday 27th August 2019 our Isthmian League Under 18s play their first competitive game of the season as they host South Park Under 18s at Homelands Stadium, 7.45 kick off.

We caught up with Under 18s manager Kyle Galea (pictured) prior to the fixture and got his thoughts about the upcoming season:

Explain your position as under 18s manger, you’ve gone from coaching the under 15s last season to managing the under 18s. How did this come about and how do you feel about the season ahead?

My position as manager is a quite simple but difficult one, our aim as a club is to progress Ashford boys throughout the club. With a new system coming into place this year where if players are good enough they will be pushed up a year to gain experience at a higher level testing their abilities.

Having managed the 15s last year and staying with them this year too, I will have a greater understanding on who is ready to make that massive step up to BetVictor [Isthmian League] football. I feel confident that a lot of players are going to progress through the ranks as we (managers and chairmen) are going to be working closer than ever.

What are your thoughts on the fixture tomorrow? Do you know much about South Park u18s?

I’m very excited for tomorrow’s fixture as it’s a new team together and the players are buzzing, they can’t wait to get on the pitch and play football after a long summer off. South Park are a new team to the league which I’m not necessarily worried about because I have full confidence in my squad to get the job done.

What’s your aim for this season in both league and cup?

It is always good to win your games, which obviously that’s a priority, but the highest priority is to get players playing with the 23s and if good enough maybe even with the first team. By the end of the season I would like at least 4 or 5 u16s playing with the 18s and at least 5 or 6 18s playing with the 23’s.