Corinthian-Casuals vs Merstham Matchday Programme

THE
VISITORS
Merstham
Our first visitors of the 2019-20 season are the new-look Merstham
following the introduction of Manager Frank Wilson over the Summer
Last season, Merstham
ensured everyone sat up and
took notice. The small Surreybased
club had made the playoff
final when at the start of the
campaign, no-one had expected
anything from them.
Hayden Bird steered his side to
the final having bested League
runners-up Carshalton Athletic.
Tonbridge Angels stood between
the Moatsiders and National
League South football (with the
small detail of a ‘Super Playoff
Final) - something very few
could’ve imagined possible a
decade ago when back in the
Combined Counties League.
Alas, they were bested at
Tonbridge’s Longmead and
ultimately, other clubs sat up and
noticed what Bird had achieved
with arguably a smaller budget
than many in the league. Notably,
Kingstonian were impressed and
Bird was lured to King George’s
by the K’s who’ll surely look to
replicate their success following a
dismal campaign.
As often happens, the Manager
recruited no-less than eleven
of Merstham’s players, with the
addition of five others who’d all
played for Bird at some point.
The mass exodus led to jokes of
K’s being re-named ‘Mersthonian’
and the like, but the serious
nature of such an upheaval was
no laughing matter for those at
Moatside. A re-building process
had to commence.
In stepped Frank Wilson
(pic) - former boss
of Tooting and
Mitcham, who
won the
Isthmian
South title
with the
Terrors three
years ago.
He was also
at Kingstonian
at the back end of
last season, assisting
Kim Harris in a transitional period.
Though his experience in the
Premier division isn’t a pleasant
one - Tooting were relegated
after one season, finishing
bottom - Wilson will be looking to
rectify that with what is now an
established club at this level.
Joining Wilson at the helm is
experienced Premier League
striker Barry Hayles. The former
Fulham hitman will be looking
to utilise all of his knowledge
to ensure Merstham have the
best fighting chance once again
this season. Wilson was full of
praise at the signing of his new
Assistant Manager.
“Barry is a serious competitor
and my recollection of Barry’s
attitude to training and how he
was as a professional - the man
is a winner by nature,” said
Wilson.
“I know that Barry
will be able to relate
to our players from
his involvement in
Football prior to
joining us and he will
be able to share his
past experiences and
teach the players what it
means to have a professional
approach to our level of football
and he will no doubt play a
significant role working closely
with our forwards.”
As with Bird at Kingstonian,
Wilson has recruited known
talent - a number of ex-Tooting
players have once again linked
up and swapped the stripes for
amber. Time will tell if Wilson’s
second foray into the Premier will
be more fruitful than his last.
8 - CORINTHIAN-CASUALS MATCHDAY PROGRAMME