Corinthian, Erith Town, Faversham Town, and Glebe begin their fight to join Deal Town in gaining promotion from the SCEFL Premier to the Isthmian South East Division as the Play Offs take place this week and we’ve been chatting to Deal boss Steve King.

We have been getting the views of the man whose team beat all of them to the title as KSN asks Steve King to take us through the post season. 

Deal received their first SCEFL title on Saturday in nearly twenty-five years and King told us, “It was a very enjoyable day. You do not always get to go into games like that without any stress or pressure!”

“It was nice that we were able to plan all the celebrations and the pictures that we wanted to have taken. And to win the game as well 3-0 with a good second half performance rounded it off perfectly.” 

The Play Off Semi-Finals see Faversham Town hosting Corinthian and Glebe welcoming Erith Town, and King admitted, “It is a big week for all of them, but I have always enjoyed the stresses and pressures of management and you want to be involved in games like this.”

“I am sure the teams would have liked to be in our position, but there’s also those who have not made the Play Offs who would have been hoping to be in them.”

“I am sure the four managers are looking forward to this week and these big games are the reason that you want to be involved and one of them will be playing in the Isthmian League with us next season.” 

Corinthian’s trip to Faversham sees last season’s two relegated sides still hopeful of an immediate return to the League above.

“It’s an intriguing one,” the Deal boss admitted. “Since Tommy (Warrilow) has come in, the squad that he is built has become a lot more solid and more of a team than they were before he arrived.”

“They are on a good run of form and have home advantage – they beat Corinthian in the League just a couple of weeks ago and on paper they would look like favourites.”

“But write off Corinthian at your peril – they have a very good management team and some very good players. I believe that they have beaten Faversham twice this season and they were very good when they beat us 3-0 ten days ago and over ninety minutes, I do think it will be close!” 

“They have come under the radar to an extent, but not from my point of view as I know their players and Michael Golding (the Corinthian boss) as we speak quite often, and they are a big, well organised side, but it could be argued that they have been the surprise package this season!” 

“I do think that Faversham are favorites because of home advantage if nothing else – both sides have good home form and we finished as the only team with a better home record than Corinthian.”

“They would have fancied themselves at home and I think that it is fair to say that they go into the Semi Final as underdogs – do not write them off, but I think that most people will be surprised if Faversham do not win!” 

Looking at the other Semi-Final, King told us, “I gave Erith the shout out a long way out from the end of the season and they are a very good side.”

“Glebe have had management changes recently, but that does not seem to have affected their results, making it very, very dangerous to write them off.”

“You must remember that they have only lost six games or something like that and have not been beaten very often.” 

“Erith have shown that by winning the League Cup and Senior Trophy when it comes to winning the “big” games they know how to win them – winning as they have Semi-Finals and Finals, so they are probably the team who are most prepped for the pressure of what this now is – Cup football!”

“It is a really intriguing one and it is not me sitting on the fence, but I do find it very, very difficult to call a winner in this tie!”

“There is a very clear argument to be made for both sides – Glebe are at home and have an experienced management team, whereas Erith are used to Cup football and have a lot of experience – the game really could go either way!”