Cray Valley Paper Mills go into the Christmas fixtures looking to continue their recent good run of form where before their meeting with Isthmian Premier leaders Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday, the Millers had won their last three and lost just once in the previous seven. 

The leaders proved too strong and ran out 3-0 winners to extend their lead at the top to eleven points, whilst for Steve McKimm’s side their recent revival has seen them lifted six points clear of the relegation places as long term injured players return. 

Speaking ahead of their home game with Whitehawk that kick off the Millers Christmas on Saturday at the Artic Stadium, McKimm has been talking to KSN. “We have a tough looking Christmas ahead of us with one bonus being that we don’t have to travel far.”

Valley welcome Whitehawk on Saturday and Welling United on January 3rd with a trip to Flamengo Park for the “Cray Derby” against the Wanderers in between.

“We have done a fair bit of travelling during the past twelve weeks Saturdays, Tuesdays, so it will be nice to be nice and local – three extremely tough games for all different reasons and we have to look after ourselves, look in house at what we have to do and try and pick as many points out of the next nine as possible!” 

“We know Whitehawk are a good side who are no mugs after their win at Flamengo Park last Friday. They work really hard and compete and play some good stuff. We know that if we aren’t on our game, we will come unstuck, but we have a lot of boys chomping at the bit to play who are now fit to play – we’ll assess it at training and be ready for the weekend.” 

“It was a tough Tuesday night at Folkestone,” McKimm admitted reflecting on Tuesday’s reverse – just Valleys second in eight games. “Looking back and reflecting on the game, I probably did a dis-service in the interview I gave after the game because we had three or four good chances that in another day could have got us the equaliser at 1-0 and who knows what will happen then? But they are a good strong outfit who deserve to be where they are at the top of the League and if they continue, I can’t see anyone touching them! I was pleased in certain aspects of our game, in others not, but like I say, Tuesday’s result doesn’t define our season!” 

“We had done well recently until Tuesday. We had won three on the bounce and we have to try and get back to that as we are out of the woods by no stretch of the imagination, there is still loads of work to do to get us where we want to be and we have to be looking to get the safety point first!” 

“We’ve had a mixed bag across the year,” McKimm said thoughtfully as we asked him to assess the calendar year. “Really good first part of 2025, had a nice break – probably too nicer break because I didn’t do what I wanted to do in the summer well and it’s shown up in our results.  

So, the second part of 2025 isn’t what we want to be or where we want to be! Looking forward to the New Year – New Year new challenge! We have to hit everything head on now because before you blink it’ll be April and the season will be over!”