In the lead up to Christmas, KSN’s football editor MIKE GREEN has been talking to some of the counties bosses armed with a series of Festive Season based questions.

And so, on ”the first KSN day of Christmas”, it’s a “Russell in the Wanderers tree” – Greenie’s been talking to Cray Wanderers boss TONY RUSSELL…

KSN – What’s you earliest Christmas memory?

TONY RUSSELL – being on a coach when I was about 8 or 9, with Greenwich borough! My uncle was the manager/chairman Martin Dillnutt. I couldn’t tell you what away game we had been to but everyone singing Christmas carols and drinking – led incidentally by now Kent league secretary Dougie Francis!

KSN – What’s your best Christmas football memory?

TR – same as the first really being a young child on a coach with all the players. I remember thinking when I’m older I’m gonna do this!

KSN – And what’s your worst?

TR – probably last year when we lost at Phoenix. Phoenix at the time were mid to lower in the table and I remember Steve O’Boyle running down the touch line when they scored as if he had won the FA cup, not a big fan of things like that!

KSN – What’s the best or worst football based present you’ve ever been given or received?

TR – this years “Secret Santa” one of the boys got me a T-shirt saying “Tony Russell session killer” Implying when I do join in at training I ruin the session!!  Once I find out who that was!!!  They are fined by the way….

KSN – What d’you think of Christmas football?

TR – loads of games over Christmas is the same as I feel about the amount of games we have to play anyway? you can’t expect players to play 60 odd games football a season.

KSN – If you were preparing a “Mid-term” School report on Cray’s season so far, what grade would you give the side and why?

TR – B minus; we have played well in a majority of the games we’ve played but missed chances that have really cost us and we’ve left 15 points behind so far. So if we can continue to play well and be a little bit more ruthless in the final 3rd I’m sure we can aim for an A+

KSN – Who’s your teams Player of 2016?

TR – Leah Dawson. So consistent every game, puts his body on the line week in week out!

KSN – Is there a player you’ve seen either live or on TV who’s really excited you in 2016?

TR – One of my players – a youngster called Ben Mondele!  17 year old came to us in preseason as a winger and we have converted him to a right back and he just gets better & better, his potential is quite scary! Could be something special. I predict it will go onto big things.

KSN – What do you hope your players have for Christmas dinner?

TE – We ask them to bare in mind we have a game the next day

KSN – What’s your hope for football in general in 2017?

TR – I hope the laws change that if a manager runs down the touchline they should be sent off & banned for 10 games! Ha ha!!!

KSN – if your Chairman could buy you one player as a Christmas present who would it be and why?

TR – can’t really talk about other teams players but I have asked the chairman for a player and I’m hoping Santa can drop him off for Boxing Day!

KSN – Finally your Festive message for the Cray fans?

TR – Have a great Christmas and see you all Boxing Day!

Many thanks to Tony for starting the series and a very Merry Christmas to him and everyone at Cray Wanderers – join us again tomorrow to see who is the featured boss on ”the second KSN day of Christmas!”