EAST Bergholt's new managerial team of Kevin Foskett and Frank Thompson have set themselves a three-year plan to bring success back to the Kingsley Healthcare SIL Senior Division club.

Elvin King

EAST Bergholt's new managerial team of Kevin Foskett and Frank Thompson have set themselves a three-year plan to bring success back to the Kingsley Healthcare SIL Senior Division club.

After tasting defeat in their opening game in charge at Woodbridge Athletic, they will be seeking their first points tomorrow when Felixstowe United visit Gandish Road.

A former chairman of Wivenhoe Town, Foskett has worked with Thompson on and off for 25 years including at Wivenhoe, Clacton and Brightlingsea.

“We both live in Wivenhoe and Bergholt are our nearest SIL club,” said Foskett.

“It is a big challenge for us to bring the good times back to Bergholt, but it is an attainable one.

“There is a three-year plan in operation, and this season will be one of consolidation after the wobble that Bergholt have experienced since winning three successive SIL titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

“A top-half finish is the aim, and of course the higher the better.

“We have found Bergholt to be a friendly club, but one with high aspirations still.

“It is not going to happen overnight and we have to be sensible.

“We will be challenging local lads to come onboard and make an impact with us as well as looking elsewhere to strengthen the squad. It is a really good project we are taking on.”

Striker James Pickard has been recruited from Border League Little Oakley and he will be a key man tomorrow with four or five regulars missing the match through injury.

“Ben Bibby will be playing his penultimate game before finishing his university studies at Norwich.”

Alan Middle's promoted Achilles are top of the Senior Division table after two victories, and they take on Westerfield United at Salmet Close.

At the other end of the scale, Stowupland Falcons appear short of players this term and they have suffered two heavy defeats already. They will be relieved that they have no game this weekend because of a reserve county cup game.

The FA Vase kicks-off tomorrow with the first qualifying round with 15 teams from the Ridgeons League involved. The main local interest will be centred on Woodbridge Town, who enjoyed a couple of long runs in the competition when Dave Hubbick was manager, and their home game against Yarmouth.

Seventeen Ridgeons League sides have received byes to the next round in two weeks' time, while Dereham Town, FC Clacton, Leiston, Needham Market and Stanway Rovers are exempt until the second round proper in November.

Debenham LC along with Downham Town, Histon Reserves and King's Lynn Reserves are not involved in the Vase, and Mel Aldis' surprise packets will be looking to extend their wonderful start to life in the Premier Division with victory at Dereham.

It will not be an easy game for Debenham, who were a junior club in the SIL at the turn of the century and now find themselves second in the table after promotion last season.

And it has also been a memorable start for Paul Smith's Walsham-le-Willows, who are third after a 5-1 win over King's Lynn's second string.

They visit Wisbech, while in the First Division Ipswich Wanderers are in action at Humber Doucy Lane tonight when they entertain FC Clacton.