Deal Town boss Steve King explains decision to play away friendly against Crowborough Athletic this Saturday

Deal’s players might not be thrilled about the prospect of a lengthy pre-season away journey - but manager Steve King has been looking at the bigger picture with this weekend’s friendly.

The Hoops face a round trip of more than 100 miles to visit Crowborough Athletic on Saturday.

But with the likes of Erith Town, Fisher, Holmesdale and Glebe remaining in the Southern Counties East Premier Division for the new season, it’s the sort of journey they will need to do again at times.

King explained: “I always say to the boys that I don’t like having a ‘cushy’ pre-season schedule so I always like to throw one in that everyone whines about!

“If you have to go somewhere difficult away on the first day of the season and all you’ve done is play five miles away on nice grounds, people can get a bit too comfortable.

“They’ll have to get up a bit earlier, they’ll have to sit in the car for an hour and a bit to get there.

“We’re good friends with the people at Crowborough.

“They’re, obviously, ex-SCEFL and they did well in the Southern Combination League [coming sixth] so that’ll be a good test.”

Deal drew 3-3 at Isthmian Premier Margate on Saturday, having started pre-season with a 5-0 home win over Minster in front of more than 300 people last Tuesday.

Reflecting on their friendly at Hartsdown Park, King said: “It was a good work-out for us.

“I’m pleased, certainly with our first-half performance. Obviously, we got the goals but we also played very well, which was good.

“They have got quality players and went half-and-half, bringing on people like Ben Greenhalgh and Harrison Hatfull.

“We got a bit leggy in the second half but it was only our second pre-season friendly, they played two 11s and we had boys getting through 90, so it was