Kingstonian manager Geoff Chapple is "quietly confident" about his team's prospects for the season ahead in the Conference. But the first aim has to be survival.

The vastly-experienced Ks boss was speaking on the eve of the big kick-off following a highly encouraging series of testing friendly fixtures.

He said: "On the basis of pre-season wins against Wycombe and Orient we should be okay but the games keep coming thick and fast in the Conference. If we are mid-table at the end of the season I won't be disappointed.

"I know our fans and directors expect great things but you can't run before you walk.

"In my opinion, the Conference is now better than Division Three of the Football League so this is a new era and a totally different ball game."

Chapple is clearly impressed by the strength in depth of the Conference and anticipates a difficult start to the season as Kingstonian play 10 games in just 30 days against some of the most fancied sides including Stevenage and Rushden & Diamonds.

"We've got to feel our way through the first month because we've got the hardest fixture list of any side in the Conference."

But the Ks boss is determined that his team will continue to play the game his way, with style and panache, to keep the Kingsmeadow faithful happy.

Entertainment

"Our fans expect entertainment first and foremost because, after all, only one team can win the Conference."

Chapple won promotion from the Ryman League at the first attempt after 13 years as manager of Woking but he admits the decision to take the helm at Kingstonian was far from an easy one.

"I thought I would be at Woking for ever and a day and it was a big decision to drop down a league at Kingstonian -but facility-wise this club is better and the ambition is certainly there among the 10 directors," he explained.

So what was the secret of last season's championship success?

"I brought the right kind of players here. There is no real secret to success but you start with a good goalkeeper, a strong defender and midfielder and a useful striker and then build up a jigsaw from there."

Despite his devotion to good football, Chapple believes it was sheer "spirit" which earned the Ks promotion last season as they clawed their way back from a position well behind runaway leaders Sutton United.

And he focused on three Kingstonian players who can light up the season.

"Geoff Pitcher and Gary Patterson are the best midfield in the Conference and good enough for most lower division sides in the Football League."

But it is new signing Gavin Holligan, impressive in pre-season games, who has caught Chapple's eye.

The youngster, who only celebrated his 18th birthday in June, will probably sit on the bench at the start of the season but his manager believes that Holligan has the ability to go all the way in the game.

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