Introducing Saturdays FA Cup opponents - Phoenix Sports FC

Our roving reporting Dave Perrett has been doing his research and finding a few facts about Saturday's visitors.

Phoenix Sports FC are current members of Isthmian (Ryman)League Division One South, having moved across from last season's Division One North.

They are based in the South East London borough of Barnehurst and play at the Phoenix Sports Ground, Maryplace Road with a stadium capacity of 2,000.

Their home colors are green & black and are currently managed by the highly experienced Steve O'Boyle.

The club was originally formed in 1935 as 'St John Welling' but soon after changed name to 'Lakeside FC'.

After the Second World War the club reformed under the name 'Phoenix', the significance being the rising from the ashes of the old club which was bombed in the Blitz.
The club joined the Kent County League in which they went on to finish as runners-up twice in the 1950s and again in the 1970s.

In the early 1980s they moved up to the Spartan League but dropped back to County League level in the early 1990s.

In 2011-12 they finished as runners-up in the Kent Invicta League and the following year finished as champions.

Last season they achieved their highest ever final league position, finishing eighth in Isthmian Division One North before joining this year's southern division.

The furthest they've gone in the FA Cup was in 2015-16, reaching the second qualifying round, going out 5-3 at home to AFC Hornchurch.

In 2014-15 they had a very impressive run in the FA Vase, reaching round five with some excellent away wins before finally being knocked out, going down 4-1 away to North Shields FC of the Northern League.

At the time of writing they seem to have had a reasonable pre-season which includes high scoring 5-0, 3-0 and 4-1 wins against Meridian Sports, Romford Town and Cray Valley, with new signing centre-forward Frankie Sawyer looking a real menace.

Their other key players include Jack Barham, Alfie Aldridge and Kelvin Ogod.

Ladies & gentlemen - introducing Phoenix Sports FC!