FORMER CRAY VALLEY, CHATHAM TOWN & FAVERSHAM TOWN BOSS JAMES COLLINS THE NEW BOSS AT THE LEN SALMON STADIUM

 

Pitching-In Isthmian Premier Division Bowers & Pitsea have moved quick to replace club legend Rob Small who left his positions at the end of the season after eight years in charge of the Essex club. During his time with the club they went from the Essex Senior League to the Isthmian Premier Division. 

Bowers won the Essex Senior League Cup in 2015 as well as being runner's up in the Essex Senior League. The next season they went one better winning the Essex Senior League and with in promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time in their history. They also got to the FA Vase Semi-Final losing 4-3 on aggregate to eventual winner's Morpeth Town. 

In 2017/18 they got to the Division One (North) play-offs losing to Canvey Island in the semi-final. The next season saw Bowers run away with the D1N title by 12 points from Aveley and promotion to the Premier Division. 

In the two curtailed seasons the club were 14th and 13th and this past season 16th which was 9 points away from the relegation zone.  

During his time with the club they also reached the 4QR of the FA Cup in 2019/20 and this season went one better in 20/21 beating Arlesey Town, Bishops Stortford, Hornchurch, Aldershot Town to reach the First Round where they travelled to League One side Lincoln City losing narrowly 0-1 in front of 5,800 people. They also got to the Essex FA Senior Cup Final for the first time in their history where they lost 0-1 to Billericay Town. 

It's fitting that the last goal scored in Small's last game in charge of the club came from "Mr Bowers & Pitsea" Lewis Manor who netted in the 2-2 draw at Lewes on the final day of the season. 

The club have recently appointed former Scunthorpe United, Barnsley, Charlton Atlhetic, Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers striker Paul Hayes as Director of Football who was recently Chatham Town's Sporting Director for two seasons. 

They have now named the man in charge as James Collins who joins from South-East Division side Faversham Town where he had been in charge since November 2019. He has also managed both Cray Valley PM and Chatham Town. 

He left Chatham Town top of the Southern Counties East Premier Division when departing in September 2019 after two years in charge where he won The Chats there first pieces of silverware in the 2017/18 Kent FA Senior Trophy and SCEFL Challenge Cup. 

Whilst Manager of Cray Valley PM they, at that time, achieved their highest league position and reached the final of 16/17 Kent FA Senior Trophy  and the won the 16/17 London FA Senior Cup beating Welling United, AFC Wimbledon, Dulwich Hamlet and Met Police FC in the final. 

The 2022/23 season is looking like it will be exciting one in a new era for Bowers & Pitsea.