Terras' last hurrah?
By Derek Bish

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

ANDY Harris will remind Weymouth’s players of the significance that tonight’s match at Welling United (7.45pm) could hold, even though it is not the Terras’ most important battle of the week.

Chairman George Rolls has warned that Weymouth FC could be liquidated if Friday’s proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is not accepted, meaning that meeting in Chingford takes on far more significance than a mere Blue Square South encounter.

Harris, the scorer of one of the most famous goals in Weymouth’s history, is now caretaker player-manager of the Wessex Stadium-based outfit and hopes to provide supporters with one last high, if this evening’s clash in London is the final match of the coastal town club’s 120-year history.

He said: “120 years speaks for itself and in any community across the country the football club plays a big part.

“Weymouth is a massive club and the thought of it going out of existence is a travesty.

“I live in the area, my children go to school in the area and it would be awful if the club did fold. My fingers are crossed for Friday.

“It will certainly be mentioned to the players that tonight could be the last game because the CVA is happening on Friday.

“We don’t want to be going out on a damp squib. If it is to be the last game we want to go out on a high.”

Harris is in his second spell at the Terras and stepped up to be assistant to Jerry Gill before becoming caretaker player-manager for the second time this season after Gill’s resignation earlier this month.

During his first spell, the former Southend United captain netted a dramatic equaliser against former European champions Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup second round tie at the City Ground in November 2005.

This season’s on and off the field problems have been a far cry from that heady day, but Harris hopes the Terras can secure only their fifth league win of the season at a Welling side who were visitors to the Wessex Stadium just 10 days ago.

“We are familiar with their style of play and their players who will be playing, so we know what to expect,” said Harris. “They are organised and strong in certain areas and have good quality from set-pieces.

“We will set up very similar to Saturday, see how the situation dictates and look to avoid conceding silly set-pieces.”

Defender Jamie Frampton dislocated a finger on Satur-day but could play, while Ben Farrell (hamstring) is the only player who definitely misses out.

But the return of Cameron Mawer, Stephen Reed and Pierre Joseph-Dubois to the team at Chelmsford certainly helped Weymouth, and although those three are still young, Harris is impressed with how they are taking on the mantle of being the Terras’ experienced players.

“Cameron is only 24 and Stephen only 23 yet we are speaking about these as experienced players,” said Harris. “For most other sides in the country they would still be pretty young in comparison to their team-mates.

“I was captain of Southend at 20 and if you want to progress you have to accept that responsibility because if you are performing well people will look up to you.

“They need to let their actions do the talking if they want to progress in the game. They can’t shy away and can’t be youngsters forever.”

Terras (from): Sandercombe, McGuinness, Dixon, Mawer, Frampton, Harris, Tribe, Reed, Joseph-Dubois, Foster, Radcliffe, Richardson, McKechnie, Rosario, Reiffer, Nicholls, Neish.