By John Lyons
HE MAY be in the twilight of his career, but evergreen winger Dale Binns has warned Conference South full-backs there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet.
The new Wealdstone left-sider turned 34 a couple of weeks ago, but showed in his side’s 3-1 friendly defeat against Wycombe Wanderers in midweek that he’s still got the speed and desire of old with some lung-bursting runs.
He admitted: “The age stat doesn’t look good, but I feel as young, fit and strong as anyone. I’m at the front in the running at training and I’ve still got a lot to offer. The one negative I have noticed is that the recovery time after games takes longer.”
Binns started the game against Wycombe in his customary left-wing berth, but switched to left-back in the second half.
“I got more of the ball in the second half playing at left-back and I can fill in there, but I still see myself as a left-winger. I’m an attacking player and I like to cause havoc,” he told The NLP.
The ex-Lewes, Hayes & Yeading and Woking speedster is relishing his new start at Grosvenor Vale after two years at Sutton United, but admits the task is a different one this time around.
Challenge
“I always like a challenge,” he said. “It keeps me young and fresh – you feel like you have to prove yourself again.
“In recent years, I’ve usually been in teams pushing for promotion, but here the expectations are slightly different. A realistic aim is top half, but first and foremost we have to get points on the board.
“Goals haven’t been flowing in pre-season and we have to work on that, but when we get the right mix with the players we’ve got, we can surprise a few.”
Against the Chairboys, Wealdstone opened with target man Jefferson Louis, 36, up front on his own with Binns and Jonny Wright supporting from the flanks.
“We’ve got a few different options, but if we play a 4-5-1 we’ll try to dominate with numbers in midfield and get support up to Jefferson,” said Binns, who works as a team manager for Islington Council in his day job.
As for who will be in the running for the title if Wealdstone aren’t in contention, Binns finds it hard to look past Ebbsfleet, managed by his former Stevenage, Farnborough and Eastleigh team-mate Daryl McMahon, and his last club, Sutton United.
He added: “Daryl’s a good friend and he’s already got a good team together. There’s pressure on them, but they have recruited well and they’ll play good football. If they start well, they’ll be difficult to stop.
“Last year Sutton took a gamble with some rough gems that could play, but this time they’ve brought in real quality which is proven at this level.
“They’ve got players who have been there, done it and are hungry. They will be up there, but it’s how they adapt to the 3G. They have some older players and on grass you can nurse injuries, but you can’t on 3G. You can get found out.”
