When Rikki Cable opted to join his brother Ross at Tunbridge Wells from Thamesmead Town, nobody could describe the move as low profile. Both players have a habit of finding the net, so most people around the league - if not the county - will feel they are familiar with the players to some degree.

Familiarity and understanding are two entirely different things, though, so when questions were voiced over the wisdom of having both players in the same side and even personalities clashing, www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk caught up with the Cable brothers to gage their perspectives.

“I left Thamesmead as I wasn’t enjoying my football anymore. It’s as simple as that,” explains Rikki. “I’m not sure I have for a while, and would have moved on sooner if I wasn’t under contract. Coming to Tunbridge Wells gave me the chance to play alongside my brother and my mates again. I also think The Wells have become a very good side. They are possibly a better side than Thamesmead were when they won the Kent League last season.”

Most are familiar with Ross and Rikki’s playing careers from around the time they played in the Faversham Town side that won promotion to the Kent League, but Ross actually started out playing in the reserves at Maidstone United. Although an offer came to join Hendon, the traveling proved too much, so until the opportunity arose to play for Faversham, football took a back-seat for a year or two.

Faversham provided the break for Rikki too - and the Cables formed a formidable partnership in the Kent County League that gave the Lilywhites a massive push back into the Kent League. The pair eventually moved on to Thamesmead Town, and although Ross later opted to move on to Beckenham - where he continued to score goals - Rikki remained with The Mead for three years, where he won a Kent League title, Kent Senior Trophy medal and Kent League Cup winners’ medal - as well as winning the Kent League Charity Shield.

Both have very successful records in 5-a-side football too, where they have won five major national titles, and won the world 5-a-side championships while representing England at Old Trafford.

Before the start of this season, Ross became something of a surprise signing as first team manager Mike Robbins looked to add the trimmings to a side capable of pushing for the top spots in the Kent League.

“I’ve settled in brilliantly,” he reflects. “I love everything about the club - the fans have made me feel welcome, and Mike and Martin Larkin have been exceptional towards me since I’ve arrived. My team mates are also first class, and I couldn’t be happier right now. I get on with all of them on the pitch and in training - they have made me feel welcome from day one. We’re looking forwards to seeing what the team night out is going to be like when that happens soon.”

It seems an unfortunate fact that gossip follows the brothers around - goals build profile, and profile attracts talk. But after Saturday’s 7-1 demolition of Slade Green in the Kent Senior Trophy in which the pair bagged five goals between them, talk that they are not able to play in the same team together was made to look ridiculous.

“If I was a regular centre forward from Bromley, and my brother was Harry Scorer, the centre forward from Orpington, then nobody would ever question if we could play together,” retorts Ross. “It’s because we are brothers that people are saying we can’t play in the same side. We play nothing like each other, and actually play brilliantly together as we know each other’s game inside out. If you see us arguing on the pitch it’s because we are brothers, or that he’s been too greedy! People shouldn’t read into it. Rikki is actually my favourite player to play alongside.”

“I think it’s an absolute joke to say we can’t play in the same team effectively,” adds Rikki. “We have done before and scored goals - and I would suggest from Saturday’s showing, we will do again. I can only think that the people who say that we can’t have probably never played football before, because they don’t have a clue! I guess they are bored, so they just look for things to gossip about. We’ll let the football answer them though.”

Part of Ross and Rikki’s reputations also centre around their being temperamental - something neither brother feels works against the team.

“A good part of my temperamental streak is down to the fact I want to win so much,” explains Rikki. “My temper is used in a good way - not a bad way as some people are suggesting. I channel it into my game in all the right ways, and that works for my team-mates, Mike and Martin.”

“I’m temperamental,” adds Ross, “but that doesn’t make me a bad person. Unless people know me personally, why would they need to comment on that? That part of me doesn’t get in the way of the playing side, and I know that Mike Robbins and Martin Larkin will vouch for that!”

And with those two key issues answered, that leaves Ross and Rikki to concentrate on getting on with the business at Tunbridge Wells.

“Since I’ve been here, I think it’s a measure of how happy I am that I’ve had three seven-day approaches, two offering more money, and I’ve opted to stay,” reveals Ross. “I guess that’s another answer for the critics who think I play only for money. I turned the other clubs down as I feel I owe the fans, my team-mates, Mike and Martin - and also myself - to stay here for the season. My aim has to be to win everything we’re still playing in this year - if it wasn’t, then what would be the point of playing?”

Similarly, Rikki is ambitious to win everything The Wells are still competing in. “We are more than capable with the squad we have. No one knows what’s going to happen in the future, so let’s just sort this season out first, and make the most out of what we have here at this time.

“I will have no problem settling in here with the side there is at Culverden. The side is full of good players who play the way I like to play,” he concludes. “I get on with everyone at the club already, and the team spirit is the best I have ever been involved with. I’m looking forwards to the coming months.”

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