Manager’s Season Summary
The highs, the lows, the rain and the flickering flood lights.....
As the 2013/14 season comes to a close, I sit here and reflect on what can only be described as a mixed season following promotion to Step 4 of the football pyramid.
Following the great euphoria of winning the league last year, we knew we would have to be prepared for a challenging season ahead.....and that it was!
From a bright start in August, we found ourselves sitting pretty in 5th place after just 6 games. Sadly, this was swiftly followed by a more testing period through October and November, where we faced a run of painful defeats caused by silly mistakes and frankly, not seeing the rub of the green.
Despite this, we grouped together, got our heads down and at the turn of the year the management team started to sense a change in mentality amongst the players. This change would prove key, as the team went on a phenomenal run of 10 games unbeaten which consisted of 8 wins, 2 draws and only 3 goals conceded, all showing glimpses of brilliance and determination. This great run included wins away to league favourites like Dunstable and Slough, where we showed the high levels of performance that we are capable of by beating this kind opposition in a convincing fashion.
In parallel, we progressed to the Semi Final of the coveted Surrey Senior Cup where we found ourselves up against full time conference outfit, Woking FC. This provided an evening that was certainly an important learning curve for both manager and players. I sincerely hope some of our younger aspiring talent took note of the difference in level and set their sights on progressing to that standard one day.
With February came the floods of the South West, leaving homes ruined and the Bennett family with the task of draining both the pitch and the club house from the waters of the Thames. With heavy hearts, we realised this would mean cancelled games across the league and the challenge of back-to-back fixtures to hit the April finish line. Our confidence only boosted by standout performances such as AFC Hayes 4-0 away win.
In spite of the many twists and turns we faced, I believe we have shown that the club can more than compete at this level. On the whole, let’s not forget that a mid table finish in the first season post promotion is a respectable finish. Perhaps if we had shown some consistency in the level produced at the turn of the year, then we could have been playing for honours in May? But ‘Perhaps’ is a negative word because as we know, this club only looks forward, not back.
In summary, I am confident that if we can retain this season’s squad with a couple of careful additions and build on the group ‘togetherness’, then we can and push on next season to make the play offs.
So ......there is only one thing left to do before we switch off the lights and that’s to say many thanks to the Bennett family, Colin Bartholomew, squad, support staff, Mike O’Gradys Twitter updates, Fergie’s match reports and of course the fans for their unwavering support this year.
It’s been emotional!
Enjoy the summer...
The Gaffer