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The New Man In Charge - An Interview

The New Man In Charge - An Interview

Aleck Everard3 Oct 2012 - 13:30
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https://www.pitchero.com/clubs

With Justin Lee

I recently had the chance to spend some time with the new manager of Witney Town FC, Justin Lee and find out a bit more about the man himself and his ideas for the club.

Can you tell us about your background in football? I believe you played games when you were younger for Arsenal and England? Do you keep in touch with anyone well known from those days?

I played at the Vale Of White Horse/Oxfordshire schools and then at England Schoolboy/England Youth, Arsenal F.C., Abingdon Town, Oxford City, Thame United and Banbury United. International honours 32 caps and won mini world cup in Italy - played in European Championships at under 20 level, captained Arsenal youth team and won South East Counties League and Cup and played in the Football Combination winning team at Arsenal and then went on to become a professional at the club. Im very good friends still with Martin Keown (ex Arsenal legend and latterly TV pundit).

Is this your first sole management role and how do you seeing it differing from other roles you have had in the past?

Yes this is my first sole management role as manager of a football club where as before myself and Justin Merritt ran Oxford City Nomads as joint mangers. My father Paul was a professional at Hereford United and played non league at Oxford City, Chelmsford City, Witney Town, Banbury United and Abingson Town. He also went on to manage Abingdon Town and he encouraged me NOT to go into football management so like any son I've taken no notice!

What do you do outside of football? Do you have a full time job?

I'm the course manager at Oxford golf club.

What do you know about Witney Town? Any memories from your playing days?

I have great memories playing against Witney Town. They were always very well organised and physical and I had some great cup games playing against them. They had some very good players such as Jason Caffel, Andy Leach and Gary Murphy to name a few (and of course a very respectful manager in Andy Lyne!)

What are your visions for the future? Are we going to continue our free flowing entertaining style of play? Do you have a certain style of play/formation that you like to use?

The vision for the future is to manage a team which will be in contension for promotion and doing well in all cup competions. We will continue to try and play free flowing football but we will be working hard so we dont concede too many goals which we are doing at the moment and to work harder as a unit when we are not in posession of the football.

Who do you see being in the mix come the end of the season?

Marlow, Slimbridge, Newbury and of course ourselves.

Long term aims for yourself and the club?

Promotion

Who have you got in your backroom staff? What can you tell us about the new assistant and physio?

Paul Holden is the new assistant - a good old head who has managed at Hellenic League level and is great around the dressing room with players. Our new physio is Lee Tomlinson who works for Justin Merritt and is qualified as a coach and a physio.

Outside of work and football what do you do to relax?

I like to spend time with the family, golf and days out fishing.

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