First up, Sheffield Bankers FC are delighted to announce the appointment of long standing player Ryan “Risho” Griffiths as first team manager, replacing Glyn Davies who has moved into the role as club secretary, and moved to the Sheffield Bankers Pavilion squad following his time as first team manager and player.

Sheff Bankers FC: Firstly, let me take the time to congratulate you on your appointment as manager, and on your first win! With the 4-0 victory over Thrope Hesley, first question though, why are you called Risho?!

Risho: I have had the nickname since primary school. It started as Rish, then to Risho. I haven't got a clue why though.

SBFC: How long have you been involved with the Bankers?

Risho: I have been involved with the Bankers for 11 years. I started playing for the bankers when I left Uni. I have played for the 1st team, 2nd team and now on my 2nd stint as manager.

SBFC: What made you want to step forward as manager?

Risho: We had a really positive season last year. Our previous manager Glyn moved to Secretary due to family commitments. I wanted to take over as manager due to knowing all the lads and progressing the positive end to the season.

SBFC: What are your plans and hopes for your first season?

Risho: My plans are to get a good relationship with all 4 teams and to progress players through that are showing potential. We have a solid squad of players and competition for places.

SBFC: Can you give us a run down on your career so far?

Risho: I started off at Northwich Victoria in Cheshire at U11's and played for them until I came to Sheffield in 1999. I played for Thrybergh FC in Rotherham Sunday league and have played for Sheffield Bankers ever since.

SBFC: Thanks Risho, we wish you all the best for the season.

Adding to the new first team manager, the club are delighted to welcome Tom Arkley to the club, Tom was appointed following impressing the club hierarchy when we met with him to discuss the vacancy, and it is always great for the club to attract staff from outside our own boundaries. Tom joins long standing Bankers player Ben Stubbs, who will continue in his role as assistant manager.

SBFC: Hi Tom, firstly, welcome to the club, fantastic to have you on board, What attracted you to the Bankers?

Tom Arkley: I'd been involved and done bits for a few clubs previously but this time I was looking for somewhere I could stay longer - the fact we have so many long serving players and managers made me feel like it would be a good fit.

SBFC: What have your first impressions been of the a) the club b) the reserve side as a squad?

TA: Things have been a bit whirlwind with pre-season but first impressions are really positive. Having other managers taking an interest in what happen with the reserves and showing that they are there for support is encouraging and that doesn't always happen at other clubs!

The Reserves is a question, better asked in a few weeks, as I haven't even met all my players yet! But having seen most of them a couple of times I think we have a lot of players who can do the basics but really need to gel with the players around them to make us an effective unit. I can confidently say, though, that we're going to properly leather some teams this year. We have some very good midfielders that I wouldn't like to be marking!

SBFC: What is your experience in football?

TA: I've done coaching, committee member, managed my old works 5 & 11-a-side teams. I played when I was younger and recreationally in my early to mid twenties but I've had a total of 8 operations on my back since I was 21 and any vague bit of athleticism or talent I had has disappeared, but the obsession with football is as strong as ever!

SBFC: what are your plans and ambitions?

TA: I'm doing a degree as a mature student in Sport Coaching that I have two-years left to complete. I've been doing coaching for Badminton England, Yorkshire Cricket Board and some Table Tennis work with SWFC Community in the past year but this year I'll be scaling that back to just the YCB and managing the Bankers Reserves. I'm aiming for my 'B' License within 3 years and the Cricket equivalent also, but as much as I love coaching I believe as a career option I'm more suited to the performance analysis side and working with Prozone etc. That is what I'm working towards anyway!

SBFC: How would you ideally like to manage? Would you say you have a particular coaching style or ideal way of playing?

TA: My coaching style is not massively in-your-face. I'm the type of manager to let the phase of play finish before I give my views, not one of these managers who is shouting at his players while they are in possession of the ball! Playing style? Just do the basics right is what I am after. If you can get your team pressing together, looking for the same pressing triggers, compacting play when not in possession of the football etc then teams are going to find it very hard to play through you. When going forward, I like to see fast transitions as it allows the strikers to play off the shoulder, which causes untold problems for the opposition at this level. Things like these do not come overnight but I wholeheartedly believe we have the players with the intelligence and technical attributes to put stuff like this into action.

SBFC: Thanks Tom, and good luck!