Leatherhead
(and we are currently doing this) where
we work with the younger age groups
management teams to invite players that
they feel can benefit not only physically,
however mentally as well, by training
with the senior players.
We have formulated a Talent ID
scheme since we joined the club where
we share with other managers of other
age groups, what we want to see from
the younger players coming through.
Not only do we want to see technical
and physical attributes, however we
want to see social and psychological
improvements too. Too often people
only ever want to coach and discuss
the player rather than trying to help the
person too. It’s key to me and us as a
club that we develop the person first so
that we know exactly what is coming in
to our dressing room, however also that
they are aware of what is needed to come
in to our dressing room too.”
Community
“We are massively a community
club. It’s something we want to grow
as well as you can never have enough
of a community feel with a club such
as ours. Whether it be the help that is
given at the club day in day out by its
supporters, or the financial backing by
its local community businesses, or the
internal job roles by those at the club that
are volunteers, we survive only by the
work and support of those in the local
community. Long may this continue!”
Challenges
“Honestly, the challenges that we
will face will be financial. The club has
fantastic support from those at the club,
and from those supporting it. However
like most clubs at the level, updating
the club and bringing it up to the levels
required to meet certain standards
imposed by The FA means we are
continually investing in updating the
club (ground/bar/changing rooms/
flood lights) and due to this unless we
continue to gain support then these costs
may lead us in to financial difficulties.
Teams often lose managers or
playing personnel however these can
be replaced. If however the club was to
lose the support of the fans who in turn
help maintain the upkeep of the club,
as well as not generating support from
local businesses, then the club could be
at risk. We are trying all we can to make
sure this does not happen and those at
the club work tirelessly to avoid this.”
Ambitions
“Our ambition is to keep developing.
Five year plans often lead to over
ambitious jumps when in reality we need
to develop from within before trying to
aim for something that others may do,
that have current internal structures
allowing them to do so.
We want to progress, that is for
sure. We would love to gain promotion
to reach the football league, however a
view shared by all at the club, is that they
love the club and so to ever place the club
at risk is ‘not an option’. We discussed
above what is needed to happen in order
to progress. If we can achieve this first
then why not aim as high as possible.
There’s nothing wrong with having a
dream.
If we can redevelop the club’s
academy and continue developing
players that stay at the club for a number
of years then that’s huge success. We’re
one club, that has a heart and desire
as big as any, however we also have a
realism that you can’t run before you can
walk and so internally we know where
we want to be, while having a vision that
we know where we need to be before we
can do that.”
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