Taken from our programme for the visit of Runcorn Town, available on the gate for £2.

Writing this article after the Hanley win due to print deadlines is sometimes difficult to “angle”, as we enter the busy Christmas holiday period, with the Bootle and Abbey Hey away games ahead of us before returning for today’s encounter with Runcorn.

On this occasion after the difficult run of results leading up to my appointment the major turnaround in my first two games makes it easier.

The first 7 days were unbelievably hectic; From meeting the Club on the Tuesday night, acceptance of the job, one training session, two clean sheets and 6 big points…if Carlsberg did weeks in football management that has to be “probably the best in the world!”

It was produced by “full on” commitment by the management team, players and everyone involved in the Club. Even before we met the Committee, we felt the Club was the right “fit” for us to take over after some brilliant work in recent years by a focused and committed group behind the scenes whilst Andy Nelson, Steve Settle and Steve Brockley’s did their work on the field in projecting the Club into a force in the NWCFL. We did our research in the preceding weeks gambling that the Club thought likewise, which paid off well and contributed greatly to the start we have had.

I have to say that the attitude of the players has been first class, really buying in immediately to our philosophies and beliefs in how our team should play, and “be” together.

This fresh approach, work on the training grounds, and some competition for places will pay dividends going forward.

We will be doing everything that we can to power on over the forthcoming weeks and we will hopefully be backed by continuous and encouraging voices from all corners of the Club whether that be home or away. Travelling support will be crucial in keeping the lads moving forward and getting us up the league… so saddle up those horses and head out of town with us!!

Unconditional support for each other will be the bedrock, loud shouts of “well done this” “great tackle that” etc etc EVERY TIME our lads do something good on the pitch will boost them and then boost them again. Any mistakes that may occasionally happen WILL obviously be unintentional, so we will ALL shrug them off, and just endeavour to do better next time – this is easier said than done by the way… but if we all try, it will give each other the best chance to be the best we can ALL be!!

 Enjoy the game!