Youth Team finish 5th in the league in a productive year, but will be disappointed in the second half of the season.
When I first came in as manager in July I had no idea of what was ahead. I did not know what standard of players I would be working with or the standard of the league we would compete in. After a full season I have been pleasantly surprised at the players that slip through the net here in Hereford. My main aim was one thing, get all of the players ready to play at the highest standard they can and if they continue off from this season and learn then I believe that will be achieved.
A good pre season set us up for our first competitive game, the FA youth cup away at Malvern which we won comfortably along with our second round game at Wednesfield. We had started well and following on from that we won our first league game at Edgar Street 4-3 against Chesterfield.
Then came our first disappointment, out of the Youth Cup 2-1 away at Bilston. It was a huge learning curve for the players who went into the game over confident and paid the price for being complacent and unprofessional. Whether you are playing the best team in the country or the worst you have to have to right attitude to win a football match, and on the cold wet night at Bilston, we didn't have it!
Returning to the league returned us back to form and we went 8 games unbeaten, winning 5 and drawing 3 which included PLFL cup wins away at Tottenham, and the memorable 6-2 win at Chelsea, played at their Cobham training ground. It was a tremendous run of games for us and our play was impressive. They had learnt a lot from the Bilston loss and although we lost heavily to league leaders Burton in our last game before the Christmas break, but at the turn of the year we were looking strong with a chance of winning the league and the cup, with Oxford coming up in the quarter final.
Our first game of 2015 saw us beat Chelsea Dartmoor at home and then our best performance of the season came as we beat an Oxford team full of scholars 1-0 in the cup. The lads were up for the game like I hadn't seen before, their attitude and focus were perfect and we executed our game plan to perfection. Every player working hard for his mate and limiting Oxford to hardly any chances. This should of been the game that propelled us to the next level, but unfortunately that attitude wasn't seen enough after the win and the second half the season saw us drop points against teams we shouldn't of, mainly in my opinion, down to the attitude you need every time you go out to play a football match.
We returned to the league with a game against the new league leaders Plymouth. We were 2-0 down in 20 minutes and it took us until half time to sort ourselves out. We ended up losing 3-2 and paid the price for a sloppy first half. 3 away games followed with draws at Coventry and Chesterfield either side of a 7-1 demolishing of Exeter and it looked like we had bounced back from defeat again. However we should of won all 3 and with Plymouth away in the semi final of the cup awaiting us myself and Steve Brotherwood were worried about the players focus, it had been our only problem all season and what was going to be the difference in a top 3 league finish and cup victory, or the season petering out slightly.
Our fears were proven correct as we went down 4-0 at Plymouth. I couldn't attend the game due to my baby being born but the report didn't surprise me. We had been sloppy and there were signs of players giving up or doing their own thing. You can only carry 2 or 3 players in a game but if 6 or 7 aren't working hard, doing their jobs and pulling others around them then you won't win a football match. I felt bad for the players but I was also frustrated that they had let themselves down.
That left us 8 league games to play in which we won 3, drew 2 and lost 3. We had three great performances in those games beating Bury 5-2 and Bournemouth 7-2 but our best performance came at Chelsea Dartmoor where we lost 2-1. For this game we travelled with only 9 players and to only lose by the single goal when we also hit the bar and post was an incredible effort. The work ethic and attitude from the Oxford game was in full effect and everything I asked them to do to try and get a result they did, the Chelsea manager came up to me after the game and said we deserved to win it and one of the Chelsea players' parents came over to say he couldn't believe how well our players did. A tremendous effort!
Our league campaign ended with the following record:
Pl: 20
W: 9
D: 6
L: 5
Goal difference: +15
We lost once to each of the 4 teams that finished above us, and to Chelsea when we travelled with 9 players, and finished 5th. It was a good season but I and the players believe it should of been better. Every single manager that we faced said one of two things. 'You're best team we've played' or 'you should be in the top two of the league'. Both are huge compliments but every time they said it I had to explain why we didn't win the league, and it comes down to that hard work and willingness to do anything to win a game of football. It's something they will need to push on next season.
I have spoken with Peter Beadle about their futures and he knows that he could have 5/6 players every week that he can choose from to use in a squad if he needs them. I have no doubt some of the boys will go on to do well for Hereford FC and some will go onto better things from there, hopefully at the gain of HFC. I think it would be great for Herefordians to go to Hereford and watch some local players that have progressed from the Youth ranks playing at Edgar street because it is something the supporters haven't had for a few years. Let's hope next season is a step forward for football in Herefordshire
As for myself I have been offered terms by head trustee Nick Vaughan to stay on next season. Nick, along with the other trustees, has worked tirelessly to ensure that UITC can build on this seasons success and get as much money in the bank to do so by looking for sponsors and donations.
In the next week or so I hope to have decided where I will be playing my football next season and then I can hopefully tie it in with my coaching here