An Update From The Coach

We managed to keep the bulk of last season’s squad together, despite every player attracting interest from elsewhere and that says a lot about what this club means to them and the commitment they have shown towards the season ahead.

We have also brought in some very exciting young talent, alongside more experienced players who have played at this level and can help support, guide and develop the younger lads within the squad.

We have set realistic targets for this season. We are still very early in our journey so patience is key, and we fully understand the challenges this league presents. At the same time, we are continuing to build a squad that gels together, establish our identity and develop a style of play that we believe best suits the personnel we have available whilst remaining competitive.

Our league form has been inconsistent in terms of results, but we feel the performances and competitiveness of the team have not been reflected in the points we have picked up. The players understand that, if we are to turn performances into results, we need to cut out costly individual mistakes and become more ruthless in front of goal. These are areas we have been working hard on behind the scenes.

For those who watched our first-half performance against Bracknell in the Berks & Bucks Cup, that is the benchmark we have set for the remainder of the season. The lads were superb, demonstrating the effort, desire, work rate and quality that we know they are capable of. That level of performance, commitment and intensity needs to be replicated in every remaining game going forwards.

The environment within the squad is second to none. The lads are fully committed to the cause, and there is a real togetherness and belief in what we are building.

We are also fortunate to have a very talented U18 group under the guidance of James Kaxe and Will Edwards. We work closely with them to ensure these young players are supported in their development and given the best possible opportunities to take the next steps in their footballing journeys. Through training, playing opportunities and exposure to the non-league game, we want to create a clear pathway for these players to progress, develop their understanding of the level required and ultimately challenge themselves to become part of the first-team environment. Developing young talent is an important part of the club’s future, and we are excited to see how these players continue to progress and we feel we are in a very strong position for the next few years with the youth set up so it really is an exciting time as a club and for the younger players.

In this day and age, particularly with social media, everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, we would encourage people to come and watch the games for themselves. You will see a group of players and a management team with a genuine desire to succeed and a real passion for this club.

One thing that should never be questioned is the hard work taking place behind the scenes, particularly from Cam, who works tirelessly to help get this club back to where it belongs. That commitment is hugely appreciated and is a reflection of the collective effort going into moving the club forward.

Finally, we have a big couple of months ahead of us in the league, and our focus is on putting as many points on the board as possible while continuing to establish our identity and improve as a team. We would like to thank our loyal supporters for their continued backing as your support is genuinely appreciated by everyone involved, and we ask you to keep getting behind the lads and pushing us forward. Together, we want to keep moving this club in the right direction.

Thank you for your support.

Mark Winchcombe