Horsham YMCA Football Club

7 June 2007

CONSISTENCY and a solid backbone have allowed Horsham YMCA reserves to enjoy one of their most successful seasons.

The reserve outfit, managed by Rick Hamilton, were runners up in the Sussex Reserve Section Premier Division, reached the semi final of the Mid Sussex Senior Charity Cup and lost the Vernon Wentworth Cup final on penalties to Rustington.

And with the success of the first team, who finished ninth in Ryman League Division 1 South in their debut season at that level, it was quite a campaign for the club.

Hamilton is quick to pass on praise to his players. He said: "It has been a pretty reasonable season.

"I think the main reason is that the backbone of the side has been quite solid throughout. That is always a good start and a good measure of the season, especially for a reserve team. We are there to support (first team manager John Suter and his team).

"All my players are there for John's disposal to use whenever he wants to. We have had some good reliable players this year, such as Scott Bidwell, Christian Chimutengwende and goalkeeper Ken Westoby, who made himself available for every game."

YM's youth set up has also been a figure of their success, and Hamilton hopes to encourage youngsters through the ranks to appear for the first XI.

He said: "We have had some good youngsters come up during the season, the likes of Adam Jupp and James Hancock, who have appeared in the first team squad this season. We assume they will go on to be a big part of the first team next year.

"Also the fact we have had Tom Carter, a first team centre back playing for us, has been a massive boost."

Carter broke his toe in a pre season game and didn't appear for the first team for the remainder of the campaign. "He has been a massive foundation for us and great to have in the side for two thirds of the season," Hamilton commented.

"Just the way the players have applied themselves has been the major highlight.

"A great group of players came up from the youth teams and that is always a good sign of a healthy club when you can recruit from the youth ranks and they do not weaken the side. It's a good youth set up here. It is my aim to bring them on.

"The season as a whole I think has been very successful, if you look at the quantity of players we normally get through, the figure is around 50. This season it was nothing like that and we actually got some form of consistency which has been the pleasing thing for me, we have also been able to retain the hunger for the first team."

First team players have made an impact on the side as they return to fitness after injury or an absence. Richard Greenfield, who played almost 40 games for the first team, was the reserves' top scorer.

Hamilton said: "It's usually a psychological thing, it is not always the case that the difference in standard can be seen.

"They are coming back and when I get them they are going through their recovery, it's nol as if I am getting fully fit first team players. The way the firsl team players have applied themselves in the reserves has been excellent.

"It has also helped the youngsters to raise their gams and they do not look out ol place."

The reserves' season was capped with their cup fina appearance against Count) League Division 3 Rustington - and YM ran them close going down 3-1 on penalties after Mazin Hudai had scorec in a 1-1 draw after extra time.

"It was a frustrating final, felt that we should have woi the game," Hamilton said.

"I thought we were the better side overall. The opposition had a lot of experience throughout the side, but I fel we had the better footballing team, if we had taken ou chances we would have won it."

In order to further aid th first team next season, thi reserves will play in tb reserve section of th Suburban League, wher Hamilton feels his side can thrive.

He commented: "I'm looking forward to that, it's some thing that we will do well ir the Suburban League will be measure of how far the clu has come in recent seasons The way the club plays fool ball as a whole should be suil ed to the league.

"I have had great support from Keith Bidwell and Terry Bolting, one of the main thing is to have a linesman in plac for every game, having Alex Barren available every week was one more thing I didn't have to burden myself with every week.

"John Suter has been fantastic. He has supported me 10 per cent from the moment took the job. Without his su] port we would not achieved what we have don it's very important on a personal level to me."