|
Source: Patrick Corlett, West Sussex County Times |
HORSHAM YMCA achieved the unthinkable - back to back championships.
In their latest triumph they came from well behind to steam past Ringmer in the home stretch.
With their second County League Division 1 trophy in the cabinet they are waving goodbye to that league and are heading for Ryman Division 1 South next season.
"It's absolutely superb being in the Ryman South," said manager John Suter, who went on to recall several key moments in their success.
"The first big moment would have been back in the summer - getting Tommy Sampson.
"It was a huge boost for us and if I was to be absolutely honest it took him a little bit of time to adjust. In fairness, i and to his credit he adjusted quite well, working with non contracted players which he was not used at a higher level.
"With his CV and his experience he was a massive boost. He adds a winning mentality."
Along with the recruitment of his right hand man, keeping hold of big players and making new signings played an important part in their successful defence.
"The next important thing was keeping players from last year - Chats [lan Chatfield], Nick Levett, Tom Carter, Dean Garden and the likes. We lost Steve Davies and Ellis Hooper. Getting Russell Eldridge early on was massive. Nick Flint -while he was here - added to the squad and scored goals.
"Then you've got the new signings like Woody [Glen Woodburn] and Kris Trevor before the season started, and getting Ellis [Hooper] back was good. Getting Dave Gellatly and Matt Russell in November was great."
The addition of Russell sparked YM into life and despite only joining midway through the campaign he went on to be top scorer, with an awesome record of a goal per game.
"Matt Russell's contribution is unquestionable. I think that everybody was lifted when Matt started and was scoring goals - that was the difference.
"We were creating chances but not putting them away before that. He got 25 goals in 26 games and that helped turn a corner and everybody picked up from that."
It was not just his ability that impressed his boss but his attitude as well, Suter remarked: "What was nice about Matt Russell was his father took me aside and thanked me for having him back and Matt, himself, thanked me as well. We loved having him back. He's a definite for next season.
"I've said to Matt that a lot of people will offer him a lot of money but he said it doesn't matter what they offer him, he's coming back to YM."
The YM manager had nothing but praise for all of his squad.
"I'm reluctant to pick out individuals but lan Chatfield is worth his weight in gold. He's the equivalent of 25 goals a year. We've conceded just 31 goals in 38 games - it speaks for itself. He is the only 100 per center in the league."
YM's constantly improving right-back also received a special mention and was given the captain's arm band for the last game of the season as a reward.
"Dean Garden has been massive at right-back, he's been so consistent. That is why he has played for Sussex for the first time this year. He's linked up well with Matt Duffield, they ran the right hand side of the park," commented Suter. "Woody [Glen Woodburn] has been such an asset at centre-half and in the club house. No-one trains better than Woody. He's a lovely bloke, absolutely barmy but a diamond.
"I think Jiggy [Wayne Potter] has been good. He hasn't played as many games as other people but he's done a non-glamorous job. There has never been a hole in front of the defence whilst he was on the pitch, he didn't give the ball away. He's , done exactly what it says on the tin and what is required of him.
"Ali Russell might be back with the lure of a higher standard of football. His heading absolutely beggars belief. "When Kris Trevor played he scored a goal a game but then missed five weeks through suspension and had problems over Christmas, then he came back and got injured. But I know from what I saw when he was fit he is a very good player.
"A lot of people have contributed over the season," added the Gorings Mead manager.
Since the disappointing performance against their local rivals on the traditional Boxing Day fixture when they lost to Three Bridges, YM's form was terrific.
"Our run from Boxing Day was awesome, our away record was incredible. We lost our first away game and then we never lost. That's an astronomically good record. Compared with two years ago where we only won one game.
"We've had a good squad of players this year. The reason why we've been so successful away from home is that teams do not sit back when they are at home, they are more inclined to have a go which opens it up. We found it difficult to break teams down at home when they play with nine men behind the ball.
They only defend and it's difficult," said Suter, who is eagerly anticipating the challenge of a higher level of football next year.
"People won't over defend against us next year. It will make it more enjoyable and there will be better games. We wi11 lose more games but it should be good," commented Suter.
"Since Christmas, when we lost to Three Bridges, we only lost one more in 24 games, They are the reasons why we in the league. To turn that difference around, it's credit to us, but we couldn't have done it without Ringmer."
The same approach that worked for the club in the 2004/5 season was adopted this time as well, and it clearly worked.
"I just look at a game at a time. We couldn't do anything about next week, or the last week. What's on offer is the three points and I kept on preaching that to the players. We brain washed the players into concentrating on that game and not looking at the league table so I don't think that there were any nerves.
"John Crumplin (Ringmer manager) was saying things in the press, like 'if they won this game then they would be champions,' 'they've come to a crossroads and they would go on to win the league' and I never believed it. He was saying that 'it would come down to the game with us' and obviously it didn't. We won the league by nine points in the end."
The champions had the wonderful knack - that all great sides possess - of being able to pop up with last minute goals. They just didn't know when to quit.
"Hassocks away was quite a big game for us, one down at half-time and we won it with a late goal. Had we failed then we would have been trouble, double figure points behind Ringmer in February. We were the only team that took six points off Hassocks," he said.
Second half strikes from Gellatly and Matt Russell turned that game around.
"We've had some late wins -it's not riding your luck, it's playing to the end. Kris Trevor hit an injury-time winner against Eastbourne and against Hailsham. Those two goals were worth four points."
However, it wasn't a totally satisfying season for Suter, as YM were dumped out of the FA Vase by Chessington & Hook.
"The only disappointment was in the cups. We didn't do well in the FA Vase. We lost to a team that we shouldn't have lost to but it wasn't to be and that probably helped us win the league. We had one or two successes in the domestic cups but not too many."
But the manager was keen to point out the positives.
"We only took one point off Ringmer which is astonishing considering how many points we won by in the end.
"We ground out results and played consistently hard nosed. We deserved to win the league, anybody who finishes top deserves to win it. Back to back championships was beyond my wildest dreams. That was my 17th season. In the first ten to 15 years I would never have believed it possible - it's incredible, Roy of the Rovers stuff."
Suter was delighted that loyalty has its rewards, commenting: "The whole club is lucky to have the people they have there.
"We've had a core of players like Matt Duffield, Barrie Westgate, Wayne Potter, Phil Fitzgerald.
"There's people who have been around for quite a while and I'm pleased for them - it rewards their loyalty."
The boss revealed that he was lucky to still be in the job and lifting trophies.
"In any other club I would have been sacked in 97/98. We were bottom of the league at Christmas, 16 points behind Mile Oak and they were relegated. Everybody was saying 'who was going down with YM?' We only had five points from 18 games.
"Every meeting I went to I thought I was going to be sacked. They didn't (sack me), I survived it and look what's happened. It's right that football has it's rewards in loyalty and continuity. Eight years ago from being relegation candidates to back to back champions - Roy of the Rovers.
"It just goes to show the turn around that can happen