Jamie’s 2014 Reserves review…..
Summing up a whole Reserves calendar year in one article is always going to be a tricky task but let’s give it a whirl. It’s fair to say throughout 2014 we’ve had huge ups, severe downs, made lots of friends, our share of enemies, historic wins and heart-breaking losses.
Our goal for this year was simple: Help supply and support our first team, develop our youth players, keep experienced players engaged in the club and (only after all of that is completed) we then aimed to be successful on the pitch. Did we achieve our goal? It wasn’t perfect but overall I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was more than happy.
Obviously the highlight of the year was our Junior cup success. The memories of the whole night (and following morning) will live with me for many, many years to come. A cup win tends to be remembered for that one game in the final but lifting the trophy aloft came at the end of a nail biting passage to the final. On quite possibly the coldest, wettest, most miserable day ever we came through a gruelling quarter final on penalties having battled through extra time with just 9 men! You would’ve been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be our year when we were 1-0 down in the semi-final in the 93rd minute, only for us to turn the tie into a 2-1 victory!
Only 14 players could be involved in the final game but the journey which culminated in ending the clubs 17 year trophy drought was definitely a complete squad effort. As people know, we are not physically the fittest bunch but we are blessed with a group of excellent characters; that night watching them all battle (and subsequently party) for each other formed my proudest achievements in football as a player or a manager!
We’ve had a very good year on a player development front with several players progressing through the reserves to become first team regulars, when this happens I can honestly say it feels as good as winning any 3 points or cup tie. Equally as pleasing has been the attitude and endeavour of the players coming across to the reserves from the first team. Whether it has been to regain fitness or form they’ve embraced the challenge. It’s a credit to them as individuals and the structure/philosophies that Dave Marlow has put in place.
Sadly and tragically the Reserves lost a friend and supporter in 2014. Craig Dowhan was as enthusiastic and knowledgeable about our reserve side as anybody. His presence is being and will continue to be sorely missed in and around our dugout.
Overall, as I write this we are unbeaten in our last 7 games (winning 6 of them) and we’re going strong in two cup competitions. Can we keep this going and convert this momentum into more silverware? Well that’s the 2015 goal!
Finally, on behalf of the whole Reserve squad I’ll finish by thanking all supporters and club officials for your tireless encouragement and efforts this year. You do make ‘the Lane’ a great place to be around!!!
Jamie