If ever there was a right time to do my first manager’s notes for the club website then this is it.
What a great season it has been culminating in the news last night (I’m writing this on Thursday) that we had won the league.
When we took the job last summer, we had a specific plan around what we wanted to do, who we wanted to bring into the club, and how we wanted to play.
With the backing of the chairman and the committee, we were able to get the right players and more importantly the right people to sign for Blue Star.
Those signings fitted neatly alongside players that were already here plus some younger players that had been brought into the first team last season by Dean Walker. All these components have mixed rather well and created a great atmosphere within the squad.
We are lucky that we had previously worked with most of the lads we signed last summer, and they know what we wanted and how we wanted to play. It took a while to get it exactly like we wanted but I think since the winter break, some of the football has been superb and a joy to watch.
It’s been magnificent watching some of the younger lads improve and play a big part in it as well. They have all improved because of their mentality and willingness to listen to us and the more experienced players.
We have a “pathway” for young players at the club. Next season will see Kyle Cockburn and Liam Dalton (who have been playing most of the season with the reserves) as part of the first team squad.
The opportunities are there if the players are good enough and that’s down to all the coaches at the club. They are constantly making sure that every player we have throughout the age groups is improving.
As we look forward to next season, we know what we need to do to improve and increase our chances of going straight up. We want to win everything and that will be the plan going into the next couple of seasons.
The Northern League will provide the club with a chance to plan properly for home games. We need everyone’s help in getting more people through the door.
Ultimately the bigger the crowds we get, the more we can do to improve the team and the facilities which are already impressive.
Finally, I would just like to thank Cuggs, Bowsa, Bully, Jess and Anders for their help this season.We couldn’t have done it without your help.
Let’s enjoy Monday.
Cheers
Brian Smith