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It’s July 1st 2008 and I’ve just completed my first season as manager of Blue Square Premier side Kidderminster Harriers. As I’m waiting patiently at Aggborough to greet my new signings for the coming season I feel a vibrate in my pocket, it’s Barry Norgrove my Chairman. With a feeling in my stomach I’ve not had in around a year I nervously answer the call.
“Hello”
“Bazz, its Barry. Where are you?”
“At the ground boss” I nervously reply.
“Excellent. Wait there; I’ve got a fantastic idea to boost the clubs profile”
And with that the call ends. I can’t help wandering what he’s plan could be. Last time he had an idea it was to have a ladies night at the club. Fantastic, if it wasn’t for the fact he ordered female strippers too. Went down like a lead balloon I can tell you! 30 minutes passes and the boss finally turns up.
“Follow me Bazz, you’re going to love this!”
We head to his office, but instead of going in we walk straight past and into another room. In it is nothing but a desk and a computer.
“Well what do you think then?” Barry asks
“I think it’s a computer boss. But what’s so exciting about it?” I reply
“Well, I’ve been told about a new website that looks for Football Managers to tell their story of life managing a football club. It’s the must have thing of the year. No other club in England is doing this and the website is taking off. So let’s put Kiddie on the map and tell the world about our club. It’ll boost our profile no end.”
With a shake of my head I walk out. I’m honestly gob-smacked, I’ve heard some mad things in my life but this really takes the biscuit.
“Boss, are you sure you have thought this through properly?” I asked. “I have a hard enough job as it is, without having to spend every night sat at a computer telling people what I’ve done for the day.”
“It’s not every night Bazz. Most people only update it around once a month or so. Look, have a read of some of the stories from last season and think about it. If you don’t want to do it that’s fine. We’ll meet up on Thursday and discuss this then.” He replies.
And with that he’s gone, leaving me to read what other managers are saying about their day to day lives. Before I know it it’s early in the morning on the Wednesday and I’ve been sat at the computer for around 14 hours transfixed with what people are saying. Maybe the boss isn’t so mad after all. Next morning, and after a night of tossing and turning I decide to call Mr Chairman.
“Boss, I think you may be onto something here. Reading what others have been saying on that site and we might just be able to pull this one off. Let’s do it.” I say, feeling as excited as a 6 year old on Christmas morning.
“Excellent.” Barry says. “I’ll register the club today and you can start posting. I suggest you start by telling everyone about your first season in charge so that they have a background knowledge. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Well my first season in charge at Aggborough was one of many ups and downs. With the chairman expecting a mid table finish in my first year, and the club to be an established side in the Blue Square Premier by the end of a two year plan.
My first worry is a lack of a back room staff. With only a Physio and Player/Assistant Manager (Neil Howarth). My first job then is to find a new back room team to help me with my job in hand. Before long I sign Rob Lee as a Player/Coach. He is quickly followed by a Goalkeeping Coach (Derek Roberts), Youth Coach (Wayne Kinniburgh), First Team Coach (Keith McCallister) and three Scouts (Andrew Dunlop, Jon Connor and Martin McColl).
Looking at my first team squad and I can see that it contains enough players of the quality required to succeed at this level. The key players that I’ll look to keep and build a squad around being:
Scott Bevan (27) GK
Paul Bignot (21) D RLC
Stuart Whitehead (30) D RC
Jonny Harkness (21) D LC, WB L
Mark Creighton (25) D C
Michael Blackwood (27) WB/AM L
Andy Ferrell (23) DM
Brian Smikle (21) AM R
James Constable (22) ST
With my scouts out scouring the reserve leagues of England and Scotland it’s time to start looking at strengthening the squad. Before I know what’s happening I get a call from the chairman to tell me that Aston Villa wish to be our parent club and what do I think? Yes please! And so my squad rebuilding starts with the season long loan capture of you Villa Striker Tobias Mikaelsson (18). He is soon joined by Centre Midfielder Bryan Hodge (19) from Blackburn Rovers and Central Defender Sam Oji (21) from Birmingham City both too on season long loans. I also get to spend my first bit of the transfer budget on two players. Striker Tomi Ameobi (18) joins from Leeds United for £3k, and Joe Anyinsah (22), who can play on either wing, signs from Preston North End for £2k. That would be the end of my signings before the season would kick off.
The pre-season friendlies sees us register 2 wins (Solihull Moors 3-2 and Barrow 2-1) and 3 defeats (St. Johnstone 5-1, Macclesfield 3-0 and Hinkley 4-1) with no player catching the eye. Although a few have done enough to suggest that they will not make it at the club.
Before the season kicks off I call the squad together to announce who will be Club Captain and Vice-Captain and what the expectations are for the season. Mark Creighton will wear the armband, with Stuart Whitehead as his back-up. A decision which all the squad seem to be happy with. The media are predicting a 9th place finish for the season, and I tell the players that as far as I’m concerned that is a minimum requirement. I want a play-off place. The chairman gives his usual “motivational” speech (involving the promise of a holiday in the Sun should we gain promotion) and then we let our hair down for the last time until next May.
A week later and the real thing begins….
We kick off with two home games. Firstly Burton Albion visit Aggborough. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the supporters. Not a single shot on target from either side means the game finishes 0-0. 3 days later sees the visit of Woking and it doesn’t get any better. Still not a single shot on target for us and we are lucky to escape with a 2-0 defeat. Already I can hear the supporters calling for my head. Something needs to be done and quickly.
Looking at the stats from the previous matches I see that, not only are my strikers struggling to hit the target, but we are not providing enough chances. This despite the fact I have the pitch as wide as possible to help my wingers create space. So I up the shooting and attacking training for all my forward line.
We then hit the road for the first of two back to back away games. First off is a trip to Plainmoor against pre-season title favourites Torquay United. We finally have our first shot on target, closely followed by our second which results in our first goal of the season thanks to Blackwood. But it’s not enough to secure a win as we travel back up the M5 with only a point following a 1-1 draw. A week later and we head north to Victoria Stadium to face Northwich Victoria. Despite finding ourselves a goal down at half time we are playing well, so I’m not surprised when, within 5 minutes of the re-start, we are 2-1 thanks to goals from Brian Smikle and Bryan Hodge, who grabs his first for the club. Once again though we fail to hold on to a lead and The Vics grab a late equaliser and we have to settle for a 2-2 draw.
We don’t have time to dwell on the match though as within 2 days we welcome Weymouth to Aggborough for the final game of the month. A game which sees us register our first win of the season. Two first half goals from Constable and Mikaelsson is enough to see us take the points. Despite a late consolation from the visitors.
We start September with a trip south to Crawley Town. Despite falling behind early on the reaction of the players is first class and just after the half hour mark Constable grabs us a deserved equaliser. The game dies down after that, but just as I think we are going to be heading home with only a point, our super-sub Tomi Ameobi grabs a last minute winner. Not a bad way to open your account! Our unbeaten run continues 3 days later following another boring 0-0 draw at home to Stafford Rangers. Already though I can see that too many home draws could cost us in the long run.
Despite struggling to win at home our away form is second to none. A trip to Droylsden sees us leave with 3 points thanks to a goal in first half stoppage time from Mikaelsson. Even the sending off of Whitehead with 14 minutes remaining doesn’t prevent the win. I decide to make a slight alteration to our tactics for the visit of Cambridge United a week later, in the hope that we could discover the winning formula at home. And it seems to work as we win 3-2. With a goal either side of half time from Blackwood and Hodge cancelled out by the visitors we once again grab a late winner thanks to a Constable penalty.
Buoyed by our late winner from the Saturday, we travel to Aldershot 3 days later to maintain our unbeaten away record. Brian Smikle grabbing the only goal of the game mid-way through the second half. That win takes us to second in the table. Behind run-away leaders Oxford United who are yet to drop a point. Keen to maintain pressure at the top we welcome Halifax Town to Aggborough And we couldn’t have asked for a better start, as straight from kick off Constable gives us the lead. Come half time, however, it’s looking bleak as we find ourselves 2-1 down and getting a battering. The second half sees a little improvement from my players and we snatch an equaliser thanks to a second Constable goal. Happy with a point I decide to tell the players to shut up shop, but they have other ideas as Mikaelsson grabs an 85th minute winner to send the home fans into raptures.
We look to extend our 9 match unbeaten run with a trip to Grays Athletic. It wasn’t to be however as we suffer our first defeat on the road. Going down 2-1, with all goals being scored in the first half. We look to bounce back with our final game of September at home to York City. Goals either side of half time from Constable and Hodge is enough to secure a 2-0 win and also win me the Manager of the Month award.
At the start of October Aston Villa decide to send us another player in the shape of Attacking Midfielder Yago Bellon (18), who is also comfortable on the right wing. He couldn’t have arrived at a better time, with Smikle injured and Anyinsah playing nowhere near as well as I like. With that in mind I hand Yago his debut for our trip to St. James Park to face Exeter City. At half time I can see that the curse of the MotM award has hit us as we trail 3-0. Fuming I read the players the riot act, and it works as Constable helps himself to a hat-trick and we travel back from Devon with a share of the spoils. 4 days later the reverse happens in the match at home to surprise package Forest Green Rovers. This time we find ourselves 3-0 ahead at half time, thanks to a brace from Constable and another from Mikaelsson. I warn the players to avoid being careless but clearly the players don’t listen as we end the game empty handed, going down 4-3 with the visitors scoring twice in injury time.
In our next game away at struggling Farsley Athletic we find ourselves a goal down within 5 minutes. But from that point on it’s all Kiddie, as we come home with a 4-1 win, a score that flatters our hosts. Constable helps himself to a brace to make it 8 goals in 4 games, with Hodge and a last minute 4th from Smirkle, on as a sub on his return from injury. Next up we face unbeaten Oxford United at home. The first half sees one way traffic as we play some of the best football I’ve seen all season. Despite our domination however, we come into half time with only a goal from Hodge to our name. The second half sees Oxford wake up and they grab 2 quick goals around the hour mark to travel home with all three points and a 2-1 win.
Our trip to Stevenage Borough could not have started any worse, as in form striker James Constable falls awkwardly on his ankle and has to leave the field on the 10 minute mark. With that loss you could see the heads of the players drop. And two goals in stoppage time of each half sees us travel home with a 2-0 defeat and the news that Constable will be missing for a month.
We end the month as we started, with a loan acquisition from Aston Villa. Attacking Midfielder Zoltan Stieber (19) joins us for 3 months. With our final game of the month being a home tie against Kettering in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round I hand a first start of the season to striker Isyden Christie. But it’s debutant Stieber that steals the show. Coming on as a 6th minute substitute in place of injured Andy Ferrell it’s not long before he helps himself to a brace in a 3-1 home win, Christie grabbing a late third. Not only do we lose Ferrell to injury, but also Blackwood sees red in stoppage time to earn himself a one match ban.
So our first three months of the season ends with us in 5th place in the league. Constable already looking favourite for player of the season, his loss at the end of October could cost us in the long run. Also promising displays from Hodge and Blackwood plus our three loan signings from Villa look hot prospects. The players who disappoint me though have been Oji, Anyinsah and Ameobi. Three players with obvious talent, but are failing to show it. As a result finding themselves in the reserves.
November would be a quiet month with only 4 matches (3 in the league). The first of which was away at struggling Altrincham. Despite missing a couple of key players through injury or suspension I was quietly confident we’d come home with the three points. But it wasn’t to be and we had to settle for a goalless draw. The following week saw us entertain Swindon Supermarine in the FA Cup First Round. The fans were looking for a big win, and when Stieber grabbed himself a brace before the 15 minute mark it looked like it could happen. That would be the end of our scoring however, and despite the visitors playing the entire second half a man light the match ended in a nervous 2-1 win. In the next round we get drawn at home to Bradford City.
We had a 10 day gap until our next fixture, at home to Rushden & Diamonds. It would also be our first game in front of live television cameras this season. And we didn’t disappoint the viewers, winning the match 4-1 thanks to goals from Ameobi, Mikaelsson, Smikle and an own goal. With Rushden helping themselves to a late consolation goal. That victory cemented our place in the play off positions, and we were still missing Constable! Full of confidence from the Rushden victory we headed to mid-table Histon looking to win. But they say things even themselves out over a season, and that’s certainly true. Histon grabbing a winner in the 93rd minute to win the game 1-0.
Whereas November was quiet, December was the opposite. Kicking off with our FA Cup 2nd round tie at home to Bradford City. Thinking we could pull off a cup shock we cruelly have a goal disallowed for offside in the opening few minutes. A decision that replays show was incorrect. With our heads starting to drop it’s not long before Bradford score what turns out to be the only goal of the game. The second half sees us put the league side under a bit of pressure but it wasn’t to be and that ends our FA Cup run for another season. We return to league action in mid week with the visit of high flying Salisbury City. A game of very little action sees a share of the spoils as a Christie goal just after half time cancels out the visitor first half strike. 1-1 a fair result between two sides fighting for a play off place.
Before our next fixture I release 4 youth players from the squad in an attempt to help reduce the wage bill. They all leave with my best wishes and I hope not to come back and bite me on the bum! For our next fixture away at Ebbsfleet United we are boosted by the return of James Constable. Not fully fit to start I have no qualms about putting him on the bench. The first half ends with little incident and goalless. The second half, however, couldn’t have started any worse as Andy Ferrell puts through his own net just 19 seconds after the re-start. Still trailing with 20 minutes to go I decide to introduce Constable, and what a substitution it turns out to be. As within 4 minutes he heads in the equaliser. Not content with that he also turns provider on 87 for Stieber to grab his 5th goal for the club and provide us with a 2-1 win.
There is a fortnight break until our next league fixture, although we do have a couple of cup games to contend with. The first being an FA Trophy 1st Round match at home to Nuneaton Borough. With Constable restored to the starting line up he picks up where he left off before he got injured and grabs a brace to give us an early two goal lead. That would be the end of the scoring for us though as Nuneaton battle back to reduce the deficit, but they are unable to grab an equaliser and we progress to the next round thanks to a 2-1 victory. Next up is a trip to Hyde in the 4th Round of the Sentana Shield. With Constable taking all the credit of late for goal scoring it’s Mikaelsson’s turn to steal the headlines. As he helps himself to 4 goals in a 5-0 victory, with late substitute Christie scoring in stoppage time.
With Christmas out the way we head to Woking for a late Boxing Day kick off, and in turn give our travelling supporters a late Christmas present. Coming home with all three points thanks to a brace from Constable and another late goal from Christie to win 3-1. All this despite falling a goal behind early on. Our final game of the year sees Torquay United visit Aggborough. And in a repeat of our game earlier in the season, we take an early lead, this time from Constable but Torquay manage to grab an equaliser to end the game 1-1 and go back to Devon with a point.
So we end the year in a respectable 6th place, outside the play off places on goals scored (1 less than Salisbury). All in all it’s looking good for the season and I’ll be looking to push on.
January starts off with the release of another 4 players, including veteran Jaff Kenna who only made one substitute appearance for us this season. We also welcome a new signing on New Years Day – Defensive Midfielder Scott McLaughlin (23) joins in a £3k deal from Scottish side Morton. We kick off the new years fixtures though with another Televised match, this time away at Burton. Clearly the reason it was picked was the fact that surely it couldn’t be as bad as the opening game of the season. Could it? Well it was! Yet again, not a single shot on target from either side, and a match of little incident sees another goalless draw. 4 days later and we’re back at Aggborough for the visit of Northwich Victoria, a game dominated by two of my loan stars from Villa. With Steiber and Bellon getting on the score sheet in a 2-0 victory.
The following weekend we are back in cup action as we travel to Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy 2nd round. It’s the end of another cup run though as we go down 1-0 with a lacklustre performance. A description that could not been given to our next match away at Weymouth, as we come home with a 4-2 victory, thanks to goals from Hodge, Constable, Mikaelsson and Steiber, in his last game for the club before returning to Villa Park. It was a short stay for Zoltan, appearing in 13 matches and grabbing 7 goals. This boy clearly has a future in the game and is someone I’ll be keeping an eye on.
With Steiber leaving the squad I unveil two new permanent signings for the club. Left Winger Martin Donnelly (19) joins on a free from Sheffield United and he is joined at the club by another Sheffield signing, this time from Wednesday, Luke Boden (19) who can play on either the left wing or up-front joins on another free transfer.
Our final game of January sees the visit of Crawley, but it turns into another boring match as we once again fail to hit the target and come out of the game with only a point after a 0-0 draw.
You must be Kidding? 
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