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Hello, Firstly I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Jamie Waggett and yesterday I was appointed manager of newly promoted Welsh Premiership side Airbus UK. This is my first managerial appointment and I take over from the man who bought me to this club in the first place - Rob Lythe.
After the clubs surprise promotion from the Cymru Alliance League Rob felt he wouldn't be able to give the club all the time it needed and subsequently stepped aside, the chairman Mr Sutton immediately made it clear I was the man who he wanted to take charge, so here I am. I was very surprised to be given the chance but I don't mind after all I'm at that stage now as a player where this season was possibly going to be my last anyway - after all I am thirty-six years old. I think being the oldest member of last seasons squad, as well as being the only one with any coaching qualifications - although minimal, might have had something to do with it though.
Yes, I was a player, something I'll be carrying on as for this season at least, although I guess our small support might ask why? At my age most players hang up their boots - especially once they get the chance at management or concentrate on either coaching or ventures outside of the game, but I just don't fancy doing that just yet - football is all I've ever known, I would quite frankly and more sadly on my part be lost without it. To be honest this appointment is possibly the highlight of my career, one full of low-lights I guess you could say - this isn't going to be one of those "I could have been a contender" stories. It was pretty obvious to me and the majority of the managers I've served under I was never going to be anything more than a solid pro, although for quite some time now I've been strictly amateur, or semi-professional as it's now sometimes known.
My first club were Derby County and they'll always be in my heart. This, despite them releasing me at nineteen, without making a single appearance for the first team. You see, I was born in Derby and grew up supporting the club, basically from birth. I saw them lift two First Division titles during the seventies and then struggle against mediocrity during the early eighties before again getting into the top flight before their subsequent relegation, then promotion and latterly relegation, again.
From there I spent an unsuccessful spell at Chesterfield - twenty-five games and twelve goals, not bad you might say, it was however stretched out over four years. Next was a series of unsuccesful trials with a few clubs and played a season in the reserves at Cardiff City, before eventually decided it was the time to drop out of the league, this time to join Barry Town - I was just twenty six.
As my career as a professional footballer was effectively over, I felt it was time to earn some money outside of the game, I started working in a small office but played regularly for the Dragons over a seven year spell where the club and myself enjoyed a lot of success. When they went professional I decided it was time to move on as I didn't want to, and really couldn't commit to the training regimes. I joined Cymru Alliance side Lex IX, scoring a fair few goals in the process but things eventually went sour so when Rob Lythe offered me the chance to join Airbus UK, I did.
As a player I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. I started out as an out-and-out striker - I had pace, was strong and somehow had a knack of always being in the right place at the right time but as I grew older my pace faded, as so often is the case and I dropped back slightly, playing either as second striker, in central midfield or out wide on the right. To be honest, I didn't mind where I played - just as long as I did.
As a person I like to think of myself as calm and approachable, something I hope will stand me in good stead as a manager. This is going to be a monumental season for the club and I just hope we can make the step up and survive - both on the pitch and fiscally - the chairman might not like the thought of having to put money into the side but if we're to stand any chance, then quite frankly he's going to have to.
You would think that with nearly a full month (twenty-eight days to be exact) to go until our first league game that we'd be well into pre-season training by now, but well unfortunately you'd be wrong. One thing I didn't realise when I decided to take over as manager was just why Rob was stepping aside. The reason is that last seasons squad have all decided not to make the step up - deciding instead to concentrate on earning a living whilst playing regularly at lower levels - fair play to them, but it's left me with a massive headache. At the moment the playing squad stands at well - ME! Bloody hell, what have I let myself in for.
Fortunately I'm not alone at the ground today, yes I'm dedicated aren't I? Coming in on a Sunday! Lee Evans - the clubs lone scout is here (boy is he going to be busy), as is physio Phil Martin (hopefully he won't be) and I'm glad, I needed the company.
When I said ground just, well it's not actually our ground as this season and possibly for sometime to come we'll be playing at Conwy United's 'Morfa Conwy,' it holds some four thousand spectators and is just slightly better than our actually ground - situated inside the grounds of the Aircraft factory in Broughton. Yes, I did say Aircraft Factory. I think it's time I filled you in on the brief history of Airbus UK. I'll let the Welsh Premiership web site take over for a bit...
"The club was formed 1946 and has played in both Chester & district League and Wrexham area. Their last move into the Welsh pryamid system saw them canter into the Welsh National League (Wrexham area) Division Two title during the 1991-92 season. Which they won it by a clear 19 points from Gresford Reserves.
In that season they won 28 of their 34 matches and scored a remarkable 130 goals, an average of almost four goals a game. They also reached the NEWFA cup final losing narrowly to Gresford.
They then spent four seasons in Division One, the first two seasons they finished sixth while in third season they finished two places better in fourth. Season 1995/96 however saw a further promotion. They could only finish runners up to Wrexham Colts at the end of the campaign, but it was enough to see them move into the Premier Division of the Welsh National League along with the Colts.
Once again they spent four seasons in the division, the first two saw steady consolidation in finishing 7th and 6th. The 1998/99 season saw them push hard for the title but they could only finish runners up a mere two points behind eventual champions Corwen.
The following season they went one better and won the title with 21 victories from 30 matches. They ran out champions by four points ahead of Ruthin Town and Penycae. This meant promotion once again, this time into the Cymru Alliance League for the first time in their history. To coincide with the promotion the club changed its name from British Aerospace to Airbus UK.
Their first season in the Cymru Alliance was something of a struggle, but they eventually finished the season a creditable 11th place with 10 wins and 14 defeats in their foot and mouth-disrupted season. As was the pattern with the club after previous promotions, the second season saw a steady improvement and last season the club finished in eighth spot with 16 wins.
The Wingmakers, as they are known, have carried out steady improvements to their ground sited just inside the massive Airbus Works in Broughton. A new stand has been built, with proposed changing rooms just behind still in the building phase. The pitch has been enclosed, but as yet has only one side of the ground hard standing.
The club is clearly ambitious. Last season they achieved their highest ever finish of fifth spot in the Cymru Alliance League and reached the NEWFA cup final,losing narrowly on penalties.
Now firmly established as Airbus UK, the club has changed its name with the factory - Vickers-Armstrong, de Havilands, Hawker Siddeley, British Aerospace and Bae Systems."
With our lovely lack of players and desperation setting in, well our first friendly is on Wednesday! I've put out a mammoth call to all clubs in Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as contacting a few agents slightly further afield - basically if a player wants a game, we'll be more than happy to look at him and give him a game - if we think he's up to it, he'll get a contract. Simple this management lark, one problem - so far no takers. Suddenly I'm getting a sinking feeling from my stomach.
It's increased when Mr Sutton calls me to talk to me about finances. Like him, it's not pretty. I'll have no funds to pay fees for players this season and it's unlikely I'll have any next season either, or the season after that and so on. Apparently, somehow, Mr Sutton doesn't seem to know how but we are £375,000 in debt. Lovely, no wonder Rob didn't want to stick around!
Tuesday 24th July 2001
With our friendly at 'home' to English Second Division side Chesterfield just twenty-four hours away I make my first signings for the club, albeit on loan. Yes! Signings - four to be exact - Peter Cormack, a left back from Scottish Third Division side Albion Rovers, another left back Emrys Williams from fellow Welsh Premier side Caernarfon Town, striker Matthew Price from Haverfordwest County and Floyd Gilmour, also a striker from Irish side Derry City. Training was interesting, still not quite enough for a decent game though. I don't think the lads quite realise what they've put themselves in for.
Learn To Fly 
good start, looking forward to more of it.
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