With the season on hold for a month at least, KSN took the time to catch up with Holmesdale FC manager Lee Roots on how the season has gone so far and his hopes for the rest of the campaign once we get going again.
Holmesdale currently sit fourth in the SCEFL Division One table with 15 points from 6 games played, plus they also got to the second round of the FA Vase.
Hi Lee, Thanks again for agreeing to do this.
How do you feel the season has gone so far for The Dalers?
“I hope you are well & safe Colin during these times. The season I feel has been excellent for us so far. I am delighted with how well the players have done & how well they have taken instructions & implemented them into games & our model of play, especially considering how last season ended with us on the crest of a title challenge & league promotion. There is a clear identity with us when you watch my teams play, and this has been drilled within our coaching from day 1, which my coaching staff must take the full credit for, they have been fantastic.
Obviously after lockdown 1.0, me & my staff was able to get to work with the players for much longer than a normal pre-season duration, & that work that was banked has showed evidently on the pitch so far this season. Personally I don’t feel any manager or coaches can use excuses this season for lack of performance… every staff member at all clubs had oodles of time to get there club & squad formed & built correctly, everyone was able to utilise more time with players on the training ground to coach & work with players in details & I believe this year that it is showing & highlighting a lot of clubs whose in house coaching & methods was well in place correctly.
Results for us have been superb, apart from 1 loss on the opening game of the season, away vs Kennington, where we played excellent on the day with 10 men, we have since gone on to win 7 straight games in a row, have gone on to win every league game we have played since the opening day & have also set new records for the club by reaching the FA Vase first round proper for the first time in the clubs history, also setting a brand new club attendance record vs AFC Uckfield Town!!
Last season we set even more records for the club by setting a new defensive record for goals against for the club, conceding just 4 at home. We currently are 14 months unbeaten at home in the league & to my knowledge, myself & the club still holds the highest ever SCEFL league victory when we won 12-1, away vs Crockenhill in 2017.
There is a long way to go this season for all clubs, lots of twists & turns like all seasons but the lads have been fantastic as a group now for a good number of years, & we will look to continue our run of form & hard work when we return in December.
What would your highlight of the season be so far?
“That’s actually a really tough question as they have been lots of highlights for us so far this year. I think the main highlight so far must be the 2 FA Vase wins, which granted us passage into the first-round proper for the first time ever in the club’s history. We played excellent in both games, winning them both convincingly & scoring some truly excellent team goals along the way. What was most pleasing for me with this cup run was to be able to give back to the club, to give back to the chairman & all the board & committee members who support me so much. I am given all the backing & tools I need to undertake my job correctly & successfully, something I am hugely appreciative off. From top to bottom the club is flourishing on & off the pitch, with everyone from committee, to staff, to players, all are working towards achieving the common goal & targets that we have set for ourselves & this day was a great day for everyone involved. Many more good days to come!”
With teams currently not allowed to train how have you been managing to keep in touch with the squad?
“We gave the players the bulk of the first week in lockdown off. You must take into consideration not only the players bodies, so keeping them active & fresh but also just as important the players mindsets during this break for November. So, we allowed the players some days to relax, accept the break we have ahead & just to get there focus & motivation in the right places for when we wanted it. We are lucky here at the club as a few of my players are personal trainers, so my assistant manager Mike Parker & head coach Tuner Bayram have designed some training programme for the lads, for them to undertake & work on during the lockdown break. Weekly zoom calls, regular chats to players & individual training programmes along with the team-based work is what we have tasked the players with. Adam Porter our GK has been liaising specifically with the GK’s & DF’s, & Platini Tshipamba our analysis coach has been working in details on the VEO equipment, & these are about as far as you can take it before it can become information overload to the players. Again, we are lucky as we have not only and very extremely talented & hungry squad, but a very professional squad also regarding the players approaches. We are counting down the days now till we can return.”
If we are to get going again in December will the team need a couple of friendlies to get back some sharpness and match fitness?
“It’s a very valid point Colin & probably would need some serious consideration from the bodies that be at the FA & Kent FA when we are granted permission to return back to training & playing games. Every club would be available to play games, so arranging friendlies would be no issue, but the main question probably would be the timing side of things. How long would we need to build players back ready into games? Will we be given a chance for any friendlies or we all be expected to return & get back to things straight away. I think at this stage it is a grey area that a lot will be considering. For us, we already have plans for some games prior to our restart, utilising our own in-house development U23 squad to help get all players sharper & aid towards there match fitness. Hopefully, we will find out more soon on that point.”
The fixtures schedule was heavy enough with the late start to the season, how do you think clubs will cope with even more games to cram in before the end of May?
“Yes, the fixture schedule has been a lot more packed & busier than what was the normal here in the SCEFL leagues, & at step’s 6 & 5. Obviously, that was to be able to get & complete as many games as early as possible in-case a PPG average would be needed to conclude a season if any more lockdowns in 2021. No one has grumbled our end about the fixture schedule, I think after 3 months being locked down & then 3 months on a pre-season campaign…. anyone would have probably taken 2 or 3 games a week if they could, but of course the challenge that comes with a very busy fixture schedule is that of in regard to players fitness, managing correctly squad rotation & managing injuries & players. Pitches are then the next challenge, maintaining them as best as possible whilst playing so many games is not easy at non-league level, especially whilst clubs operate in a new post COVID-19 world. I personally would like to applaud & congratulate all the board members at Holmesdale for all their work, & we will finish it with success come end of season.”
It must be tough for players and management to fit in so many games alongside work and all the other commitments life comes with?
“I think that’s the main thing that gets lost in translation now days, which is just how tough it has become for some people & players to remain within football since COVID. To be as dedicated, as committed & as competitive as before whilst dealing with all the other pressures of life, work & family outside of football. I truly believe football is a family feel team game, a team game where you need to live & die by your brothers in arms & respect & follow the lead of your management. That includes supporting each other on & off the pitch. At non-league level there is a sacrifice for everyone involved, these are choices you make as a person to be committed & these choices have never changed, but of course these have just become a lot harder for some during the pandemic. Yes it can be tough to juggle stuff in players lives in order for them be able to remain dedicated to the game they love, but more than ever this is the time to truly appreciate & to love the game like you never have before. Football is no longer an option, it’s a luxury to have it in your life & we use the environment that we have built here at Holmesdale to help everyone combat these issues, to remain focused, committed & dedicated & acting professional towards aiding them as players & as men & helping to grow there football careers.”
As a management team have set any targets for the season.
“As a management team we are extremely ambitious & committed in all we do. I have an incredible group of staff alongside me (whom all deserve huge admiration for their work), & we have set some huge targets to achieve this year. To tell you them all now at this stage would not be wise, but we certainly first & foremost want to complete the job we started last year regarding league promotion. To continue to set even more records for the club & continue to grow the club for this season, next season & for many more years of success after that.”
Good luck and thanks again…
“I would also just like personally thank yourself Colin & KSN for all of your support.
I know you have been at a lot of our games so far this year, which is always great to see you at, your support & awareness for the club goes along way for us thank you!
We have developed some great support, new supporters & fans last season & have seen even more attend & follow the club this year. We have had great local support, such as from Paul, Eddie & all the guys who follow Bromley FC, whom you are all always welcome at Oakley Road when we return. The beer will be chilled ready!
I hope everyone reading this is healthy & remaining safe & I look forward to seeing you down at Holmesdale in December for a game!! #COYD”
Rootsy