BACK IN YELLOW AND READY FOR MORE

WORDS // RHIAN TILLEY

While sharp-eyed supporters will recognise Ross Feasey from his previous stint in Southam yellow, they might be surprised to see him a bit further back on the pitch, providing ever present strength, experience and support to his teammates around him from a more defensive position.

You’ve been involved with Southam for a bit now. How does it feel to be part of this group specifically?

I couldn’t have asked for a better group of lads, not only do we all play football together but we all have a great laugh no one is left out. With some teams you get certain clicks within the camp and its hard to figure out where you stand, but this team we all click. New players are welcomed with open arms and feel at ease from the moment they join.

How does the feeling around the club differ this season from seasons in the past?

The team that started the re-launch were very strong and went a very long time without losing a single game so the pressure was on us as a new team from the get go. Despite the pressure we are focusing on our season and making an even better name for the club going forward and with the players and staff we have now we are on the right track. You’ve been playing mostly on the back line for Rich this season. Is that your preferred position?

When I first joined the club two years ago I played as a striker trying to secure my position within a very strong team that had a strong strike force. It was very frustrating for me as

I’m not a quick as I use to be a few years ago so I made the decision to go and get more game time elsewhere. During this preseason I spoke with Rich and decided to come back. I helped out playing defense for the Stockton game and from then I never looked back. My love for the game came back and now I really enjoy playing at the back (forever bailing Adam Neale out)

As a defender, what’s better...A perfectly timed slide tackle, or a towering header?

For me it has to be a perfectly timed tackle, especially when the grass is wet, you just slide for what seems to be forever. Although, a good connection when you head the ball is always good, with me getting on a bit I cant jump a high as I use to. What parts of your game do you most enjoy bringing to the pitch on Saturdays?

For me it’s the whole day. From getting ready in the morning to turning up and seeing the lads, having a good warm up with the music on the speakers and going into the changing room for the last time before heading out. If I had to pick something I would say being vocal in the warm up and getting the lads going.

When it comes to preparation, training, and match day focuses, what has been the emphasis from the coaching staff?

A lot of it is personal preparation. Making sure we are ready for the game and understand our roles as individuals. This includes turning up to training and game days on time, having all your kit prepped, and sometimes doing our homework on the opposition. (Fail to prepare, prepare to fail)

Lots of emphasis is going into promotion this season, and staying very competitive in the league. You’ve seen over half the Oxfordshire Senior League sides so far this year, so how do you think this Southam team stacks up?

A lot of eyes are on us as a team; from supporters to the press and all other teams. We are a new team in the highest level the club has been at for a very long time. Every club is talking about Southam and how they can’t wait to come and play us at BHP. We are sitting in a very comfortable position at the moment with being 3rd in the league and a game in hand, as well as being in multiple cups. We have a very strong team and when we play to our strengths we can beat any team. Us boys will take on any team that the league puts in front of us.

What is the overall feeling in the changing room among the players considering we’re 3rd in the league, still alive in some of the cup runs, and have had a mixed bag of great wins and some big defeats?

The changing room is a great place to be before the game. Music blearing and the banter is flying around...Although some of the music is questionable. Before a game we don’t think about the league table just about the 11 men we are going out to play, if we win then we think about where we stand in the league table. Obviously promotion and a cup is our aim and we all believe this is achievable. But yes the changing room is a great place to be, still waiting for Alex to spit some bars though.

You weren’t able to be at the match against Cropredy, but I’m sure following the updates and final scoreline it would have been hard to take. What do you think this squad needs in order to bounce back from these tough league defeats.

I was gutted I couldn’t play. From what I hear it was a bad day at the office. We all have our off days and that was one. We will bounce back from that game. Its in the past now. We are still in a very strong position within the league and when we play Cropredy again it will be a different scoreline (because I’ll be there).

With such a big local match against Kenilworth this weekend, and coming off a local defeat the week before, where do you expect players’ heads to be and what can supporters expect from our side?

Yes, we took a defeat to an average team last week and I’m sure the lads felt like they let themselves down, the coaching staff and supporters. On a more positive note we all got together at training and spoke about this and are now in a strong mind set are ready for Saturdays game against Kenilworth. This game is huge for the club, a local derby and quarter final. Will be a great game for supporters to come down and enjoy watching Southam play the football we have all seen before, we will give it our all and hopefully come out on top and advance to the semi final.•