Letter From The Manager - Richard Kay

richard kay

LETTER FROM THE MANAGER

Well what a week. As always I will cover everything Southam United First Team, but as always I would firstly like to

welcome Garsington Athletic to Bobby Hancocks Park for today’s Last 16 Presidents cup tie. It’s not been long since we played them away in the league. Both clubs can agree it was probably one of, if not the, worst days for football weatherwise. It poured down for the entire afternoon and was so cold. We came away with a good away win but I saw enough from today’s visitors to know that today’s cup tie will be another tough game. It’s a one off cup tie where recent form and our past result and performance against Garsington weeks ago goes out the window. Today’s game will draw to a close back to back cup games over the last couple of weeks. Last week’s game at Gornal was what I expected. A cut and thrust cup tie between two of the most in-form step 7 teams in the Midlands. With Gornal being top of the West Midlands league and us playing away, I knew it would be a tough game. Again, after two weeks without a game I was very pleased with the overall performance. We started the game very well creating chances but as the first half went into the final twenty minutes Gornal probably shaded it and scored from a corner. Disappointed to concede from a set piece as it’s the first goal all season we have conceded from a set piece. Second half our reaction was superb. We took the game to Gornal and restricted them to moments on the counter attack. We created enough chances and clear cut opportunities to, at the very least, take the game to pens. We had a couple of guilt edge chances in the final 15 minutes that I would of put my house on a couple of our forward players taking. It wasn’t meant to be but again the fighting spirit and team spirit and

Head Coach Richard Kay

“togetherness was superb to take the cup tie all the way to added-on time, still with the game in the balance. Cup ties always come down to both boxes. Making good decisions and defending well in one box, and taking your chances in the other. If we are to progress in upcoming cup games we will need to be switched on defensively and take our chances. Obviously there has been some huge news off the pitch. Firstly, I agreed to extend as First Team manager for the next two and a half years. Just like the players over the last two and a half years, when you perform very well and consistently there will be interest. It’s no different for a manager. Recently there was a lot of interest and more concrete discussions with clubs. However, with the news of Mike taking over Southam United 2019, and the group of players and staff I have, it was the right decision for myself to stay on and continue the work I have done. I was never one for moving clubs mid season as a player and I’m not a manager that will ever jump ship mid season unless circumstances dictate. It would have weighed heavily on me to walk away from this group of players, my staff and supporters. Finally, it’s great news that Mike is now captain of the ship when it comes to 2019. I’ve worked closely with Mike over the last year and a half with the academy and he puts his heart and soul into the football club. We have an excellent professional relationship when it comes to football and business but we also have a very good friendship where we have absolute trust in each other. I don’t think Mike would have taken over the club without myself agreeing to stay on and I wouldn’t have extended at the club without sitting down with Mike and agreeing to build hopefully something special over the course of the next two and a half years and who knows beyond. Hopefully everyone associated with the club can see I’ve put my heart and soul into the first team since the re-launch. I have felt the weight of the club on my shoulders at times but hopefully now working alongside Mike and with Mike’s support I can focus just on managing the First team and Mike will focus on the running of the club and business side. It’s a new chapter off the pitch. Hopefully on the pitch over the next two and a half years will be as successful as the first two and a half. It’s been a roller coaster but it’s been so enjoyable. Enjoy today’s game UTS

Cup ties always come down to both boxes. Making good decisions and defending well in one box, and taking your chances in the other. “

Rich