The Shifnal Town and Shropshire Football Podcast
A weekly football podcast dedicated to all football in Shropshire.
The Shifnal Town and Shropshire Football Podcast
Episode 2 - Jayson Starkey (Whitchurch Alport)
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Listen to our interview with Whitchurch Alport Manager, Jayson Starkey, as well as the latest results in Shropshire.
Right, well here we are at With Church. Jason Starkey. Welcome. Thank you. Yeah, thanks for having us, thank you. Yeah, you're our first uh interviewee. We couldn't have a better bloke. Privileged, thank you very much for having me. And this is episode two of the Schiffnell Town and Shropshire football podcast. I had to read that, Rick.
SPEAKER_00You've you've done well remembering it anyway.
SPEAKER_01Right, and for new listeners and watchers, uh what we're about. Well, we start with Shiftnell Town, and then we're gonna talk about all the football in Shropshire. Yeah, and there's a lot of football, and there's a bit of gossip most of the time. A little bit of gossip. So we'll um I was gonna uh start with uh your uh games, but firstly, Rick, over to you and Schiffnell. Yeah now you're not allowed to boot.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so FA Cup at the weekend, um a good two win one win over Clay Cross Town. But I'll tell you what, for a step five side, they were they were good. They were really, really good.
SPEAKER_01And they played football the right way. They did, and they didn't diving and nothing, was there?
SPEAKER_00And in all honesty, the final score, if it had been 5-5, there wouldn't have been any complaints, they were that good.
SPEAKER_01Well, they were the first 20 minutes, it was their game, wasn't it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so Schiffman did well to overcome that and get through to the next round. And then last night we were at home to Lichfield City in the league. Uh, we knew it was obviously gonna be a tough test against Matty Lovitt's lads. Um, but we weathered the storm for the first 30 minutes, uh, took a 1-0 lead, and then they equalised, and then uh we managed to sneak a goal just before half time through Lewis Jarman, and then second half to be honest. I thought Schiffnell really dominated for most of the game. But saying that, um conceded a bit of a sloppy goal towards the end uh to make it 3-2, and then uh Jack Odnett scored a bit of a wonder goal from deep inside his own arse to be fair. It was a really good finish. What was unusual, it went all along the ground. It did, yeah. Yeah, yeah. The keeper had come up to try and score a goal for his team, but um Hoddy caught him out, didn't he?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and uh it it I don't think I've ever seen one just rolling like that.
SPEAKER_00It was it was a really unique goal, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01And however fast they tried to run, yeah, yeah, and I think it was a fair reflection four-two rather than three-two, to be honest.
SPEAKER_00Definitely, because I thought, you know, whereas Andy Witcherly in goal had quite a lot to do against Clay Cross Town, he was um relatively quiet against Lichfield, wasn't he?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Right. Well, we'll run to the results before we get to talking about um Witchurch as a whole. So uh but but we'll start because um you know uh you're the biggest team um at the levels uh below Schiffnot, yeah. And uh so you had your away win uh at Hanley, yeah? Is that the weekend? No at Hinckley. Hinckley, sorry, yeah. No, I wish I could win at Hamley. So that's a big win that's it's an easy place to go, is it Hinckley?
SPEAKER_02Uh no, it's not. Um and it's it's a lovely setup that they've got there, so they do ground show on the on the 3G. So we made the trip on Friday night with it being the FA Cup. So um so they they share with um Barwell, I think the the other team that they share with. So um we managed to get Iris and numb a couple of weeks ago, so we're aware of what to sort of expect. Um, again, another step five team. But I think majority of step five teams now have have a good understanding and philosophy and way of playing, and there's some very good players at step five. Um, so we we knew that obviously if we went there and we weren't at it, we could be in for a difficult night, and for 45 minutes we were we were second best all over. Uh, and we were lucky to go in at one all to be fair. That was only all right. That was only holding, yeah, popping up, doing what Oliver's best. Um, but for the majority of that of that first half, it was it was defence for the attack, uh, really, in terms of we couldn't really make any combinations, couldn't get the ball down, couldn't find each other. Um, so we addressed a few things at half time. They caught us out a little bit with their change of shape from what we'd seen and what we got sort of reported on uh how they would play. Uh so we cut caught a little bit cold of that, but second half we addressed it and we were far better second half. And cut football as as sort of Schiff and all found out it's just about winning and being in the in the hat for the next round. What's Oli Alden's background in terms of like has he been at Whitchurch long? Uh so he's been here for for three seasons now. Um he he he he come through uh the academy system, uh, believe it was with Stoke uh and also sort of Nat which time, uh and then he's he he's from the area as well, so he's from Whitchurch. Um so he's been here now for the three years that I've been here. He he's had to bide his time at times, he's had to wait. Um he's done that, he's been patient. And I've always known that there's there's a player there, and we're we're starting to see that. And we saw obviously last season with when he stepped up after the the change that that happened and the players that moved on, he he decided to stay. Um, and he sort of uh he's rewarded us with that with that loyalty. Um we've rewarded him as well. Um so he's currently our number nine, um, and he's uh thankfully continued where he left off last season.
SPEAKER_00He's looked good.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And uh who was your goal scorer in the second half on Saturday? So it was Tom Allen from a from a corner in the 85th minute. Right. Um so again, really pleasing because that's something that we've been working on in in pre-season the summer. Uh, because I'm a big believer that set plays were a great opportunity, and last season we didn't utilise it enough. So uh for Tom Allen to sort of get a bullet header. Um he won't like me saying this, but it was definitely an ice shot and head down and hope for the best moment, but it uh it hit the net, and thankfully the uh the travelling fans got to have a cheer, and it was uh it was a thankful drive back after sort of a two-one win. Coventry United in the next round? In the next round, so already aware of sort of what's that last season. Yeah, yeah, we know them well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I had the pleasure of listening to Johnmy Holides on Coventry Radio.
SPEAKER_02Wonderful. So, yeah, we've already got Ice with obviously they had a good season last year, uh getting promoted from step five as well, so um well aware of sort of some of the threats that we've we can expect from them as well. So again, FA Cup, it's it's what you what you sort of dream of as a kid. So I talk about now the the modern day sort of player, these young lads, they dream about playing in the uh the Champions League final, but for me back in the day it was playing at Wembley FA Cup. I'm just playing in the FA Cup, yeah, and certainly coming from Wales and in terms of that background, I I spoke with it in the changing rooms the the opportunity, and I spoke a little bit about the history of the FA Cup and our history as a football club and sort of it's uh it's a privilege to play in this competition.
SPEAKER_01And this sends a shudder down my spine. Come on, Brockton on Saturday.
SPEAKER_02Brockt, I mean they don't come harder, uh they don't come under, you know, they don't uh looking to sort of get something against them because they again well aware. So of course there's been a few changes there, um, comings and goings and sort of management as well. Uh but the the sort of blueprint that what Brockt do and do really well will still be there with with the manager that they've now got so uh well aware. So from here we're we're off to training tonight to to sort of run through the the final little game.
SPEAKER_00Has he moved on? I wasn't aware of that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I believe so. So they um so there's an internal change uh within so um yeah, we're looking to sort of see how how we go with that. Alright, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Best of luck with that one as well. Uh on behalf of Shropshire, yeah. You know, uh and then the uh uh the other sort of uh I think it's step five, it might be uh uh you tell me Hellenic Division One could be step six, couldn't it? That I believe so. But uh we've got Ludlow in the Hellenic Division One, we've got Ludlow Town one, Clamfield one. I tell you what, it's really hard to find find things about Ludlow. Their social media don't tell you anything. And then you go on the Hellenic League and they they're sparing on there. So uh but I can tell you Ludlow dropped the first points of the season, uh, so that's seven from nine. Um, but the third, so that's gonna be that's gotta be good for them. So on to this is the I don't know if you've looked at this, Jason, but the Northwest Counties League and Shorts. I do indeed, yeah. What a league that league, yeah. So uh running through, we had the um Edward Case Cup, uh second game in four game uh four days between the two clubs, Bridge North to Bilston to, but Bridgeau won it on penalties, and that was after they give uh had a good win. Uh yeah, they did at Bilston, didn't they? Yeah, yeah. Um Evans and Tuckley for Bridge North, 147 at that one. And then I was at the game that Bridgeot played on um Tuesday night at Wentzfield. Yeah, that ended up 1-1. Uh big crowd for Wentzfield, about 140 odd, you know, in the screws. So they've made a good start, Bridge North, have they? Yeah, good team.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, of the Shropshire Cup here last season. Yeah. Uh so yeah, well aware sort of the collector that they've got, and they're they're very much a workhorse team, and they they do the non-negotiables and will fight for every first second for the goal. And if you if you're not at it, uh you will lose to one.
SPEAKER_01And if you're listening out there uh at Bridge North, we'd like to have you on.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. I think we've we're working behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_01They've got some. Wait, well, Turts has uh followed me on Facebook. Well, there you go. Step closer. So that's a step in the right direction. Then we got Dawley 2, uh Brayton Social 3, Jones and Healy for Dawley, attendance 135. There's some good attendants. Good attendance, yeah. Please. And um last uh I think they've got Wolves Cassies the weekend. Big game at the weekend isn't it's a tough one. Cazzies, obviously, after last night's resort, I think we'll be looking for a bit sore. They'll be looking for a while. Everybody listening, they lost uh well, we'll come to that when we're gonna get it. Yeah, Market Drayton 3, Crew 0, Hanley and Manhurt, uh, and Amando Wood, and again, um 150 at that one. And then uh last on Tuesday night it was Market Drayton won, Telford Town nil, attendance 316 at that week. Fantastic, yeah. Goals from Macintosh for um Telford Town, and I see Joe Cook was on the subs bench.
SPEAKER_00Oh, okay, yeah, and the manager slacked the day afterwards.
SPEAKER_01If you've heard that, that the uh managers departed from Telford Town, and we're hearing some gossip on the grey pine. Have you heard any gossip on the grey pine?
SPEAKER_02Uh always heard little bits here and there.
SPEAKER_01Uh would it would it be anything to do with Lichfield? Would you say? Uh would it we be warm? Well there's always gossip around. That's always gossip around football. You heard it first on the podcast. And then we've got um so you can get this guessing, and and it's not the current uh managers at Lichfield either. So, and then we've got uh Foley Me and Nil, Shawbury United two, so and Cooper for them, and uh then we've got uh the other night all Scott Heath three, Shawbury four, yeah. That's a great result for them, Pickford two, uh Lewis getting a goal there, 165.
SPEAKER_00There doesn't seem to be many nil-nil in this league, does there? Well too.
SPEAKER_01Matthew Boswell's doing a bloody good job there, isn't he? Yeah, you know, and he's got to be happy with their results. Uh also at the weekend we've got New Mills two, All Scott Heath uh two, James uh and Allen for them, and at the weekend Telford Town did have a win, so uh you could say it was a bit severe on the manager, wasn't it? Yeah, it seems a bit soon. Telford Town three, Al Sager two, Brown and Arnie and uh doors, attendance is 70. So what do we reckon? Toughly, toughly um I bet you're glad you're not in that. I'm glad we're not in that stuff. Yeah. Now what we're also doing in this, and um uh we we try and cover all the um Shropshire football. So uh now it's called I'm calling it TJ Vickers, but you're calling it the uh Ledger League, aren't you?
SPEAKER_00They catch well yeah you've got the TJ Vickers Cup, but it's based on the Salab Legisleague team. Yeah, salap Ledger League. Okay, that's what I know about salableisher league.
SPEAKER_01But before we get to that, more importantly, we've been uh featuring some the best Shropshire shirt.
SPEAKER_00Did you see that? Well to be fair, I think we're churches up there. You're in you're in the white and gold, it's not, isn't it? Beautiful shirt, yeah.
SPEAKER_01But I have to say, FC Nations, that that that sort of very colourful. I love the badges on that. So if you're out there, you know, we wouldn't mind a freebie. Market Drayton, they've got a nice shirt as well. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And uh have you heard of the Reeking View Sunday League team? Yeah, well, we we know them quite well. There's a few chiffnal connections there. Oh right, go on then. Yeah, um so uh Troy Greer. Yeah, yeah, so that's his team. Um there's I think there's a few, I think Booty, Brad Bood, I think he played for him and a few others. So uh have they changed the name from last season? I think they were Reeking View last season. Oh right. Different kit, different kit, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Well they're very professional, very smart. So uh, yeah, so okay, so uh anybody else with any um contenders? Send them in the pictures. So, right, uh TJ Vickers League uh week one. Well, we started off with All Brighton playing Church Stretton. All Brighton won, Church Stretton five. I went to this and I'd I'd put a bit of video on the um on our website. Now, Church Stretton um playing black and white, I knew that black and stripes, but apparently so do all Brighton stripes. I was thinking All Brighton had took and then people say no, that's Church Stretes. Confuse me that as well, yeah. But it finished Albright and won Church all Brighton playing Wolverhampton, am I dad, as well? Which seems a bit odd. But Albrighton won Church Stretton five, Barrick Hill, Holdsworth, uh Rogers and Murdoch for them. And um Tuesday we got Church Stretton three with Cole Hill and Rogers uh scoring, and uh Shrewsbury up and comers two, so that was a decent game.
SPEAKER_00They lost last game of the season to Dawley, didn't they, for the title? Uh Church Streton, so they're they're always there or thereabouts.
SPEAKER_01Good side, good side. Yeah, see them up there. Yeah, a lovely ground. Yeah, yeah. And then we got uh all scope all scope all Scott Reserves won, Mormond eight. Big win. Mormond have got to be uh that's their first team, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Obviously, they didn't have a season they wanted, did they, at step six and found difficult for now? Obviously, making that season. They're a big fish in that in that league, aren't they?
SPEAKER_01And Ellesmere Rangers won, uh, Bridgenorth Spartans won, Greybrook and um Omen for Bridge North Spartans, and Bridgenorth Spartans played last night as well. They played Dawley Town Swiss, they beat him 1-0. And again, no gossip here, but we heard uh uh via Bakes that uh there was a bit of uh few shenanigans at that game. Oh dear. No no uh no names. No names, no if you want to uh find out get in touch with Bates. Mind you, I think that's the general. Yeah, the general now you'll have to help me, Eric. Lanin Lanny Nick Lanamuk. There you go. Telford Town Reserves three, Whitaker and uh Inyorka two. Um Regan Smith was playing for Telford, it can't be that one, can it? Might well be. Yeah, I don't know, we'll see. And then we got uh Wem to Dorley Townswifts nil, Whitchurch Allport one, Rockwadine Wood Jr.'s nil. Yeah, that's a good result because Rockadine Wood are a force in that division, aren't they? Clifton is he uh on the fringe of the first team?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, he there's recruitment's been really good with the 46 days, so um yeah, Matty uh Matty's stepping stepping away and sort of Caddy stepping up and he's kept the core there, but the a few new faces as well, so really please that he's he started really well.
SPEAKER_01FC Nations 2 with their lovely shirt and Shrewsbury Up and Comers 1, Anthony and Lewis for them, and that was played at Shrewsbury Sports.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think they had a good attendance there as well, didn't they? On the Friday night, I think.
SPEAKER_01And uh last night, which was uh Wednesday night, we had Lana Monarch again one, Ellsby and Rangers 10, so they got over the poor start, and uh surprisingly no attrict in that game, but two for Bailey, Oliver and Clayton, and Telford Town Reserves one, Arcle Rangers five. Now I've got to ask you this. There was a Josh Porties.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I spotted this, yeah. There's not many Porties. No, no relation, but it looks good to see the name out there claim to fame there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and uh Wem Neil with Churchill Port 4, two for Clifton, he's knocking on the door, and Whitchurch a joint top. Good night, it's very good. And lastly, just to show I really do uh do my research, the Herefordshire Premier Division. Do you know much about this one? No, we've got Cleal United nil, Hereford Lads Club 10, that's a big win, and Ludlow Town Reserves won, Ledbury five, so it was a poor weekend for uh our teams in that league. And so what we do is we do a result of the week. Yeah. Oh, we're gonna do one anyway. Definitely now I think that in Ink you know, blowing no smoke, but Inkley won Witchurch 2 is a big win, yeah. Yeah, but I also thought the bridge north uh results against Billston was worthy of a mention, yeah. So um we'll we'll have a think about it, okay. We have a think about that, I'm yeah, more than happy to share that. We're now gonna do it the uh the Jason interview on move no problem. This makes good viewing, it does, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Right, so Jason, um you were at Witchurch before as assistant manager, is that correct? Yes, indeed. And then you obviously got promoted to the job of manager, and as we spoke about before we started, it was quite a time of transition for the club because, as well as the manager departing, a lot of players followed as well.
SPEAKER_02We did.
SPEAKER_00And um talk about how you kind of built rebuilt to where you are now.
SPEAKER_02So, first and foremost was it was about sort of just steadying the ship. So um I I spoke sort of briefly about it last time on the um on the show that stepping in it was it wasn't sort of for seen on my part, uh it was quite a big shock when Adam informed us that he was he was gonna be moving on. Um but this club has got a sort of great history, and sort of I wanted to look to continue that, and so where they got the opportunity to step up, it of course it was something that wasn't gonna sort of turn down and walk away from. The the players that I was well aware that some players would move on, that that's part of of the job and and nature of the beast. Um the level of players and the number of players that did move on was maybe a little bit more of a shock um than what I was sort of expecting. Um, but thankfully we've got a great sort of recruitment team in sort of Andy Steele that was on the on the show last time when you were here. He's good, Andy, indeed. He's brilliant. He's always on to me. Have you got the contact for him? Or you got the he will be, yeah. He's fantastic, and a lot of credit has to go out to to sort of him and his team. So there's there's a team behind the team, um, and they've worked really hard to sort of get us the right player. So we were looking at not only the player but the person, and that's a big sort of part of what I believe in, making sure that we can bring in any Tom Dick or Harry, but they have to make sure they understand what we're looking for and how we want to do it and the process. Uh, for some people, it they were with us for a short part of the of the journey, for some they're still with us. Uh, and obviously, this summer was a great opportunity to really get sort of my grip and sort of feel of what I wanted and how I wanted to do it.
SPEAKER_00So, roughly off the top of your head, how many new faces have come in for this season that haven't played for you before?
SPEAKER_02For this season, I think we're some about eight players. Um, still a couple more to come as well. Um, so we've still got a few looking to come in this week. Um, I'm not I'm not disappointed with what we what we've got and the start that we've made, but I'm well aware that this is a long old season and so the the league becoming bigger first and foremost uh increases the the number of games. Uh we want to do well in the cup competition, so if we if all goes to plan, we could be playing around about 50 games of football this season. So it's really important that uh we've got a group that buy into what we do. Um of course you can only pick 11 and five subs, so there's people that are disappointed, but then it's down to to myself and the and the sort of the rest of the staff to make sure that we're managing it the right way because come sort of November, December, January when the games again come thick and fast, and you're gonna start to get a few injuries and the pitches get heavier. Um that's when the the group as a whole uh becomes really important. So the new players that we brought in have all sort of fitted in. Whereas last season I I used the analogy about sort of we've got um round pegs and square holes. Uh what we've gone and done this year is we've got the the the round pegs for the round holes and the square pegs for the square holes. So really pleased with how our recruitment's gone. Um, I think the the whole sort of environment that we've got here at the minute is is really good, so you can see the success that we're having sort of with the first team with the 46 team and also with our 18s as well, uh, is really good. Um, the women's side are sort of continued to develop as well. So the whole place at the minute's really good, and of course, whilst you're winning games of football, that that continues. And what sort of attendance are you getting at the moment? Um, so we're just over 200 at the minute. Um, and and again, winning games of football helps out. Yeah, I tell you, the public are turning up in Shropshire for Gaionzo on the board, it's healthy, isn't it? That helps out the rate to see. And what um what I I do like as well, so you you may have seen that we we've moved our sort of pre-week or our home fixtures midweek to a Monday night. Right. So that's something that the club did a few years ago. Um, and you do pick up the odd sort of straggler here and there because Tuesday, Tuesday fixtures. You may have we we look at our sort of the the radio surrounders, we've got Shrewsbury down the road, we've got Nantwich, you've got crew, you've got Port Vale. So when these teams are having games as well, plus the non league setup that's around, when is the game? On Tuesday, including the Champions League, a lot of people may stay and watch that on the tally, or they pop Shiftnall or Market Drayton or wherever it may be. Uh, but on a Monday night, there's not really that much to do. So hopefully, we'll start to pick up a few.
SPEAKER_01I think looking at the attendancies, they're going to market Drayton. They are, yeah. Great, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So linking the geography into your pre-season, have you been able to find that a lot of your players that you've recruited are local, or have you had to kind of look beyond the locality which both.
SPEAKER_02Um, so we've one of one of the players that we we brought in is is Jack House, so he's he's a Telford. Um so I think he's with with Shishnov for a couple of years ago as well, wasn't he? So um I had a connection with with Jack um a few years ago when he he came into Kevin Druids for a little bit, so I've I've been sort of keeping an eye on his career and how he's how he's developed in his journey, um, and it was the right time to look to to sort of bring him in. So he's what I would call a Shropshire local lad, um, but then sort of slightly further afield we brought in um Tyler French a goalkeeper, so he's coming sort of from uh towards Conway, so he's got a bit of a drive, uh background in in Welsh football. Um sort of replacing Jack was always gonna be a challenge. Um great sort of serving to this football club, really happy for him in terms of his development and the opportunity he's now got to move on to Newcastle. And uh, but replacing him was always gonna be difficult. But I've thankfully managed to find what I believe is a uh more than suitable replacement. Um, and already I think Tyler's starting to feel at home with the club, and the fans are already starting to feel sort of tired of who he is and what he does. So a little bit of mix and match in there, and again, you you we look at our sort of the geography of it and the amount of clubs within our area, at times we're all fighting for the same players, um, and that's always going to be the the nature of the beast, and that is what football is, um, and it's never personal. Uh people do take it personally, unfortunately, but I've sort of been along long enough now to know that it isn't, and we wish everyone the best. So um over the over the summer we spoke to to many players, uh, some we got, some we didn't. Um some have gone to to step three, step four, some have gone to to five and six, and and even step seven because um the opportunity there, so that we've just been looking at so some step step seven clubs are now sort of looking to put expenses out there to play as well. So totally understand that, and that only makes the league and the area better. Absolutely, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think this season the Shropshire seed is vibrant, isn't it? You know, particularly with that Northwest County's sort of group of Shropshire clubs, you know, it's gonna make it really exciting.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so in terms of your season so far, um you kicked off your league campaign away to Wolhampton City, which on paper was really tough this year because obviously they got to the playoffs um last season, but you came out with a win, yeah. And a convincing win on the day, yeah.
SPEAKER_02I I believe so as well, and sort of watching back on that, um, it was we knew that we were gonna create opportunities. So um when I went there, it was my first game um as manager when I took over on on the Tuesday night, and we went there, and it was a poor game of football, and it came down to one bit of quality on that night. Uh that unfortunately went to AFC, not us. Um, and I remember speaking about it here, and it was it was one of those games, um, so we were well aware of the danger that they've got, and they've got some very good players, so it was about sort of making sure that we we didn't need to score three or four goals, but as a collective, that's something that we've spoken about in the summer is about where we need to kick on and move forward is against the top ten teams. We need to be picking up points against the top teams, um, and thankfully we we did that opening opening day. Um, everyone knows that well aware that sort of my defensive mind from being a player back in the day, I love a clean sheet, I love a one-nil win. I prefer a one-nil over a five-nil because one-nil you've had to work hard for. So to get the two, uh, and I think we can agree as well it could have been three or four on the day, um, but it wasn't to be. But we take the two-nil and the and the clean sheet, and it's just a great start. Statement with that is yeah, yeah, fantastic. And I think I mentioned it in my post-match interview. The opening game of the season, no one really knows where anyone's at, and uh, again, we I I've sort of said to everyone we don't need to get a bit carried away with it, enjoy it. Um, we then took that into the Tuesday night fixture against uh Norfolk, so again, didn't get any easier with that fixture. Uh the FA Cup and then drop Brockton as well, and then on Monday night we've got Runcorn Town coming here. So the opening five fixtures of the season, there's no one so far. Yeah, so far, so good. But as I said, we we we we're sort of three games into hopefully a 50-game season. Um, so we're just sort of managing everyone and the expectations, uh, and we'll take one at a time and we'll uh we'll look to continue that on Saturday.
SPEAKER_00So we've talked a lot about new faces, but I came to watch the Wolverhampton City game and I noticed that um Freddie Bishton still uh involved in the club and Alex Hughes. I know he had a bit of time away, but yeah, that they were really impressive on the day as well.
SPEAKER_02And that's something I put in my programme notes actually for this weekend's fixture about the the recruitment on the new faces is fantastic, but the retainment of the of the players as well, that's just as important uh because that core group, and and we talk about sort of George Carpenter in that group as well. So we've got some really good leaders. Um it's important that we've kept the the players that we we wanted to keep uh well aware that there would be some outgoings, and again, that's just how football works. So really pleased with the players that we have kept, and and what that does is that helps the new players come in to understand the expectation levels because at times I'm not the easiest person to work under. I'm very demanding. Uh I know what I want, and when players don't give me that, I let them know it. Um but the the players that have sort of we've got and we've kept because they know me, they can they can pass that little bit of information. And I'm a big believer in the dressing room in itself. That's not my place or the staff's place. So I need the dressing room to sort of almost look after itself, and we've got some great leaders now at the football club.
SPEAKER_00And we don't expect you to share any internal ambitions and you know uh targets for the season because that's that's private. But you know, to us from the outside, which church all poor football club is it is a club that's got every potential to go to step four, hasn't it?
SPEAKER_02Uh it has, yeah. Um we first and foremost, I'm happy to share certain bits of it. We've got to make sure we're in this league at the end of it because um the certainly again, this the quality that is in this league, you cannot have a bad season, you can't have a run of poor fixtures because you will find yourself down there, and that's the last place anybody wants to be in and around it. I I've always said that sort of come game 38, the league table doesn't lie, people are where they are for a reason. Um, of course, our ambition is to look upwards. You could go and ask all 20 clubs in our league what's your ambition for for this year, and everyone will say, I want to win the league. That has to be sort of everyone's aim, but unfortunately, only one out of 20 can do that, um, and it's about sort of so that may be your your expectation, your want, um, or or your dream a little bit, it's how you do that and what you do to get in there. Um, firstly, we want to make sure that we we have a minimum step five club next season. Uh, we then want to build on what we did last season, so that would be a top 10 finish. And we we spoke about it off camera. I think there was there was four points that covered six positions last season. So if it's going to be that tight, yeah, the making a 1-1 game, a 2-1 win, that could be hugely important. And you only got to look at that. I I felt for Dudley last season and sort of Matty, so I get on really well with Matty. Um their point seduction drop them out of the out of the room. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's tough one. And that and that, but that unfortunately is again the nature of the beast, but works come the playoffs, it's anybody's. Yeah, it's anybody's. I think that we could all agree maybe that when we saw that the playoff games last season, it was maybe Vicks's to lose, uh, and unfortunately they did. Yeah, um, so um it it down to when it comes to the playoffs, it really is, like you say, a lottery. So we just want to make sure that come the end of the season, if we're our names in that hat and in contention for those those spots, fantastic.
SPEAKER_01I mean, for Shropshire football would be great, wouldn't it? Shift will push on at the top of the uh Northern Premier League. Yeah, uh, you in the Midland League. Yeah, uh well, it's it's obviously it's anybody in the I mean in Bridge North or uh or Shawbury, I mean, in in the uh northwest counties. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02So uh don't don't write off top of town there. No, no, that's it. Well, you know, they could have a new management team. New management team coming in, but there's some there's some really good teams in that, and like we said, I we that's a too much call.
SPEAKER_01Great for Shropshire, wouldn't it? And uh that's what we're here to promote. So that's a good place to finish, isn't it? Well, yeah, I was gonna say we've talked about your game on Saturday. You've got Brockton, best of luck with that. We've uh Shiftnell, we're going to Paddingham, which is Burnley. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I've been next to there a few times. Uh great great sort of setup there, and uh and sort of they've got a great sort of history behind them as well. So uh again, unlike our league, it's it's the same before.
SPEAKER_01There's there's no gimme's as a so I suppose anybody who wants to go to that, there's places on the case.
SPEAKER_00Let's not the coach get in touch with Mick and um he'll sort you out, I'm sure.
SPEAKER_01Okay, and we talked about results of the week. I suppose you know we're in the right place to give it with Churchys win in the cup, yeah? Absolutely. So uh that's tough on Bridge North, but better luck for them next time. That's it. And uh if you come on if you come on the podcast, we'll uh we're gonna give it your link, don't we? So turn I'll I'll send you a message on Facebook. Uh so we're gonna go to the reds bar now, aren't we? Um, yeah. Opens at what time, Rick? Five o'clock.
SPEAKER_00Is it five now? Five till eleven? Five till eleven.
SPEAKER_01We have to put that in, don't we? We do, yeah. I'll tell you what, you're the first on the new podcast excellent. Can I ring you up anytime I need some Welsh pronunciation?
