New manager Reid says the ‘sky’s the limit’ for Lebeq
LEBEQ United’s enthusiastic new manager Curtis Reid insists the “sky’s the limit” for the famous and successful Bristol club.
Easton-bred Reid, 31, was catapulted to the first-team helm in the wake of Aaron Wilson’s departure as manager and has overseen a reasonable start comprising four wins – the latest Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Almondsbury at Lebeq’s Oaklands Park 3G base - two draws and four defeats heading into tomorrow’s trip to Wells City.
It’s been quite a rise for Reid, just as it has been for his famous brother Bobby, the 28-year-old former Bristol City and Cardiff City star now playing with Championship high-fliers Fulham.
Of his close-season call to Lebeq’s Toolstation First Division duties, Reid explained: “I’d been playing as a central midfielder for the club’s reserve team (Bristol Premier Combination) for a few years, and in more recent times helped out on the management side whenever required.
“I’d heard Aaron was no longer managing our firsts, so me and Chris Da Costa, a first-team forward, approached Dwayne Smith (chairman) about the possibility of taking over and he was on board with what we had to say.
“Although I’d had the chance to manage our reserves at times over the years, this was a massive opportunity for us and it was one Chris and me, with the help of Liam Henry, who is a UEFA B-qualified coach, couldn’t turn down.”
He added: “Football is a massive passion of mine. I get to a lot of games when I’m not playing, not least Bristol City – I also support Man United – and Fulham, where my brother plays.
“I don’t envy Bobby at all; we’re really close. I knew he’d make it as a pro, even though he was smaller than everyone else in his younger days running rings around the adults! It’s important to both of us, the local community here in Bristol we were raised in. We both played for St Philip’s Marsh in our early football careers.”
Asked about Lebeq’s prospects under his rookie leadership, Reid’s response was unequivocal.
“The sky’s the limit with Lebeq,” he maintained. “We have a good pool of talented players and it’s a case at this time of getting them to gel and trust each other.
“I want to see us battling to get into the top half of the table; but ultimately I feel we have it in us to be challenging for promotion to the Toolstation Prem, where I would love to manage Lebeq and try to keep pushing us forward from there.”
Welton Rovers – 2-1 midweek winners at Warminster - aim to keep up their terrific unbeaten form at home to Portishead Town, while second-placed AEK Boco, with only one defeat in 10 games thus far, are at Wincanton Town.
As for Hengrove Athletic manager Jamie Hillman, he cast a concerned eye over the state of play at Norton Lane and conceded: “Some tough decisions need to be taken quickly.”
Hengrove head into tomorrow’s away-day with Odd Down with only five points on the board, a scenario the club’s dedicated longtime leader admits he’s not prepared to tolerate.
“We’re in a big old rut and at something of a crossroads, I feel,” said Hillman. “We had a lot of young lads to start the season with and we’re still not settled. I’m not even sure of my best team.
“I shoulder the blame for that, although player availability hasn’t helped, just like with any other club. It’s not all doom and gloom; we have a new under-18 side we’re integrating well with. As a group we just need to know where we’re heading, and it’s down to me and my coaches to figure it out.”
Of that aforementioned “crossroads,” Hillman stressed: “We’ve seen good things and bad things so far, and we need to decide what direction we want the club to go in. We know we need to be patient, to allow all our talented lads time to develop and fulfil their potential.
“Yet even when I’ve gone with more experienced players as I’ve done recently, we haven’t performed as well as we can do.
“The priority is to put points on the board and smiles on faces again. From a selfish point of view, I have to change something as I can’t go on losing week after week.
“We have to do something different and pretty sharpish too.”
Eye-catching local games in the Toolstation top-flight involve leaders Bitton’s home clash with fifthplaced Saltash United; Keynsham Town’s hosting of Exmouth Town; improving Ashton & Backwell’s bout with travelling Helton Athletic
at Lancer Scott Stadium, and Clevedon Town’s clash with Bridgwater Town at Hand Stadium.
In the Hellenic Premier Division, new manager Stuart Jones admits he is still a bit shocked after a Sunday evening phone call from chairman Lee Fairman catapulted him into the Hallen hot-seat.
His call to duty could hardly have begun in more successful or dramatic fashion, as Hallen celebrated an overdue first victory of the campaign with a 5-4 penalty shootout success at league rivals Lydney in the FA Vase following a 3-3 draw.
Former Ashton and Backwell United boss Jones, who left shortly before they had been confirmed as promoted from Toolstation One to the Premier Division earlier this summer, having gone on to enjoy a stint as coach at Bridgwater Town, said: “To see the delight and relief
on the players’ faces after coming through that tie was quite warming.”
Hallen lost 3-2 at high-riding Corsham Town on Tuesday night, but the new supremo emphasised: “We’d thrown a new formation at the lads, and by the time they got to grips with it we were already 2-0 down.
“But the way our boys adapted to it, and showed such courage, commitment and character to fight back as they did, was very encouraging.
“We all know we can’t keep conceding three goals and more in games, as we’ve done eight times so far.
“The priority for now is to get a first point on the board, then get a first league win and then keep a first clean sheet. And we need to do those things pretty quickly.”