Glos County The old vibe is returning at Henbury, says co-boss Greaves
DAVE Greaves insists Henbury have every reason to believe they are on an upturn after achieving an elusive victory last weekend.
The Arnall Drive outfit had shown a more consistent competitive streak in going down 3-2 at home to Quedgeley Wanderers, and holding Hardwicke to a 2-2 draw on their Gloucestershire County League travels, before Hanham Athletic fell prey to a first Henbury success in Saturday’s 3-2 outcome.
Henbury eye more of the same tomorrow when they visit Rockleaze Rangers hosts who have themselves experienced ups and downs in their seven fixtures. Greaves took over the Henbury hot-seat this summer in tandem with Tim Seymour, the pair having formed the management team at Sea Mills Park before seizing the Arnall Drive leadership opportunity after Trevor Richards and Jason Tarr vacated the post.
The new incumbent, 39, explained: “My brother Danny (Greaves, Frome Town manager) saw Henbury were looking for new management and urged me to go for it. He knew Jason there and before I knew it, I was aboard after presenting my ideas to the club.
“I’d always striven to be the best I could be as a right-back, wing-back and, in later times, centre-half with the likes of Little Stoke only last season, and Roman Glass, Hallen and Cadbury Heath before that. That passion and desire to do well as a manager was burning bright in me in the same way.
“It was hard for Tim and me to leave Sea Mills because we loved it so much there. I felt the lads understood we couldn’t turn down this new challenge, and we left on good terms.
“In some ways taking over here was harder than I’d anticipated. Things had not been great for several years and it seemed several of the Henbury old guard had fallen out of love with the game, something I’d not expected to see. That spark just wasn’t there anymore, yet it’s gradually started returning. The interest is back and you can sense the old vibe is there again.”
That new-found positivity has been fuelled, according to Greaves, by the return to prominence of the experienced Rosser brothers, midfielder Adam and centre-half Aaron.
“It’s massive having those two back,” said Greaves. “Adam is a quality player showing real appetite again after thinking of hanging up his boots; and it’s a massive boost having Aaron back after a cruciate ligament injury.
“A lot of our poor results have been down to defensive mistakes and having those two in there should make a big difference, just as having Kane Mannings back up front is of real benefit, too, as he certainly knows where the back of the net is.
“It’s not just on the field things are looking better, with some talented youth and reserves coming through to give legs to the experienced ones. Our chairman Charlie Barron has been with the club something like 50 years, yet he’s built a standing area almost singlehandedly and is now looking at erecting a small stand.
“Basically he’s pushing to get everything in place off the field to enable us to progress to the next level up, and it’s humbling and inspiring to see his heart and soul is still very much in what he does.”