Buzz about the Magpies camp as boss returns following hip surgery...
Maidenhead United FC: Devonshire makes long-awaited return to training after undergoing hip surgery
With ‘the gaffer’ Alan Devonshire having returned to training this week for the first time since undergoing hip surgery last month, assistant boss Ryan Peters said there was a buzz about the camp ahead of the trip to play Weymouth in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
United are ninth in the table, just outside of the play-off places after not playing a league game over the weekend. Some of their rivals took advantage to push them out of the top seven by winning this week, but Peters and Devonshire won’t be worrying a jot about that.
They’re also set to welcome back forward Josh Coley for the tie at Weymouth after he missed last week’s trip to Torquay United through suspension.
“This week has been exactly the same as normal,” said Peters.
“The gaffer was back (at training) today which is absolutely terrific so we put on a training session the way we normally would, and the gaffer got to see these boys in person for the first time in a while.
“There was a bit more of a buzz to have the gaffer back but tomorrow and Thursday, and going into the game on Saturday, nothing is going to change.
“We’ll approach the game the way we normally would, nothing will change at all.
Peters, and first team coaches Aaron O’Brien and Eddie Keen have done well in the six matches Devonshire missed while recovering from a complicated hip operation. Peters initially expected to be leading the side for one or two matches, however, this monthand-a-half long stint as caretaker boss – with Devonshire pulling the strings from home – has brought the Magpies two wins, two draws and two defeats, one of which was to the leaders Torquay. He says it’s been a great experience for the three of them but added that they still have much to learn from Devonshire over the coming seasons.
“The boys want to see the boss back at the helm and now he’s back,” said Peters. “For myself, Aaron and Eddie, our learning isn’t complete. We want to learn as much as we can from the boss for as long as possible.
“So, to have him back and to be able to pick his brains again on team selection and see how he approaches games, it’s all learning for us.
“We’ll keep doing that until we can no longer learn anymore.”
Peters also thanked chairman Peter Griffin for enabling the coaching team to take on more responsibility in Devonshire’s absence.
He added: “I only envisioned taking charge for one or two games. I didn’t see it being as long as it has been.
“I’ve been over the moon with the way the boys have responded to myself, Aaron and Eddie taking on more responsibility.
“We’ve learned an awful lot. When to make subs. What subs to make. How the gaffer would go about making these subs. What do we have to do in training to make sure the boys go into these games right? There’s been a lot of learning.
“Normally you’d take your information from the gaffer, and you would go off that.
“But we’ve been able to take charge a bit more. We’ve taken on more responsibility and tried and navigate our way through this period with the emphasis on trying to win as many games as we could while the gaffer wasn’t present.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity; this sort of thing wouldn’t happen unless the chairman gave you a chance.
“To be given this opportunity, with the club I’m at right now is amazing.
“We’re relatively young coaches in football terms. There’s still a lot for us to gain in terms of experience.
“Not many managers or coaches will have taken charge of a National League side at the age that we’re at so the opportunity and experiences we’ve been given over the last six weeks is only going to stand us in good stead going forward.
“But the learning hasn’t stopped. To have the gaffer back and be able to learn from him for another one, two, three or four seasons is only going to help us when the time comes (to move on) wherever that chance may be.”