Woodham keen to repay Rebels’ faith

Mick Woodham says he wants to repay Slough Town for his new job as player scout by finding talent capable of taking the Rebels higher.

The former Windsor FC boss is set to join as a scout for the Rebels management team of Jon Underwood and

Neil Baker and, along with Paul Barry, will have the remit of watching games and identifying players from across the non-league pyramid who could improve the step 2 level side.

Woodham (right) has been out of the game since he stepped down as Royalist’s manager in August 2019, and he’s thankful for the opportunity to get back into football and believes he’ll learn a lot from working with Baker and Underwood.

“It’s a chance to get back into football and an opportunity too good to turn down,” he said.

“I want to start seeing people, watching games regularly, and do it all in a professional set up. Slough can definitely provide all of those things.

“I’m thankful that I’ve been given the opportunity by Jon and Neil and I feel I can learn a lot under them both. They have put their faith in me, and I can’t ask any more than that.

“I plan to repay them.”

“Jon and Neil are busy when the season is ongoing so it will be up to me watch as many games as I can and identify the local players good enough to come to Slough,” added Woodham.

“There are plenty out there. We will just have to come up with some arrangements, so they don’t end up going elsewhere.”

Woodham said players like Dan Roberts, who joined the Rebels from Windsor in 2019, are a shining example of the kind of talent that can be unearthed from the lower levels of nonleague football.

Woodham managed Roberts during his time as a Royalist and the striker’s goalscoring form played a key role in the club’s run to the fifth round of the FA Vase in the 2018/19 season.

He scored 25 goals in 34 games for Windsor that campaign before catching the eye of Underwood and Baker at Arbour Park where he quickly established himself as a key player, confidently making the step up from the Hellenic Premier Division.

“These young players can see how Dan’s been treated at Slough Town,” said Woodham.

“Jon and Neil have treated him very well, given him games and he’s been an integral part of their first team.

“Having not played for a year or so, everyone will be keen to make an impression now that football is slowly returning.

“If we can spot the talent, the opportunities will be there.”