BYFIELD IS AIMING TO PUT RIGHT WRONGS...
GIANT strides have not only put Walsall Wood within one step of Wembley but also helped boss Darren Byfield eradicate moments that still make him “cringe”.
The former Aston Villa striker took in a host of Football League outposts during a lengthy professional career before moving into coaching.
His first managerial appointment was at Redditch United in 2016 where, by his own admission, he struggled to work around the vagaries that come with part-time football.
Having left the Reds he had a short stint with Stratford Town before overseeing a Midland Football League Premier Division title tilt in which the Wood got pipped by reformed giants Ilkeston Town.
Step 3 Alvechurch then came calling but Byfield headed back to the Boston Bailey Group Stadium older and wiser.
And despite a shaky start in to the 2020-21 league campaign that got curtailed, his charges have lived up to their potential on the FA Vase trail under a gaffer that gets them.
“There used to be a frustration that I only had the boys twice a week, now I understand it,” said Byfield. “I couldn’t understand how the lads wanted a drink and to go out the night before a game, now I understand it. I have learned to speak to players a lot more.
“I look back at my first and second years in management and I cringe at some of the things I did and said to players but it is all about learning.”
Having seen off Leighton Town 2-1 in the quarter-finals last weekend, Wood will travel to Warrington Rylands on Saturday for a shot at the Wembley showpiece.
Byfield enjoyed plenty of highlights in his own playing career, not least Walsall’s winning goal in extra-time of the Division Two play-off final against Reading at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 2001, and while he is not counting his chickens this run has evoked a fresh sense of pride.
“There is another big game to go before even thinking about Wembley but the excitement I get from watching the boys progress is bigger than what I had as a player,” added Byfield.
“It is weird and probably because the feeling is all for yourself when you play. Players are selfish but as a manager I am happy for the whole team and all the staff. The sense of pride I get from the boys doing what they have is greater than me being happy for myself.”
One player Byfield was particularly pleased for last week was ace in the hole John Atherton, the wide man who was brought down for both penalties that saw Wood fight back from behind in the final 11 minutes.
“Jono is someone you always keep on the pitch, when he picks it up and runs at people there is no one in our league that can stop him,” said Byfield.
“I know they knew about him, they had watched games and would have done their research.
“They kept him quiet at times, tried to pin him back and double up but in the second half, particularly after the goal went in, he just realised he had to go and win us the game.”