ACE HEARN IS BASHING ‘EM FOR BAS
LIAM HEARN says small details are behind Basford United’s big unbeaten start in the EVO-STIK South, writes MATT BADCOCK.
The league leaders are now the only side in Steps 1 to 4 not to have lost a league game this season.
Basford’s 19-game
was extended with a second consecutive 50 win at Kidsgrove yesterday – a result which keeps them 15 points clear of Alvechurch.
Former Alfreton Town, Grimsby Town and Lincoln City striker Hearn, 32, scored twice to add to a hat-trick against Romulus last week and took his tally to 21 in all competitions.
And he says the togetherness in Mark Carruthers’ squad, the experience in the changing room and the meticulous approach to matches is paying off.
“When I was at college, years ago, we used to play on Basford’s pitch,” Hearn told The NLP.
“It was grass then, nothing compared to what it is now. When I got invited down in preseason to have a look I couldn’t believe how much it has changed.
“They’ve got a 3G pitch, stands, refreshment bars, a board room. It used just be a field with changing rooms at the side of the car park and that was it. It was a good shock!
“The management team are really good and have great experience in the game. We do video analysis of our games and we’ve got access to the Hudl, where we can look at our own clips of the things we’ve done well.
“The attention to detail is great. It’s the little things in football, I’ve always found. You make little adjustments and you can get a lot of success. Lincoln and the Cowley brothers are a prime example of that. It’s great a club like Basford is implementing that as well.”
Former England C striker Hearn has been one of Non-League’s most exciting performers and would have scored more goals had it not been for injury bad luck.
He said he had bigger offers from higher clubs for his services, but felt the move to Basford was the right one after he left Alfreton for the second time. “I’m really chuffed with my goal return so far,” Hearn, who coaches at Notts County and Alfreton’s pathway academy, said. “It’s good to show what I can do again. I never doubted myself but maybe some people didn’t want to take the step with me, for whatever reason. “That’s why I’m very thankful to the gaffers here. They looked after me in the summer, even though people were saying about my injuries. As I said to them, if we get going then it will benefit both of us because I was sure I’d score goals at this level. “And that’s what I say to the boys at the Academy: You can’t beat scoring goals. There’s no better feeling. “It’s early days but we’re doing really well at the moment and long may that continue.”