ROOKIE MACKEN’S WALKING THE WALK
IT’S one thing saying you’re aiming for promotion and another actually achieving it.
Radcliffe manager Jon Macken made the bold claim in pre-season that his side were gunning for a place in Step 3 and so far, they’ve backed it up.
They’ve won their first four Northern Premier League West fixtures, conceding just one goal in the process and netting 14.
It has been the perfect start for Radcliffe who finished third from bottom last season.
“The lads have shown great togetherness, a willingness to learn and push themselves,” the former Preston North End and Manchester City striker, below, told The
NLP. “It’s a start and we’ve got to keep going.
“We want to be successful and win games. Every manager and every coach wants that to happen and we’re no different.
“It’s basically a brand new squad. We’ve had a lot of new additions and it’s never easy that because you’ve got to gel and everything.
“We gave them a tough pre-season and you could see from early on it was a group of lads that wanted to push themselves and each other. That’s pleasing to see. To target promotion and be better than we were last season is an aim we’re looking for.”
Macken turned out for Northwich Victoria, Stockport County and Bamber Bridge in NonLeague before retiring in 2015.
He took his first steps into management this time last year, jumping at the chance to take over Radcliffe after completing his UEFA B and A coaching licenses – and he’s learnt plenty in his first 12 months.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” he adds. “There’s been a lot of learning, some ups and downs. It’s a case of looking at your mistakes or at the decisions you’ve made and try to rectify them and adjust and adapt.
“If you can adapt to certain situations and certain environments and certain games then I believe you’re on the right path.
“Management was something I always wanted to try my hand at and it was a case of when I got the opportunity I took it. It’s been difficult at times but thoroughly enjoyable as well.
“I think the biggest challenge is getting a winning mentality. It’s very difficult because there’s chops and changes, there’s people not buying into what you are or don’t fit into the system you want to play. There’s people with work commitments.
“You have to adapt all of the time. You never know what is going to happen, basically. From one minute you have a settled squad and then the next two players want to leave for one reason or another and someone else becomes available.”
In his almost 20-year playing career, Macken will have took part in hundreds of training sessions but now he gets put his own mark on management.
One of Macken’s first managers was David Moyes, the ex-Everton and Manchester United boss, at Preston and he’s been drawing on the experiences he’s absorbed.
“You pick up little things from each one, little tips and the way they set themselves up and the way they go about things,” he said. “But you try to have your own stamp on it, look at how they did it and then do it your way.
“You learn lessons and that’s all about being a manager or a player.”