CRUSADERS FIRING ON FRONT LINE

Soldier Keith has renewed Hunger

ARMY trainer Keith Emmerson reckons military-style precision and good old-fashioned hard graft is the mantra behind Hungerford Town’s unlikely promotion push.

With a 34-year-old rookie manager in Danny Robinson and the lowest playing budget in the National League South, many tipped the Crusaders for another year of struggle having been saved relegation by last season’s premature end.

But, instead, the Berkshire club have hit the ground running and consolidated their place in the play-off spots with a wellearned 1-1 draw at leaders Dartford last Saturday.

For Emmerson, this represents a swansong in a 20-year Non-League career, which has been spent largely in the lower leagues with the likes of Poole Town, Taunton Town, Farnborough and Winchester City.

As a Warrant Officer in the British Army, fitness has never been an issue for the man who turns 38 next month – and his experience at the heart of the Crusaders’ defence is clearly rubbing off on his teammates.

“We’ve surprised a lot of teams this year,” Emmerson told The NLP.

“Yes, there’s a long, long way to go and we are bound to have a bad spell along the way but hopefully teams are slowly coming round to the fact that we are not going anywhere.

“I think some teams were a bit naïve in dismissing us from the start. They looked at last year’s form, our lack of budget and a manager who had come from Step 4, but they’ve been proved wrong so far.” So, if it’s not money and a high profile, what is it that keeps little Hungerford up there with the big guns ahead of the twoweek suspension of the Step 2 leagues? “Many of us have come from leagues below and what we may lack in profile we make up for in togetherness, hunger, desire and hard work,” he added. “If we maintain those elements in our game and stay resolute then we know we will pick up points.” Emmerson saves the majority of praise for boss Robinson who, despite being nearly four years his junior, has shown a maturity to his first job at this level, well beyond his age.

“Danny’s a very humble man,” Emmerson added. “I’ve been fortunate to come across a lot of excellent man-managers – including in the Army – over the years and Danny is right up there with the best I have worked with.

“No-one work harder than him, and that rubs off on all of us. He will do his research on everyone, often spending hours. He leaves no stone unturned in his preparation – anything to help give us that extra yard. It’s a very professional approach.”