BOBBY’S FOUND A TOP ANSWER!
NAME a team who won their title after just 30 games, winning 27 and losing just two, scoring 75 goals, with the best defensive record in Europe with just ten conceded and 20 clean sheets – our survey says…Bracknell Town!
The Robins are the top answer on the board, having landed the Pitching In Isthmian Division One South Central title last weekend to clinch promotion to Step 3 for the first time in their history.
They have been relentless in their pursuit of the finish line and boss Bobby Wilkinson found the perfect way to keep things light – a game of Family Fortunes in the dressing room before games!
“At 1.30pm before every game we play Family Fortunes!” Wilkinson told The NLP. “What I wanted to do this year is take the pressure away from them.
“So when they turn up there’s not a pressure to win or anything like that – we tell them it’s about the standards we all set and taking ownership. They’ve done it and made me so proud.
“Scott Rees, who was with me at Hungerford, does the quiz for us. It’s a young side and I didn’t want them feeling that pressure. And I promise you we didn’t ever speak about winning the championship. It was just about one game at a time.
“Luckily enough it’s worked this year. I’m not saying it will work every year or at every club but, at this precise moment, it worked for this bunch of young lads.”
The Robins made it 21 clean sheets on Monday night with a 0-0 draw. Five of the ten they’ve conceded have been penalties and two others own goals!
At the other end of the pitch, despite injuries throughout the season, they’ve been ruthless in front of goal, with Seb Bowerman the league’s top scorer so far with 24.
“At one stage we heard things like we’ve got lots of money, we’ve got this and that,” Wilkinson says. “I can promise you it’s nothing to do with money. My goalkeeper (Michael Eacott) came from a Step 5 side just promoted to Step 4. My right-back Ethan (Burden) was playing for Chalfont St Peter. My centre-half was playing at Step 5 for Frimley Green and Dan Bayliss already at the club.
“So we’ve recruited really, really well. The only big name signing we made was Dave Tarpey and he’s missed half the season through injury.
“We’ve built a real family club. Boys that want to win and want to sign because they know the standards.
Tactics
“I’m not on twitter but somebody wrote a tweet that said it must be so hard to play against
Bobby Wilkinson teams but it must be harder to play for them because you have to work your socks off.
“That meant a lot to me to be recognised for building hard-working, honest sides that wear the badge with pride.”
Wilkinson’s side were presented with the trophy at yesterday’s home game with Chalfont St Peter, with the club opening the gates for free on Non-League Day and collecting money for the Ukraine Relief Fund.
“We’ve worked extremely hard for these a c c o was lades,” he said. “We’ve given our heart and soul to win games of football and get this team promoted.
“We had team meetings in the summer and we went through every detail on opposition. We went through tactics, and how we were going to play against them. We coached them off the training park, then took that onto the training park and worked extremely hard on details.
Listening
“If you believe in your players, and get the right players with the right mindset of listening and learning, then you can do well.” As manager, Wilkinson took Hungerford Town from Step 4 to the National League South before a spell at Wealdstone. He admits taking a job back at Step 4 was a risk but he’s pleased it has paid off. “I’ve said in the past it was a gamble,” Wilkinson said. “Whatever you say, you’re still dropping and if things don’t go according to plan it can really dent you.
“So this means so much to me and my family. Hopefully I’ve shown everyone what I want to do – I want to manage at good football clubs.
“I am at one hell of a football club with one hell of a chairman. He’s fantastic.
“I also couldn’t do it without my assistant Mike Percival, who has been a great right-hand man because he challenges me, and the coaching staff.”
Messages of congratulations have come from Wales star Aaron Ramsey and former Reading defender Chris Gunter, as well as another ex-Royal Garath McCleary.
When the celebrations from yesterday’s presentation subside, planning will soon begin for Step 3.
“We’ll be straight back to work on Sunday,” Wilkinson said. “Probably with a sore head, after a party on Saturday!”