WHATS IN A TITLE TOAST FOR TERRY
PROUD Terry Spillane celebrated Walthamstow’s first title in 37 years – and conratulated his players in the WhatsApp group.
Stansted’s 3-1 win over Redbridge on Tuesday night means no side can now catch the Stags at the top of the Essex Senior League.
Experienced Spillane is well used to success as boss of Aveley, Maldon & Tiptree, Thamesmead and Stanway Rovers, but he admits celebrating over a phone group chat with his squad a strange experience.
“It is normal stuff now it seems, we have a WhatsApp chat with the group and it felt like the phone was pinging every 10 seconds,” he joked.
“We had a couple of people there watching it [Stansted vs Redbridge] who were keeping us updated. So we were well informed, it was a great feeling but was a strange way of celebrating.
“The players have worked hard for it. Even myself, I’m
60 now and I won this league with Stansted funnily enough 12 years ago so it’s been a long time coming.
“I’m really happy for the people behind the club, the chairman and committee members, when you bear in mind that three four years ago the club was on its knees and was on the verge of folding. So to turn it around the way we have is spectacular,
“I’m happy for myself, the supporters and the team, but mostly for the people behind the club because I know what they have been through for a few years.”
Walthamstow have prided themselves with their form at both ends of the pitch this season, scoring 90 goal and keeping 19 league clean sheets.
“John Mackie [co-manager] and I have different values, and experiences, and being a central defender John has taken care of the defence,” Spillane added.
“Nineteen clean sheets in the league is very rare for any Non-League or any football team to keep.
“We set a target of scoring 100 goals at the start of the season and I think most of the players have scored apart from Mike Osei-Saahene, who’s now on penalties, free kicks and anything else we need for him to score.
“Honestly, we haven’t looked towards next season yet, but I genuinely believe that with the squad we have plus we’d need to add one or two that we’d give the league up a good go. I’m not saying we would win it but we would win more than we lose that’s for sure.”