DIAPER’S BOATMEN IN CRUISE CONTROL

VETERAN boss David Diaper is convinced his Sholing side can win the league and are desperate to gain promotion for new challenges.

After occupying the dugout at the Universal Stadium since 1999, taking charge of over 1,100 games, Diaper’s Boatmen are currently top of the Southern League Division One South and hurtling towards Step 3.

In his 24 years at the club, Diaper has won 11 trophies, including the FA Vase at Wembley in 2014.

It’s fair to say they Hampshire club have come a long way in that time.

“I first went in 1999 and it’s nothing like it is now,” Diaper told The NLP. “It’s a situation where it’s my life really, some of the players have been with me since they were boys at 16 and some of them are 34 now, we’ve got the nucleus of the spine of the team.

“The first time I see a player, the first thing I say to them is it’s about enjoying your football and you see the benefit out on the pitch. It’s about people, there is no ego at the club, I’m a manager with no ego.”

Sholing are both the highest scorers and boast the joint best defensive record in the division and on Tuesday night strengthened their title bid with a 1-0 win over closest rivals AFC Totton.

And Diaper would love nothing more than to deliver another momentous chapter in their story to reward their hard-working volunteers.

“The club is a big part of my life so I’m up there quite a bit in the week, there’s always something to do at the club” he added. “It’s run by volunteers so today we cleaned the drains in the changing room as we had a blockage – it’s about being there and available to do anything.

“If you’ve done the job you tend not the have too many people moaning when you ask them to do things, it makes a big difference.”

Indeed, Diaper is well placed to see how the football landscape has changed since he first took charge.

“The biggest change is the football,” he explained. “It’s not so physical as what it used to be so if you go to ground now nine times out of ten it’ll be a yellow card. The mentality hasn’t changed, winners come from within and you have to be a winner if you want to play for my team.

“The pro game is getting a bit boring now, at grassroots you come along and you’ve got true feelings, it’s a way of life for some people.”