WILKO ESCAPE IS BREW-TIFUL

BOBBY WILKINSON says Weymouth’s great escape is the proudest moment he’s had as a manager – and he celebrated by having a cup of tea!

The Terras chalked up a hat-trick of wins to beat the National League South drop and complete one of the unlikeliest survival stories of the season.

Seemingly down and out, a 2-0 win over Slough Town was followed up with a midweek 3-1 victory at Taunton Town to give them hope against Dover Athletic on the final day.

Wilkinson’s side knew a win would take them above their opponents on goal difference to safety.

And they did just that, with a 2-0 triumph moving them out of a drop zone for the first time in 487 days and ensuring they avoided a consecutive relegation.

Dover also survived following Dulwich Hamlet’s defeat and Wilkinson, who has had promotions with Hungerford Town and Bracknell Town, couldn’t have been prouder of his Weymouth warriors.

Stressful

“To beat Slough and then Taunton, who are brilliant at home, away and then go to Dover is something I don’t think will be done again – it was crazy,” Wilkinson told The NLP.

“It was one of the most draining weeks of my career. Every single day we got closer to getting out. We gave ourselves three other opportunities to get out of the bottom four and failed on every occasion. The pressure was getting worse.

“I do mean this, pressure is a privilege because you’re in a good job and have something to play for.

“But it was such a difficult week because you’re counting down the minutes. You know if you go to Taunton and beat them, you’ve got a chance. On the Thursday we needed Concord to lose and, guess what, Havant scored a winner in the 94th minute which meant it was in our own hands.

“It’s like it was written in the stars.

Everyone in the football world thought Weymouth was down. Apart from our little group. While you’ve got a mathematical chance, why would you give up on anything?

“That’s why this bunch of players have, for me, made history in the most unthinkable way. We hadn’t won three games on the bounce for a long time. Then we won three in a week.

“Let’s be clear. It was stressful for everyone at the football club. We were about to get back-to-back relegations.

“We got to the FA Cup first round proper, which was some achievement, and I was very proud of that. But my job was to keep them up. I am so pleased for everyone – the chairman, the committee – at the club and all their hard work.”

Humbling

When former Wealdstone boss Wilkinson, who led Bracknell to Step 3 last season, took over at Weymouth in September they had just two points from their first 11 games having dropped out of Non-League’s top flight.

And he says having the ear of former Reading and Leeds boss Brian McDermott – this week appointed as director of football at Hibernian – was invaluable.

“If I didn’t have him to talk to I don’t know how I would have coped in certain spells,” Wilkinson said. “I didn’t ever not enjoy it because I’m never scared of a challenge. I could have said no to the job but I love Weymouth and I love the football club.

“I’d meet up with Brian every couple of weeks. He just listened and gave me a bit of advice. He said forget about the promotions, this is one of the biggest achievements. But, I have to make it clear, you don’t do that without the board, the chairman, the players and fans’ backing. It’s about everyone at the football club.”

Not that Wilkinson had energy for a survival celebration, preferring a cuppa over a pint.

“I was so tired, so drained, so emotionally overwhelmed we pulled off the miracle of miracles I just wanted to go home – so I went home,” Wilkinson laughed.