GREENS FOR GO ON THE TROPHY TRAIL
LEE ALLINSON says Hendon’s Isuzu FA Trophy tie with National League big hitters is reward for all the people who keep the Step 3 club’s show on the road.
Allinson’s side won their second successive National League South scalp by beating Weymouth last weekend.
A 2-0 victory took the Southern Premier South Greens into the fourth round with Eastbourne Borough, Walton & Hersham and AFC Sudbury all conquered along the way.
Former Biggleswade Town boss Allinson says Oldham were the draw he wanted – and he says it will be more than a game of cup football.
“It’s not about us as a management team, it’s not so much about the players – it’s about the supporters and people behind the scenes who fight tooth and nail every week to make sure the football club is still alive,” Allinson told The NLP.
“We can give them something now that can live long in the memory. Hendon Football Club has got a fantastic tradition but over the last 15 years, other than the play-off final against Dulwich with Gary (McCann), they haven’t really had much to look forward to. This gives them something to look forward to and creates great memories for the football club.”
Allinson’s dad – legendary former Boreham Wood manager Ian Allinson – is also Hendon’s general manager.
So the boss knows the realities of what it takes each season for a club like his to survive.
“Our social media, for example, is outstanding, the way we try to do things on and off the pitch is really good,” Allinson said.
“But what no one understands is that, off the pitch, it’s tough for the club. Every
year it’s a fight to make sure, one, we are trying to compete at Step 3 and, two, the funds are there.
Aspirations
“Step 3 money now is like Step 2 money five years ago. The leagues are evolving and moving forward and our club is struggling. I won’t sugarcoat it, we need financial help because we are a supporter-based club. The supporters are getting that little bit older, the cost of living is through the roof. And when you’re asking people to give their hard-earned money it’s getting harder and harder.
“People don’t see what goes on behind the scenes. I work closely with dad, because he’s obviously the general manager, and Cyrus Cooper, the chairman, and they work so
hard to get sponsorship in to make sure we have a football club.
“That’s the reality of it, at the end of the day. To make sure at the start of every season, Hendon Football Club is still there. That’s the most important thing.
“The stress they all go through, to give them this game, hopefully earn a bit of money – it’s just a great day out for us.”
Allinson joked he had to stop researching Oldham’s team when the first six he looked up all had EFL experience.
There are plenty of league games before then too, as they look to keep building on a positive first half of the season.
Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Didcot Town saw them move up to seventh and outside the play-offs on goal difference.
“The club have been great in terms of there’s no pressure on us,” Allinson said. “Even last year they were just happy to be competing. I’ve got bigger aspirations than that.
I want to make sure we’re pushing on as a club.
“No one realises the team we’ve got here are all players that probably struggled last year at Step 3.
“But we’ve brought them all together, instilled a work-rate they have to get to week-in, week-out and when we do that we’re a good side. They’re doing that on a regular basis and you see the results. We’ve got to keep pushing ourselves.”