REECE HAS GOT REDS ON A ROLL
FREESCORING skipper Reece Flanagan insists Redditch United will continue the steady approach that has turned them from cannon fodder into table toppers.
A 25-match losing streak had put the Reds on a crash course towards relegation to the club’s lowest level in more than 40 years before Covid struck and ultimately pressed the reset button.
David Faulkner took over as chair from Chris Swan with United and the world in an uncertain place but swiftly set about changing fortunes, installing ex-United full-back Matt Clarke as the club’s fourth permanent manager inside 12 months, replacing Wayne Spicer who never oversaw a competitive fixture.
The first completed season back after Covid was a relegation battle followed by a steadier time last term, Flanagan’s first as a Red having joined from Hednesford Town.
Summer outgoings, particularly that of full-back Lewis Hudson who moved on from Rushall Olympic to Hereford this week, plus playmaker Max Sheaf ’s move to Scottish Premiership outfit Ross County, tempered expectations but after some early squad shuffling, United have taken the Southern League Premier Central by surprise to lead the way.
“From the outside it can look that way,” said Flanagan.
“I think we have a really good group and we set pretty high expectations for ourselves. We demand a lot from each other.
“The job is to keep pushing to try to stay in and around that play-off area. It is a fairly new team from last season, we have done really well so far but you have to keep pushing each other even when you are going well.
“If you look at the club in general, we have taken major steps over the past three years.
“You have people like Ryan Wollacott, me, my brother (Calum Flanagan) who has had a couple of seasons here down the spine of the team. We have had a good base to build from and have made some really good additions to help the club progress.”
Flanagan, a regular presence for Walsall in League One before being hit by injury, has quietly enjoyed some impressive progress of his own, reaching the 20-goal milestone at Long Eaton last weekend – not bad for a midfielder.
“It has been a general progression over the past three years,” said Flanagan.
“I focused on trying to score more two or three years ago and I am getting more opportunities to do so now, playing a bit higher up the pitch.
“Getting a lot of penalties helps, I have been putting quite a few of them away. It is something I want to keep doing, to expand on my game. Goals change games and if I can keep scoring then it will bring more points to the table.”
Individually or collectively, the numbers make for good reading but can Redditch go all the way?
“We are in and around now,” replied Flanagan.
“Internally, I am going to be pushing the lads. We can only take each game as it comes and we will see where we are in a month or two.
“It is a cliche but it is the only way you can approach it. Let’s see where we are at the business end of the season.”