BIRD EYES A WAY BACK IN
Tanners boss keeps perspective
HAYDEN BIRD believes Leatherhead will come through today’s showdown at Marlow – if they follow his lead and keep the play-off final in perspective.
The vastly experienced Non-League boss leads his side to the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground aiming to take the final step on their path to a return to the Isthmian Premier Division they occupied for so long after a two-year exile at Step 4.
However, the Tanners boss has mellowed in his years in the dugout and sees such crucial matches in a different context now, insisting he will not burden his squad with great expectation.
“I always say to people ‘it’s only football’, you have to go and enjoy the occasion and make memories,” said Bird, who has taken charge of over 1,600 competitive matches with the likes of Kingstonian and Merstham.
“Having some perspective is really important, the boys don’t need me to tell them what’s at stake, they know that. If we’re ourselves and are calm and play our natural game, we have got a great chance.
“I’ve won these games, I’ve lost these games. It’s crucial I give them some calm perspective and stress that it is all about enjoying football at this level. That’s what we’re here for.
“I’m a totally different manager now, even to what I was two or three years ago. You have to change: you can’t speak to players as you could five to ten years ago.
“When I first started out in management, I thought I knew everything and I realise now I knew nothing! You don’t have to go scream and shout, there’s no point being confrontational. Now you are better reading the room.”
Bird says he has been blown away by the passionate support inside Fetcham Grove among the staff at the club since he took the reins in October 2022.
And he even feels that with some momentum, and perhaps that vital play-off triumph this weekend, Leatherhead could even push on further.
“Over and above anything, they are good people. In Leatherhead, you have a Step 3 club playing at Step 4, or even an aspirational Step 2 club,” he added.
“If we get home there’s a real platform to see if we can make a genuine impact on the Premier Division. There is the potential for Step 2, I really believe that. But first we have to try to come through this game.”
The Tanners – who finished third – had 1,053 fans in attendance as they beat Southall 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Surrey on Wednesday.
It will be Marlow who could benefit from the larger than usual home support on Sunday but Bird expects Leatherhead to make plenty of noise themselves.
He said: “I must admit, our home support was a massive advantage on Wednesday. Marlow had 600 people on the same night.
“The away support for Leatherhead is really outstanding and there could be between 200 and 300 of them on Sunday and that will level out the home advantage Marlow have.”