With the new football season hopefully not too far away and plenty of teams in pre-season action already, KSN took time to catch up with Holmesdale FC manager Lee Roots about his preparation for the new SCEFL Division One campaign under these exceptional circumstances.
Now looking forward rather than back how are the preparations for the new campaign going?
I hope you are well Colin, always my pleasure to talk to you. The preparations for the new campaign have gone fantastic. A very well planned, prepped & thought our pre-season has been banked & delivered by the staff & we have put together a special & strong squad & group of players for the new season ahead. The players have worked extremely hard both physically & mentally to be more than ready to kick off our new league campaign.
With all the COVID-19 restrictions in place how difficult has it been to organise training and get players signed up?
It has certainly been a different approach than any other season. Moving into my 9th straight season in management has allowed me to gain excellent experience in dealing with different situations, which we feel has paid off in this situation. The lockdown allowed myself & my staff to really plan extremely well for what we wanted to see & achieve at certain stages of pre-season & the season to come.
Getting players in & organising training was no issue at all, there was of course some restrictions with the numbers & groups we could work with to start, but for us all our core players all committed to re-signing & it was them along with our new targets they was all desperate to get in & get down to work. Players have jumped to come on board & join us & it’s been one of my most enjoyable pre-seasons to date.
You’ve made several additions to your playing squad over the break and results so far have been good in pre-season, are you happy with the way the new squad is progressing?
Delighted, couldn’t be happier really. As we were ending last season, we were already building the squad & targeting new player targets to come in to join us post promotion into step 5 for this season. When the season was made void, we decided this approach would not change. Our standards would be raised & would be now even higher, & our player targets would also remain the same. The players we have on board are all extremely talented, hardworking & honest, which is 3 massive factors. The team spirit & bond within the group is excellent & we & I are over the moon with how everything has shaped up.
A number of the new additions have come through the Under 23 ranks at the club, this must be a good sign for the club ‘growing your own’ and showing the underage players they have a path into the first team?
I think it is important to bleed the right youth talent & characters all the way up to the first team setup within your ranks at a club, not only to inspire your youth players, but to nurture & develop the young promising talent we have at the club for the future.
Last season I started & implemented a U23s development side into the club, the first time we had ever done as a club, & which went on to have huge benefits in supporting & bolstering the first team squad. A lot of the U23 players went on to have excellent seasons & completed some excellent loans. After showing the right work & attitudes in pre-season, they were presented with a pathway for them to work towards up to the first team.
The SCEFL had said they were not keen to start the season without spectators, but the FA was pushing on with cup ties. Although crowds are not massive at SCEFL Div. One level , would it be strange for yourself and the team if you had to start playing cup matches behind closed doors?
100% it would have a slight change in dynamic for the people who work & run clubs behind the scenes for sure. Like you say crowds are not massive in SCEFL Division 1, although some clubs within this league get great following regularly at home games.
Last season for us has seen an increase in numbers through the doors, having more Bromley FC fans coming to support & watch when Bromley are away has all been great for the club & has helped to aid to great atmosphere’s on match days at Oakley Road. We love our fans & we miss them terribly. Players like playing in front of spectators, its what the game is all about & I think now spectators are fully allowed back in the grounds, this is great thing for non-league football!
With the uncertainty over the start date of the league did that play on your mind when you were preparing or was it just a case of be ready for September and see what happens?
Yes, we have been planning & working with the players towards starting the season on the first weekend in September. As a club we have taken extra measures COVID wise & PPE based, plus more around the ground to make sure we as a club, as players & as staff are firstly safe & well, & secondly all more than fully ready to kick off the season footballing wise.
When we do get going again what are you hopes for Holmesdale in the new season, is it a case of picking up where you left off in March?
We would like to continue from our work last season. I came in as manager of the club along with my management team at the start of pre-season, & we was the only new management team that season that finished within the top 6 of the league let alone having a chance to win the league title. Myself & my team of Mike Parker (Assistant), Tuner Bayram (Coach), Aaron Marson (GK Coach) & Platini Tshipamba (Analysis Coach) all feel that now we are even stronger as a squad & as a club, & we will look & continue to grow upwards from here & to go on to achieve our goals & targets set both on & off the pitch.
Holmesdale start their SCEFL Division One campaign with a trip to Kennington this Saturday before a home game with Lydd Town on 12th September.