After eight and a half seasons at the helm, Erith Town manager Adam Woodward has decided to call time on his tenure. That does not mean that he is leaving the club, though. Instead he is stepping ‘upstairs’ to take on a role as director at the club.
He joined the club in May 2017 following the departure of Ian Jenkins when the Dockers finished one place above the Southern Counties East Premier Division relegation zone. Woodward had taken Glebe to the Southern Counties East Division One title in the 2016-17 season and Erith owner abd chairman, Mark Deveney, was impressed enough to offer him the role.
Once in place he worked hard on restructuring the first team whilst being a key part in the creation of a youth section. The club now runs sixteen teams. He has never been shy of giving the young players a first opportunity to play senior adult football, and they know that if they perform, they have a pathway to the first team.
During his time at the club, they have relocated from Erith Leisure Centre to the Stanmore Stadium, Bayliss Avenue in Thamesmead, and attendances have increased as they have worked hard to engage with the local community.
Having built up the team year on year, they achieved the success that he yearned six years after joining. The Dockers won the SCEFL Challenge Cup, beating Corinthians on penalties, and the Kent FA Senior Trophy with a three-two win against Croydon in the final.
However, the jewel in the crown was promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division through the play-offs. They defeated Glebe in the eliminators before another penalties win over Corinthians ensured that they would be playing at step four level for the first time in their history.
Last season, they flirted with the play-off places in the early part of the campaign before finishing in a very respectable fourteenth place. This season has been tougher and Saturday’s defeat at home to Crowborough Athletic left them in the bottom four, three points adrift of safety. As a result, Woodward made the decision to step away from his current duties and allow the club to bring in someone new to freshen things up.
This was not a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction as Woodward has been discussing options with the club over the last month and has now decided that the time is right. He is looking forward to his new role at developing the club’s ideals while also allowing more time to spend with his young family.
While applications are being accepted for the vacant first team manager role, players Calum McGeehan and Aaron Jeffrey are sharing the interim manager duties, starting with their next match at home to VCD Athletic on 3rd January.
Pictures supplied by Sophie Sullivan.