New Abbey Hey Manager Interview
Wed 8th May 2013 | Abbey Hey | By Ian Templeman
Following the appointment of Abbey Hey's new manager, Luke Gibson, club webmaster Paul Cullen invited 'Gibbo' to take part in a Q & A session for the club website.
The interview is reproduced below.
For those who don't know, Luke is a Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Development at the University of Derby, teaching on a range of modules on the undergraduate Joint Honours Sports programme related to Sports Coaching and Sports Development.
In addition, he's undertaking a PhD by publication, the focus being 'Managerial Change in Elite Football', concentrating on the complex nature of implementing organisational change within a variety of professional football environments. Away from the Uni, Luke works for Bury Football club on a part time basis and has a keen interest in youth football and community sports development. He is also a Qualified UEFA B Licence Coach.
And as if all that isn't enough, as from last Saturday, he now holds the post of Team Manager at Abbey Hey FC.
AHFC: We remember your Abbey Hey debut at Runcorn Town in the first game of the 2010/11 season. You were one of several new players to join the team following relegation. How did a native Manxman end up playing for a team in East Gorton?
LG: We lost that game! I moved over here to go to Manchester Metropolitan University at Crewe to study sports coaching in 2006 and left after doing my Masters in 2010. While I was there I met Nathan Finnigan who played at Abbey. So when I moved to Manchester and needed a team to play for, I asked him about going down to them. Although, when I went training he had left for Stalybridge Celtic so I didn’t know anyone!
AHFC: It would be fair to say that your background and education are not those of a typical NWCFL footballer. Do you think it's the personal qualities gained in your career that have led to you becoming a well respected Captain and now the Team Manager at such a relatively young age?
LG: I think the career path I’ve chosen brings a lot of responsibility and organisation with it, so there are probably transferable skills that I have gained in that role that have helped me in being captain and now manager.
However, there are numerous lads in the Abbey squad that have good leadership qualities as well. I’m nowhere near the manager/coach that I would like to be however, I’ve always sought opportunities to observe and learn from the other more experienced coaches within the academy at Bury and other clubs as well. So I think that the knowledge gained from those experiences will be invaluable.
AHFC: What were the series of events that led to you being announced as the new Abbey Hey Manager last Saturday?
LG: Well, I had been helping Baz and Haggis (Barrie Walker and Andy Harris) out with some of the coaching sessions throughout the past couple of seasons and had mentioned that I wanted to go into management at some point. Baz told me on the night before the final that he was stepping down and asked me if I would like to take over. He gave me a week to think about it, so I had a chat to a couple of coaches, managers and the more senior players at Abbey to get their thoughts and then I decided I wanted to take it! It means I will be playing a lot less, but it will be brilliant for my development as a coach.
AHFC: Looking at your qualifications, are you aiming to bring a more scientific and analytical approach to the way the team plays it's football?
LG: I would like to, yes. We have students at the University doing performance analysis as part of their degree so video analysis is something I would like to set-up at the club. Additionally, I would like to focus more on the strength and conditioning side of things as well. Our physio has a good knowledge of that area and some of the players have asked for individual training programs to focus on specific components of fitness from her already.
AHFC: The obvious problem you could face is going from 'one of the lads' to the guy who now calls the shots. Do you have an approach already in mind to handle this?
LG: When I met with the senior players in the squad, this was one of the things discussed. After meeting with them and now chatting to the other players, I don’t think this will be much of an issue. I don’t really have an approach for this, as every situation will be different. Although, I think that the key for me will be honesty and clarity when making decisions with the lads.
AHFC: Do you intend to get involved in the way the club operates off the pitch as well as on it?
LG: I know that increasing the profile of the club was something that Baz was eager to address however, there were several barriers that were difficult to overcome. Initially, I would like to get things right on the pitch and then we can think about improving everything off the pitch. I’d love to see the gate numbers increase and get the community more involved. I have a couple of ideas for this, but they will have to wait until a later date!
AHFC: You have a fondness for sitting on top of the dugout during games. Firstly, is this to get a better overview of the game and secondly, will you now be getting a padded manager's seat installed up there?
LG: Ha! That’s just to get away from the running commentary of the game from the other subs! Yes, it’s good to sit a little higher to see what’s going on around the pitch. Just having a padded managers seat would brilliant! Forget thinking about where to place it.
AHFC: Taking over the reins of a team is hard enough under normal circumstances without the added pressure of managing one about to step up a level in class. Do you intend to give the players who gained promotion a chance to prove themselves at a higher grade or are you looking to add a few 'Premier experienced' players?
LG: I think the lads have proved that they can handle the standard in the Prem this season. We have had some fantastic performances and results against clubs in that league and above so I think the majority have earned their chance. However, I will be looking to bring in a couple of new faces to freshen things up and keep everyone on their toes.
AHFC: Paying players at NWCFL standard is always a thorny subject. What are your thoughts on rewarding players and the effect it has on team morale?
LG: Most of our lads aren’t concerned about pay; motivation comes from elsewhere with them; which is a bonus for me. If we are able to pay them, we will. We have an unbelievable team spirit and the lads love playing with each other and just being in each other’s company, so I don’t think there will be an issue with morale.
AHFC: Barrie Walker with his Assistant Andy Harris has rebuilt the team over the past few years and it is has received many plaudits in the past 12 months. What do you hope to add to the legacy Baz has left?
LG: Both Baz and Haggis have been brilliant over the past few years. The transformation of the club hasn’t happened by accident, so they should be commended for that. The lads were gutted when they heard Baz was stepping down, although they were made up when he decided to still stay around the club in some capacity. Hopefully I can build on those foundations and keep everyone headed in the same direction.
AHFC: As a fellow guitarist, can we rely on you to introduce a bit of taste and class to the pre match tannoy music at the AbiStad?
LG: Ha! Jacko (Phil Jackson - Abbey Coach) has put together a ‘Manchester Mix’ for the tannoy that has some immense tunes on it so nothing needs changing! Maybe more from Midnight Mafia would be good!
New Abbey Hey Manager Interview
Wed 8th May 2013 | Abbey Hey
By Ian Templeman
Following the appointment of Abbey Hey's new manager, Luke Gibson, club webmaster Paul Cullen invited 'Gibbo' to take part in a Q & A session for the club website.
The interview is reproduced below.
For those who don't know, Luke is a Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Development at the University of Derby, teaching on a range of modules on the undergraduate Joint Honours Sports programme related to Sports Coaching and Sports Development.
In addition, he's undertaking a PhD by publication, the focus being 'Managerial Change in Elite Football', concentrating on the complex nature of implementing organisational change within a variety of professional football environments. Away from the Uni, Luke works for Bury Football club on a part time basis and has a keen interest in youth football and community sports development. He is also a Qualified UEFA B Licence Coach.
And as if all that isn't enough, as from last Saturday, he now holds the post of Team Manager at Abbey Hey FC.
AHFC: We remember your Abbey Hey debut at Runcorn Town in the first game of the 2010/11 season. You were one of several new players to join the team following relegation. How did a native Manxman end up playing for a team in East Gorton?
LG: We lost that game! I moved over here to go to Manchester Metropolitan University at Crewe to study sports coaching in 2006 and left after doing my Masters in 2010. While I was there I met Nathan Finnigan who played at Abbey. So when I moved to Manchester and needed a team to play for, I asked him about going down to them. Although, when I went training he had left for Stalybridge Celtic so I didn’t know anyone!
AHFC: It would be fair to say that your background and education are not those of a typical NWCFL footballer. Do you think it's the personal qualities gained in your career that have led to you becoming a well respected Captain and now the Team Manager at such a relatively young age?
LG: I think the career path I’ve chosen brings a lot of responsibility and organisation with it, so there are probably transferable skills that I have gained in that role that have helped me in being captain and now manager.
However, there are numerous lads in the Abbey squad that have good leadership qualities as well. I’m nowhere near the manager/coach that I would like to be however, I’ve always sought opportunities to observe and learn from the other more experienced coaches within the academy at Bury and other clubs as well. So I think that the knowledge gained from those experiences will be invaluable.
AHFC: What were the series of events that led to you being announced as the new Abbey Hey Manager last Saturday?
LG: Well, I had been helping Baz and Haggis (Barrie Walker and Andy Harris) out with some of the coaching sessions throughout the past couple of seasons and had mentioned that I wanted to go into management at some point. Baz told me on the night before the final that he was stepping down and asked me if I would like to take over. He gave me a week to think about it, so I had a chat to a couple of coaches, managers and the more senior players at Abbey to get their thoughts and then I decided I wanted to take it! It means I will be playing a lot less, but it will be brilliant for my development as a coach.
AHFC: Looking at your qualifications, are you aiming to bring a more scientific and analytical approach to the way the team plays it's football?
LG: I would like to, yes. We have students at the University doing performance analysis as part of their degree so video analysis is something I would like to set-up at the club. Additionally, I would like to focus more on the strength and conditioning side of things as well. Our physio has a good knowledge of that area and some of the players have asked for individual training programs to focus on specific components of fitness from her already.
AHFC: The obvious problem you could face is going from 'one of the lads' to the guy who now calls the shots. Do you have an approach already in mind to handle this?
LG: When I met with the senior players in the squad, this was one of the things discussed. After meeting with them and now chatting to the other players, I don’t think this will be much of an issue. I don’t really have an approach for this, as every situation will be different. Although, I think that the key for me will be honesty and clarity when making decisions with the lads.
AHFC: Do you intend to get involved in the way the club operates off the pitch as well as on it?
LG: I know that increasing the profile of the club was something that Baz was eager to address however, there were several barriers that were difficult to overcome. Initially, I would like to get things right on the pitch and then we can think about improving everything off the pitch. I’d love to see the gate numbers increase and get the community more involved. I have a couple of ideas for this, but they will have to wait until a later date!
AHFC: You have a fondness for sitting on top of the dugout during games. Firstly, is this to get a better overview of the game and secondly, will you now be getting a padded manager's seat installed up there?
LG: Ha! That’s just to get away from the running commentary of the game from the other subs! Yes, it’s good to sit a little higher to see what’s going on around the pitch. Just having a padded managers seat would brilliant! Forget thinking about where to place it.
AHFC: Taking over the reins of a team is hard enough under normal circumstances without the added pressure of managing one about to step up a level in class. Do you intend to give the players who gained promotion a chance to prove themselves at a higher grade or are you looking to add a few 'Premier experienced' players?
LG: I think the lads have proved that they can handle the standard in the Prem this season. We have had some fantastic performances and results against clubs in that league and above so I think the majority have earned their chance. However, I will be looking to bring in a couple of new faces to freshen things up and keep everyone on their toes.
AHFC: Paying players at NWCFL standard is always a thorny subject. What are your thoughts on rewarding players and the effect it has on team morale?
LG: Most of our lads aren’t concerned about pay; motivation comes from elsewhere with them; which is a bonus for me. If we are able to pay them, we will. We have an unbelievable team spirit and the lads love playing with each other and just being in each other’s company, so I don’t think there will be an issue with morale.
AHFC: Barrie Walker with his Assistant Andy Harris has rebuilt the team over the past few years and it is has received many plaudits in the past 12 months. What do you hope to add to the legacy Baz has left?
LG: Both Baz and Haggis have been brilliant over the past few years. The transformation of the club hasn’t happened by accident, so they should be commended for that. The lads were gutted when they heard Baz was stepping down, although they were made up when he decided to still stay around the club in some capacity. Hopefully I can build on those foundations and keep everyone headed in the same direction.
AHFC: As a fellow guitarist, can we rely on you to introduce a bit of taste and class to the pre match tannoy music at the AbiStad?
LG: Ha! Jacko (Phil Jackson - Abbey Coach) has put together a ‘Manchester Mix’ for the tannoy that has some immense tunes on it so nothing needs changing! Maybe more from Midnight Mafia would be good!
