Continued Progress Is The Aim At Cheadle
Thu 18th November 2010 | Cheadle Town | By Ian Templeman
A promising end to last season and a positive start to this season's campaign has given Cheadle Town boss Steve Brokenbrow optimism for the future at Park Road.
Steve blooded a number of young players in the Cheadle first team in the second half of last season, and was rewarded with a good run of results and an appearance in the final of the First Division Trophy. The momentum has continued this season with good results in both league and cup competitions, and Steve is upbeat about his team's performances so far.
"The season started well for us, we had a couple of poor performances but overall we have to be pleased with the start we've made. We're around the top six and we're in mid-November, and our target this season has to be to keep that going.Â
"We added more young players in the summer to what was already a young squad, and in some games recently the oldest player in the team was 24. Budget wise we can only play young players, but that is not a bad thing because youngsters will come here and know they've got a chance of getting a first team place. They know they won't be sitting on the bench doing nothing, or be in the reserves and never get a look in.
"We've probably had at least half a dozen players aged 18 and under playing in the first team over the past year, and we have to be pleased with that. When young lads like that get games in this league, they get used to playing in stadiums in front of crowds and they are only going to get better with age and experience. That will benefit us in the long term.
"For example, against AFC Liverpool at home in the league a couple of weeks ago, for an hour we gave them a good game but they had that bit of experience we haven't got yet and that gave them the edge. That inexperience may trip us up a bit at times, but with a young side you have to expect that, and they will do great things as well when you are not expecting it.Â
"So you have to take the rough with the smooth and I am prepared to do that. No one goes out to make mistakes on purpose and young lads are learning all the time.
"The pleasing thing is that we are keeping all the players, no one's looking to move on because they know they will get a chance here. The reserves are a young side too, and they have been struggling at times because they are coming up against experienced players in the Vodkat Reserve League, and have had one or two hidings. But many of them are only in the 16-18 age group, so they need time to adjust."
Despite the fact that the Cheadle reserve side is in the lower half of the Reserve Division table, Steve is very committed to maintaining the club's presence in the Vodkat Reserve League.
"I think it's a shame that there aren't more teams in it because I believe it's good for us to play in it. The reason we stay in it is because we get players used to the surroundings and the pitches. If you get them used to that, and then play them in the first team, they will adjust straight away rather than if they have come straight in from playing on park pitches or grounds from lower leagues. This way, they get used to playing on grounds that they will hopefully play in again when they are in the first team.Â
"I can understand why some teams decide to play their reserves in their local league, and certainly there can be less travelling involved. If we've got an away game at Barnoldswick for example, it's a bit of a journey for us but it gets the lads used to the idea of turning up at the ground for about half past twelve and not getting back until well after six. It's a bigger commitment, whereas if we were in for example the Cheshire League, a lot of the games would be a lot nearer. Â
"But I look at our young lads coming up against the likes of Glossop Reserves, when they have a few first team players in the team who have been around the league for a while, and I think the Vodkat Reserve Division has a lot to offer our young players.
"They are generally going to be playing against older more experienced players and that's got to be a benefit. I think as a league it has a lot to offer and I wish more clubs were in it. I know times are hard, and I've had people at other clubs say to me that I should be thinking of getting rid of our reserves.
"But the way I look at it is that it's a great way for me to bring young players through and get them ready for first team football, and also if I've got first team players coming back from injury who need a game or two under their belts, they get the opportunity to get that game time in the reserves.Â
"I have a lot of connections with junior football, particularly Stockport boys, and once you get a few coming down others follow, because word gets round that Cheadle Town are prepared to play young players. They know that if they went to bigger clubs they'd sit on the bench, but here they get an opportunity of playing first team football, and that can put them in the shop window.Â
"If someone from a higher division comes along for them after seeing them in our first team then good luck to them. A few lads have moved on but the spirit's good and we do tend to keep them.Â
"More important, none of my players ever refuse to play for the reserves, we all train together, and there's no ideas of people being first teamers or reserves, they all play for Cheadle Town full stop."
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Steve has a number of targets in his sights.
"My aim at the moment is trying to build on last season, get these young lads some more experience of playing in this league and then look at having a real go next season. By then these lads will be in their twenties and have two or three seasons of experience in this league.Â
"I certainly won't be changing the philosophy I have for playing football the right way. I'm not interested in getting young lads to play kick and rush stuff, although we haven't got a physically big side, so to an extent we've no option but to play that way. We've got to get it on the floor and play, and both the first team and the reserves play that way.
"I'm happy with the squad as it is now, although if a quality player comes along you won't turn him down. We were a bit lightweight up front until we signed Dean McGregor a few weeks back. He's a local lad, and made a good start for us. He did well in his debut at Abbey Hey in the cup and then scored against AFC Liverpool, and we're hoping for good things from him.Â
"We've had some good results in the cups already this season. We had a good scalp in the FA Cup when we beat Squires Gate at our place, and they are doing well in the Premier Division this season, so that shows me that we have got good potential here. It's getting the players to produce that every week and get some consistency going that needs to be worked on.
"Obviously we enjoyed our run to the First Division Trophy final last season, and we had a good game at Abbey Hey in the first round of this season's competition and won 3-2. We've got Runcorn Town at home in the next round and we are looking forward to that. We know it's another tough game but it's at home and should be a good game. Â
"League wise, I think this season is much like last season, any one of the top twelve sides can beat one another and I think any side that can just pull out a consistent run will be up there. We've played AFC Blackpool, AFC Liverpool and Wigan Robin Park, who have been around the top three for most of the season, and I don't think there's much to choose between them. They are all good sides.
"For us, I'd be satisfied with a top six finish and a good cup run, that would make me more than happy, and it would be mission accomplished as far as this season is concerned."
Continued Progress Is The Aim At Cheadle
Thu 18th November 2010 | Cheadle Town
By Ian Templeman
A promising end to last season and a positive start to this season's campaign has given Cheadle Town boss Steve Brokenbrow optimism for the future at Park Road.
Steve blooded a number of young players in the Cheadle first team in the second half of last season, and was rewarded with a good run of results and an appearance in the final of the First Division Trophy. The momentum has continued this season with good results in both league and cup competitions, and Steve is upbeat about his team's performances so far.
"The season started well for us, we had a couple of poor performances but overall we have to be pleased with the start we've made. We're around the top six and we're in mid-November, and our target this season has to be to keep that going.Â
"We added more young players in the summer to what was already a young squad, and in some games recently the oldest player in the team was 24. Budget wise we can only play young players, but that is not a bad thing because youngsters will come here and know they've got a chance of getting a first team place. They know they won't be sitting on the bench doing nothing, or be in the reserves and never get a look in.
"We've probably had at least half a dozen players aged 18 and under playing in the first team over the past year, and we have to be pleased with that. When young lads like that get games in this league, they get used to playing in stadiums in front of crowds and they are only going to get better with age and experience. That will benefit us in the long term.
"For example, against AFC Liverpool at home in the league a couple of weeks ago, for an hour we gave them a good game but they had that bit of experience we haven't got yet and that gave them the edge. That inexperience may trip us up a bit at times, but with a young side you have to expect that, and they will do great things as well when you are not expecting it.Â
"So you have to take the rough with the smooth and I am prepared to do that. No one goes out to make mistakes on purpose and young lads are learning all the time.
"The pleasing thing is that we are keeping all the players, no one's looking to move on because they know they will get a chance here. The reserves are a young side too, and they have been struggling at times because they are coming up against experienced players in the Vodkat Reserve League, and have had one or two hidings. But many of them are only in the 16-18 age group, so they need time to adjust."
Despite the fact that the Cheadle reserve side is in the lower half of the Reserve Division table, Steve is very committed to maintaining the club's presence in the Vodkat Reserve League.
"I think it's a shame that there aren't more teams in it because I believe it's good for us to play in it. The reason we stay in it is because we get players used to the surroundings and the pitches. If you get them used to that, and then play them in the first team, they will adjust straight away rather than if they have come straight in from playing on park pitches or grounds from lower leagues. This way, they get used to playing on grounds that they will hopefully play in again when they are in the first team.Â
"I can understand why some teams decide to play their reserves in their local league, and certainly there can be less travelling involved. If we've got an away game at Barnoldswick for example, it's a bit of a journey for us but it gets the lads used to the idea of turning up at the ground for about half past twelve and not getting back until well after six. It's a bigger commitment, whereas if we were in for example the Cheshire League, a lot of the games would be a lot nearer. Â
"But I look at our young lads coming up against the likes of Glossop Reserves, when they have a few first team players in the team who have been around the league for a while, and I think the Vodkat Reserve Division has a lot to offer our young players.
"They are generally going to be playing against older more experienced players and that's got to be a benefit. I think as a league it has a lot to offer and I wish more clubs were in it. I know times are hard, and I've had people at other clubs say to me that I should be thinking of getting rid of our reserves.
"But the way I look at it is that it's a great way for me to bring young players through and get them ready for first team football, and also if I've got first team players coming back from injury who need a game or two under their belts, they get the opportunity to get that game time in the reserves.Â
"I have a lot of connections with junior football, particularly Stockport boys, and once you get a few coming down others follow, because word gets round that Cheadle Town are prepared to play young players. They know that if they went to bigger clubs they'd sit on the bench, but here they get an opportunity of playing first team football, and that can put them in the shop window.Â
"If someone from a higher division comes along for them after seeing them in our first team then good luck to them. A few lads have moved on but the spirit's good and we do tend to keep them.Â
"More important, none of my players ever refuse to play for the reserves, we all train together, and there's no ideas of people being first teamers or reserves, they all play for Cheadle Town full stop."
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Steve has a number of targets in his sights.
"My aim at the moment is trying to build on last season, get these young lads some more experience of playing in this league and then look at having a real go next season. By then these lads will be in their twenties and have two or three seasons of experience in this league.Â
"I certainly won't be changing the philosophy I have for playing football the right way. I'm not interested in getting young lads to play kick and rush stuff, although we haven't got a physically big side, so to an extent we've no option but to play that way. We've got to get it on the floor and play, and both the first team and the reserves play that way.
"I'm happy with the squad as it is now, although if a quality player comes along you won't turn him down. We were a bit lightweight up front until we signed Dean McGregor a few weeks back. He's a local lad, and made a good start for us. He did well in his debut at Abbey Hey in the cup and then scored against AFC Liverpool, and we're hoping for good things from him.Â
"We've had some good results in the cups already this season. We had a good scalp in the FA Cup when we beat Squires Gate at our place, and they are doing well in the Premier Division this season, so that shows me that we have got good potential here. It's getting the players to produce that every week and get some consistency going that needs to be worked on.
"Obviously we enjoyed our run to the First Division Trophy final last season, and we had a good game at Abbey Hey in the first round of this season's competition and won 3-2. We've got Runcorn Town at home in the next round and we are looking forward to that. We know it's another tough game but it's at home and should be a good game. Â
"League wise, I think this season is much like last season, any one of the top twelve sides can beat one another and I think any side that can just pull out a consistent run will be up there. We've played AFC Blackpool, AFC Liverpool and Wigan Robin Park, who have been around the top three for most of the season, and I don't think there's much to choose between them. They are all good sides.
"For us, I'd be satisfied with a top six finish and a good cup run, that would make me more than happy, and it would be mission accomplished as far as this season is concerned."
