Glentoran Seconds manager, Spike Hill today gave us his thoughts on the new season.
Put simply it’s a question of all change for the Seconds this year, both in staff and players; I think in football speak most managers call it ‘transition time’, but we must not and will not rest on our laurels or lose our focus.
Staff wise ‘Gentleman’ Stephen Lowry, a great servant and ambassador to the club, has decided to spend more time with his family. Coach Conor Marlin is now heading up the Glens Academy and more recently was appointed as joint manager of the Northern Ireland Schools U18 side. I wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their invaluable assistance in the past; indeed it was Stephen that brought me to the Oval.
Playerwise, Daniel Burns has gone to Dundela to join Kyle Cherry, Owain Beggs and Ross Davison. Sam McIlveen and Owen Thompson decided their futures lay elsewhere despite efforts to retain them all. Young Colt Dale Patton has moved to Linfield.
Having said that, Stevie McCullough, Kevin Bradley, John McGuigan, Willie Garrett, Stevie Gordon and Carl McComb are now considered senior panel members and join the likes of Jimmy Callacher, Calum Birney and Jinky Jim O'Hanlon, all of whom got a considerable grounding in the Seconds.
So there is a new brood to work with - young, some very young and raw, but keen to learn, the boys have worked hard on their physical preparation and have shown glimpses of what they are capable of in the five pre-season games. I don’t like singling players out but it was a boost for all the young uns with Jordan Stewart being given some grass-time in Elliott’s testimonial game v Kilmarnock. He’s young and has got a great deal to learn, but what an exiting prospect.
Staff wise, the irrepressible Jim ‘Morgo’ Morgan is now my Assistant Manager and will still look after the player welfare side of things. David Anderson has moved up from the Colts to look after our kit and equipment as well as helping with the coaching.
Two new additions to the Reserve staff are Coaches Craig and David Brotherston. Craig worked with me years ago, both at Dungoyne Boys and was also instrumental in setting up and coaching at the youth set up at Shorts. Craig holds the UEFA A Licence and is full time football development officer at Ards Borough Council. I’ve tried to get him to the Oval on several occasions, so it an ‘at last’ for me and I’m also very happy that his son David is on board. He is a young upcoming coach, not lacking in confidence, and can relate much easier to the young players. He played for Shorts, was a Colts player at the Oval and Ards and went on to managed the Glens U14s in the academy; a UEFA B Licence coach in his own right.
So whilst the challenging for the Reserve League and various cups starts next Saturday, we are clear in our minds that the only objective is to educate, develop and prepare these young players to make the massive step into first team football. If silverware comes along then so be it, but our first trophy has already been won with ‘Wee Sukka’ making his debut and being called into Stephen Craigan’s Northern Ireland U19s for the game in Scotland next week.
Very interesting times ahead.