WILSON HOPING EASTBOURNE CAN SCALE GREATER HEIGHTS IN FA CUP
Garry Wilson has been Eastbourne Borough FC manager for nearly a decade and has a habit of lifting the club to unprecedented heights. On Saturday, when his team hosts fellow Blue Square Premier club Barrow in the FA Cup First Round Proper, he hopes that another record is broken.
“Every year we seem to push on to new levels that we have never seen before,” says the Scotsman, who, away from his footballing commitments, is an electronics operations manager. “We have never advanced past the First Round.
“If we were to get through to the Second Round for the first time it would be great for the club, both financially and for the fans. The first time we reached the First Round Proper, in 2005, it was an amazing achievement (they lost to Oxford United in a replay). Now it is our third time we are looking to break a new barrier again and get to the Second Round.”
Wilson took charge of the club in 1999 and under his watch Eastbourne have been elevated four levels, from the Sussex County League to the Blue Square Premier – the league they were promoted to in May.
“This is my tenth season,” continues Wilson, “and that was the aim when I first went to the club – to reach the conference. Me and my assistant manager, Nick Greenwood, have been at the club for nine, nearly ten, years. It was a dream back then but we have now made it happen and we are quite proud of that.
“The club has evolved and moved on so much. When I first started we were getting crowds of less than 100 people. Now we are averaging over 1,000 every week at Priory Lane. We now have full-time staff at the club now too. It has changed from a little, local club to a professional business.”
Now that Wilson’s side are in the Blue Square Premier, where most clubs train five days a week as opposed to the two night-time sessions his part-timers have, the step up has been tricky. But in 18th position they are nine points better off than bottom-placed Lewes and only four points below Barrow, who sit in 11th.
The manager continues: “We are taking one step at a time and we never thought it would click overnight. It is a difficult league and miles above where we have come from. The quality is better in the Blue Square Premier and we find ourselves coming up against teams who are very organised and fit. As a team we are holding well against some good clubs. And we have given the existing squad the chance to have a go at it; we felt they deserved it.”
Indeed defender Darren Baker has been at the Sussex club for 14 seasons, and is close to amassing 800 appearances, and a handful of others have been in the team for many years. Lee Hook, the goalkeeper, has been at the club for six years, full-back Ben Austin and left-winger Matt Crabb, eight, while central midfielder Matt Smart has been serving for seven years.
“There are quite a number of players who have been at the club for a long time and that stability in the side is one of our strengths,” Wilson says. “We just tweak small things every now and again. It is satisfying to see some players who played at county league level come up and play in the conference and do well.”
On Barrow, Saturday’s opposition who, at home, defeated Eastbourne 3-1 in the league last month, Wilson adds: “They are a bit like us. They came up last year and had a great year – they were on fire at the start. This season they had a good start and had a hiccup but since they won against Crawley Town a few weeks ago they are back on a good run.
“Barrow are a side who work well together and work hard. They will be difficult to break down as was shown the other week when we had most of the possession but couldn’t turn it into goals. It will be a very tight and there won’t be a lot in it – the table shows that. It will all depend who adapts best on the day.
“I hope cup fever grips the town and we have a good crowd so we make the most of the home advantage. This game is more winnable than last year’s First Round Proper tie against Weymouth was (they lost 4-0 at Priory Lane and attracted a record gate of 2,711). If we are in the hat after Saturday it gives us better odds of drawing a bigger club in the next round.”
Garry Wilson has been Eastbourne Borough FC manager for nearly a decade and has a habit of lifting the club to unprecedented heights. On Saturday, when his team hosts fellow Blue Square Premier club Barrow in the FA Cup First Round Proper, he hopes that another record is broken.
“Every year we seem to push on to new levels that we have never seen before,” says the Scotsman, who, away from his footballing commitments, is an electronics operations manager. “We have never advanced past the First Round.
“If we were to get through to the Second Round for the first time it would be great for the club, both financially and for the fans. The first time we reached the First Round Proper, in 2005, it was an amazing achievement (they lost to Oxford United in a replay). Now it is our third time we are looking to break a new barrier again and get to the Second Round.”
Wilson took charge of the club in 1999 and under his watch Eastbourne have been elevated four levels, from the Sussex County League to the Blue Square Premier – the league they were promoted to in May.
“This is my tenth season,” continues Wilson, “and that was the aim when I first went to the club – to reach the conference. Me and my assistant manager, Nick Greenwood, have been at the club for nine, nearly ten, years. It was a dream back then but we have now made it happen and we are quite proud of that.
“The club has evolved and moved on so much. When I first started we were getting crowds of less than 100 people. Now we are averaging over 1,000 every week at Priory Lane. We now have full-time staff at the club now too. It has changed from a little, local club to a professional business.”
Now that Wilson’s side are in the Blue Square Premier, where most clubs train five days a week as opposed to the two night-time sessions his part-timers have, the step up has been tricky. But in 18th position they are nine points better off than bottom-placed Lewes and only four points below Barrow, who sit in 11th.
The manager continues: “We are taking one step at a time and we never thought it would click overnight. It is a difficult league and miles above where we have come from. The quality is better in the Blue Square Premier and we find ourselves coming up against teams who are very organised and fit. As a team we are holding well against some good clubs. And we have given the existing squad the chance to have a go at it; we felt they deserved it.”
Indeed defender Darren Baker has been at the Sussex club for 14 seasons, and is close to amassing 800 appearances, and a handful of others have been in the team for many years. Lee Hook, the goalkeeper, has been at the club for six years, full-back Ben Austin and left-winger Matt Crabb, eight, while central midfielder Matt Smart has been serving for seven years.
“There are quite a number of players who have been at the club for a long time and that stability in the side is one of our strengths,” Wilson says. “We just tweak small things every now and again. It is satisfying to see some players who played at county league level come up and play in the conference and do well.”
On Barrow, Saturday’s opposition who, at home, defeated Eastbourne 3-1 in the league last month, Wilson adds: “They are a bit like us. They came up last year and had a great year – they were on fire at the start. This season they had a good start and had a hiccup but since they won against Crawley Town a few weeks ago they are back on a good run.
“Barrow are a side who work well together and work hard. They will be difficult to break down as was shown the other week when we had most of the possession but couldn’t turn it into goals. It will be a very tight and there won’t be a lot in it – the table shows that. It will all depend who adapts best on the day.
“I hope cup fever grips the town and we have a good crowd so we make the most of the home advantage. This game is more winnable than last year’s First Round Proper tie against Weymouth was (they lost 4-0 at Priory Lane and attracted a record gate of 2,711). If we are in the hat after Saturday it gives us better odds of drawing a bigger club in the next round.”
Labels: Barrow Town, Eastbourne Borough, FA Cup
