Felixstowe & Walton United FC

Well, what a season it has been - and I have to say, it has felt like a long one. There has been some ups and downs throughout this 2017/2018 campaign, but I will look back and probably remember this footballing year more than any. Where do you start? Unfortunately, I know where it will seem like it ended, but for me that is not the case. Yes, it has been a very hard week after Tuesday and I know all you seasiders felt the same! I personally thought about what we need to do next season. 

I just don’t know how to squeeze this all into one blog really. 

For me, my journey started in football properly nearly 33 years ago, I know - feel free to say ‘shut up Watty, you are too young!!’ But I doubt most of you who know me will say that, lol, although football management has definitely aged me. The thing is, I would not give any of it up and I would love to think youngsters will have the same joy “The game” has brought me. Don’t worry, I won’t be going all the way back, as you all take a sigh of relief!

This management lark started for me 9 years ago now, just after I had finally won the Senior Cup at 38. I never thought I would go into management, but now I look back and I have had some fantastic people to take bits from, too many to mention, and you all know who you are as I have told you all to your faces. 

It starts in the SIL, almost winning it in my first season (pattern emerges there). Thrown into it really, but I suddenly realised I enjoyed it, and if I am honest that is all that matters to anyone involved in football, whatever you do - whether it be a manager, a player or a fan (which I will certainly come to). Despite not being the greatest at the game, I fell in love with it and have never looked back. So there I am convincing my new girlfriend (Joanna) that she should be secretary of Felixstowe United/Harpers and it will be wonderful. I think we can all see that it has driven her to drink :-). We washed the kit, I paid players subs and spent an awful lot of time, in fact 90% of my time building up weekly for Saturday afternoons. That is the bit the wife has got used to!! I thought I would be ok at the job, but never really thought my dreams would come true. That was always to manage Felixstowe & Walton Utd and stand on the sidelines with the ground full. Enter Kev O’Donnell, to charismatically pull me back to the club I have always loved. I think that box is ticked and the dream came true, but in life I have always wanted more and when I get a taste, my mates will tell you it does not end there. I know those that have done it before know what it entails being a manager. Let’s face it, everyone is a manager sometimes!! Like everything in life, we make mistakes, just like players and I wish I could explain the work that goes into it. That is not me moaning, as I would not change it for the world. It is certainly harder at the higher level and there is more involved. 

I actually now do think people realise how far our club has come. We would not be where we are if it was not for the people that have got us through the bad times. That really is the case because everyone remembers the good times and tend to forget the bad times, or put them to the back of their minds. Our football club has always been a fantastic club that the likes of Dave Ashford and many others have sweated blood and tears for. For me the promotion this season goes to all those people, some of who are no longer with us. 

I don’t want to drone on and lose your interest, but let’s look at this season. We moved into our wonderful new clubhouse and all of a sudden the club came alive. This is down to all the people that made that all happen, so I take the opportunity to thank Chris Daynes, Colin Butcher, Chris & Jayne Ryan, our Chairman and the whole committee for achieving our dream. The club would not be where we are if it were not for you. I am selfish and one stand out person in all that time is Anthony Barnes, as he has made sure the football side of things has improved. No, I don’t have to say that because he is technically our boss, but you need someone with a football brain to ensure the squad is going the right way.

Now you the fans, OH MY GOD what can I say! You have made our club by supporting us home and away and we have a fantastic reputation from that alone. You have all been better than I could ever have dreamed of, and for that I will thank you all personally for you know that! To have you guys and girls behind us everywhere we go has been a truly tremendous feeling. To stand there and see over 1,500 people there on Tuesday broke all my expectations and I cannot thank you enough. The banter we have had and the love you have given our squad is second to none. One of the best things I heard was from a work colleague who came to her first game on Tuesday night. She said that what stood out for her was the differences in all the age groups of people there, young and old. She said it gave her such a community feel and that is what we are now. We have smashed records this year and I would love to go and do it at the next level, so please encourage your friends and family to come and support what is a great football club and lovely environment to be involved with on a Saturday afternoon.

The club have worked tirelessly to ensure we move in the direction and I want to personally thank all of the staff on match days, whether it be stewards, bar staff or committee. What an effort you have all put in, but I know you have all loved the ride too. Please, if you are reading this, get involved in what is a fantastic club. I have not got time to thank everyone tonight, but I will mention Aren, Alex, Dean and Stu for what they have done with our under 18’s / reserves and what they have become. It is not just us getting promoted, it is them as well, and what an achievement. The Senior Reserve Cup Final certainly cheered my week up.

I have to mention the management team and the squad. Having Stu, Craig, Sam and Martyn do what they have done this season certainly makes mine and Kev’s lives so much easier, so thank you all. The squad has been fantastic this season, despite the odd grizzle (my job). Kev and I have worked hard to get players that don’t just play for this football club, but players that it means something to, playing for Felixstowe & Walton. That ethos will not change as long as Kev and I are involved. I want to thank you, the squad, for what you have done for us and the club this season. We have now made history in two seasons and long may that continue. I don’t want to mention individuals as we are a team and then defenders, midfielders and strikers fall out. Let alone the keeper, sorry Franny you get nothing here :-)

I will end now, although that has shortened the end of season do speeches! I want to say a massive THANK YOU TO YOU ALL for everything you have done for us this year. I hope there are a lot of you there at Haverhill so we can see the season out the right way………..But do you know what?…….WE ARE GOING UP – SAY WE ARE GOING UP! 

Sea Sea Seasiders……Keep the history rolling!

A very proud Watty (wipe the tear from the keyboard)