Earlier this week I caught up with joint Littlehampton Town manager Mitch Hand after his side’s first season in the Isthmian League ended in a mid-table finish in the South East Division. Here are his thoughts on last season and a look ahead to the next one:
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TK: One year on from the FA Vase Final this week and a very memorable season with a massive experience for everyone, how has the 12 months been since then?
MH: Lots of change but all for the better, I think we did well to bridge some of the gap from County League to Isthmian League. It’s been an eyeopener for everyone, some of the clubs we’ve been to like Chatham, Ramsgate etc. are serious football clubs, big crowds, lovely grounds and I feel when we get our new stand I feel like that bridge becomes even smaller.
It was good to have a respectable league finish but not good enough for me. I don’t think the club me or George would be happy with it but under the circumstances we can’t really complain too much.
I actually watched Ascot vs Newport Pagnell on Sunday; it was so strange to watch it on TV it looked less of an occasion as you weren’t actually living it like we were 12 months ago. It was really good to watch it from a different perspective , although it looked like a warm up for the Trophy final, still makes me think about what if but it’s been great to see all the photos again of a memorable day.
TK: Fully get that point of view with the Vase, the springboard of the whole season. Did it make it a little easier to attract players to the club over the summer and through the season?
MH: Harder than ever to be honest! Because you have to go for a higher calibre of player you’re competing with bigger clubs, bigger budgets etc. That and the catchment area is the real problem. You can’t attract players from East Sussex/Kent areas as they all get offered more money on their doorstep.
That leaves you with a smaller pool of players to pick from, recruitment at this level lots of managers will tell you is so difficult.
TK: The club obviously had to do a bit of work off the pitch to ensure compliance to stay at this level, did it restrict trying to get some of those players that you could attract as well?
MH: Yeah it did restrict us majorly but it’s the right thing to do for the club. The facilities have to progress in tandem with what’s happening on the pitch otherwise it’s not sustainable.
If that means a couple of seasons with a limited budget that’s fine, all that matters is we turn Littlehampton into a sustainable Isthmian League club. For us it’s never been about trying to tempt players with money, we try to find the right people who have similar motivations for playing football as we do and it’s not let us down so far.
TK: As you mentioned earlier you played some great clubs like Chatham and Ramsgate during the season did you see some of the levels you and George (Gaskin) want Littlehampton to be at, in terms of both on and off the pitch?
MH: Yeah definitely, at these big clubs even locally like Worthing every game feels like an event. People in the ground an hour before, clubs with supporters rather than spectators.
We had a snippet of that last season and it shows the club’s got the potential to make that happen consistently. Once we’ve got the ground up to scratch it gives us a better chance, but we’ve still got a long, long way to go.
On the pitch consistency killed us. We beat Ramsgate twice, Beckenham, Cray Valley and Whitehawk once each. We can compete with these sides on our day, but our day was once a month which isn’t enough at this level.
TK: Good set of scalps but you as say the lack on consistency kills momentum. If you had to pick out one or two, what would be your favourite moments of the season?
MH: Beating Whitehawk away with 10 men was special, they’re a top side and there was a bit of needle in the game so to come out on top in that clash was a special day.
Cray Valley at home was brilliant as well, they were technically the best side in the league for me and to keep a clean sheet plus nick the win at the end was excellent, that was a stage of the season where we were really competing in that top half too.
Hopefully we can have more days like that next season but on a more regular basis!
TK: I think you’re well set for pushing on further next year, with a lot of new sides coming into the division who have you got your eye on as an intriguing opponent?
MH: I’ll be honest the only one I have any clue about is Broadbridge Heath! Other than that I’m pretty clueless haha. Next year we have to change our mindset and every game has to be about ourselves, too many times our levels went up and down based on who we played and that was a big problem.
TK: Does that mean Mitch Hand has a busy summer to find a way to make that preparation count and has it already begun?
MH: It never stops Trev, honestly! This bit is busier than the actual season, my missus hates me! Me and George might as well have walkie-talkies we’re flat out every day finding a way to improve!
My thanks to Mitch for his time and the very best this summer for him, George and Littlehampton Town.
