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This week OMH speaks to Assistant Manager Dave Reynolds, and questions him about his role with the club, Clarkey, and his favourite HRFC Goal, the answers are very revealing.
OMH: So Dave how are you?
DR: I’m fine thanks.
OMH: First question, lets get straight into it. How do you think our season is going? How would you assess it, our first season back in Division One.
DR: I actually think it’s not been going too bad really, you know we haven’t been stuffed by anybody, most of the games we’ve lost have been by the odd goal. I just think we’ve been a little bit unfortunate, getting a bit demoralised by not getting the results that we’ve deserved. No I don’t think it’s been going to bad at all.
OMH: There are three or four sides above us with a worse goal difference. I mean our goal difference is only minus five.
DR: Yeah, I saw that tonight on the website.
OMH: It’s been a strange season, every defeat we’ve suffered in the League bar one has been by the odd goal.
DR: Yeah, that’s right, I think we’re just suffering from a lack of confidence.
OMH: It’s a real six pointer today, against Edgware. How do you think today’s game will go?
DR: I was looking that up tonight as well on the website. I think if we just get a bit of confidence. I really feel that it’s all about confidence at the moment. I think we can play confidently we will beat them.
OMH: That’s totally true Dave, I don’t think we’ve had any luck at all this season.
DR: I don’t think we have, a few decisions go against us. We’ve let a couple of silly goals. Well actually we haven’t let many silly goals in this year to be honest, have we? We’ve probably missed a few a goals.
OMH: Good job, you weren’t there on Sunday Dave, we let some silly goals in there (lost 1-6 to Broadfields).
DR: That side are too good for our division, they’ve got a lot of first team players in there.
OMH: They’re walking away with our division as well. So no real disgrace in getting beat like that.
DR: Yeah.
OMH: Okay moving on, who’s been our best and most improved player / players, this season?
DR: It’s hard to say, but I think one of players who is very influential is Clarkey. It’s because he motivates people well. I think 50p when he’s playing is making a real difference. Jarv has had a good season, but I think he’s unfortunately suffered a lot through injuries. I think 50p when he plays is a good motivator and he’s played better than he has for a couple of years.
OMH: I think that’s maybe because he’s not playing Saturday’s, as I agree I think 50p has been our best player this season.
DR: Yeah I agree not playing Saturdays has made a real difference, and now he’s settled down in his almost married life.
OMH: Yeah he’s starting to play better.
DR: (Laughing).
OMH: Thank you Sarah.
DR: Yeah it’s all down to Sarah.
OMH: What’s it like to be a Grandpa?
DR: Oh fantastic.
OMH: Do you feel old? Obviously little Samuel hasn’t called you Grandad yet.
DR: He hasn’t but everyone else has. It’s fantastic because I’ve ended up being a Grandad and retired in the same week.
OMH: Didn’t see that coming did you? Well you I’m sure you saw one but the other was a bit of a shock.
DR: (Laughing) Nine months later I saw one of them coming, and a week’s notice. It’s good I can definitely recommend it.
OMH: What retirement or being a Grandad? (Laughing).
DR: (Laughing) Both!!
OMH: Tour this year, are you looking forward to it?
DR: Yeah I am.
OMH: Will be good to have Janet there this year? How will you adapt to being back on the leash.
DR: Is this on the record?
OMH: Yeah.
DR: No it will be good having her there, as she really enjoys it actually.
OMH: Was it strange being there last year without her?
DR: It was in a way from the point of view that it was different. As from being on all the tours together, so I ended up doing different things as you probably noticed. I enjoyed last year, but for different reasons I’ll enjoy this tour.
OMH: What’s your most memorable game? For whatever reason stands out in your memory.
DR: Funny enough, this is probably a bit of a selfish reason actually. The game that always stands out for me when Nick got that goal against Lille Moulins in France, and it was purely because of that. I’ve always known that he’s capable of doing that, and he’s only ever done it once (laughing). Just because he did it then it sticks in my mind that game really. We’ve had a few good games over the years. The game that sticks in my mind was when Mark Morren was man marking Fabio.
OMH: That was Deerfield and we got beat 6-1 the week before.
DR: Yep we got beat 6-1 the week before and we decided that we would put Mark Morren on to mark him and we really came out with a plan and it worked. We lost the game in the end.
OMH: 2-0, they scored in the last five minutes.
DR: That’s right, yeah.
OMH: He didn’t get a kick, did he?
DR: That was good because we planned it out beforehand and everybody did what their job. It’s nice when it works.
OMH: Going back to Nick’s goal, I’ve always said it was extra special as it was in front of a lot of people. It was nice to score there as it was in front of a couple of hundred French people in a mini stadium. It was a fantastic goal.
DR: I just wish he would do it again.
OMH: Yeah for league points. Okay Dave who’s a big diver? Waley or Cristiano Ronaldo?
DR: Ohh, I’m not sure.
OMH: Or Matty Wheeler?
DR: Haaa Matty Wheeler, No I wouldn’t say Matty. Nicky Wale probably. Is this going to get published?
OMH: Yep.
DR: Yep Waley, I’m not so sure though if it’s down to his fitness, he just falls over.
OMH: I think he like’s a lay down.
DR: Probably (laughing).
OMH: Where will the club be in five years time?
DR: Ohh, that’s a difficult one. I think the fact that we’ve kept together all this time, we’ve had a bit of influx of younger players. We will need some younger players to be added in that time to keep going. I’m very confident that we will be going strong. We will need some younger players as I think you’ll have some of the older players . . .
OMH: Like Simon, Geezer, Gary, Crofty he’s getting on a bit.
DR: Crofty certainly is, Simon’s getting on a bit and now he’s a Dad.
OMH: I’ll be at my peak Dave, 28 (laughing).
DR: You’ll just be coming into your own by that time.
OMH: Can you believe we’ve been going seven years?
DR: I can’t believe it. I must admit when it first started I gave it a year or two to see how it would go. I think it’s been really good, fantastic really.
OMH: We’ve had very players that have come in and leave.
DR: If you look at the squad now there’s a few exceptions but the core of the squad were here when we started it.
OMH: Most of the team arrived during the first couple of seasons. I think about 95% of the squad arrived then. It’s only really Martin, Chandler and Alan Hunter that have come in later on.
DR: That’s right, take Waley for example he’s been in, and out and then in again.
OMH: Bit like his batting (laughing). Charlie and Waley arrive second season, Clarkey signed in the third season.
DR: I think its really good. The one thing that is so good about and the one reason that it will continue for a long time, is that the spirit is so good. At the end of the day, take this season for example we’ve lost a lot of games but you still get players that aren’t playing turning up to watch the game. That’s good spirit.
OMH: The club has never gone out with less than 11 players on the pitch and I think that’s a great credit to the team.
DR: Yeah brilliant.
OMH: We’ve had three or four games when we’ve had the bare 11, but most times we’ve got one sub. That’s credit, real credit.
DR: Oh it’s really good, particularly when all the subs turn up, especially when they’ve been told. I really can’t think of time when we’ve asked some one to be a sub and they’ve not turned up. Which is really good.
OMH: Do you think this is down to the rotation policy which is in our constitution?
DR: Having a squad system like that is the right thing. If you did pick the best team every week, you wouldn’t get the same group of players staying together.
OMH: I love playing, but it was always a nice change coming to support the team when it’s your turn to miss. How do you think the website looks Dave?
DR: I had look again at it tonight, funny enough. The one thing is that’s good apart from all the stats is the link to League website, as you can look at the upcoming games and the results between the other sides. Our website itself looks very professional, all for it.
OMH: How do you feel training’s been this season?
DR: Good, I liked Gayton it was good and it was nearby. I was a little sceptical about moving to Vyners mainly due to the distance. But I have to say I think it’s a fantastic venue, and the journey down there isn’t a problem. I was speaking to Simon the other night and it’s actually quicker for him to get home than Gayton was.
OMH: I think everyone was a bit concerned about the journey, but the good thing is for me that because it’s indoors, you get people turning up in the winter when they may have not bothered at Gayton because it was outdoors, not naming anyone (JIMBOB).
DR: That’s right, the facilities are good. Certainly one of the things is that when you get certain people like Mr Morren banging the balls all over the place you haven’t got to run and chase after the balls.
OMH: How much longer do you think we’ll have to wait to win a trophy?
DR: I don’t know, I suppose in a way we’re sort of between Division One and Two. We go down to Division Two and do really well and when in Division One we struggle a little bit. I guess maybe next year if we get relegated (hopefully not) we’ll have to be one of the favourites for the Championship.
OMH: Final word Dave, this programme is the Richard Clarke special, have you got a quick message from you to Clarkey.
DR: One that’s publishable?
OMH: Yep, good, bad it will all go in.
DR: I must admit I’ve got a lot of time for Richard, he’s a good motivator, he’s done a fantastic job with the training and he’s a great bloke.
OMH: Dave, thanks it was a pleasure.
DR: Thank you.