30/07/2021
Stafford FM's Gary Hazlehurst caught up with Stafford Town manager, Steve Barrow, on the eve of the NWCFL season.
GH: After the last two curtailed seasons, how does it feel to be starting another league campaign?
SB - Finally! It feels like we’ve been treading water trying to play competitive friendlies for a very long time. Keeping players motivated and involved during lockdowns isn’t easy and Dom and I have been delighted with the buy-in we’ve received from our players. Twice weekly zoom fitness sessions when we were fully locked down retained some structure to lads weeks which was important mentally as much as physically. This has been our first ‘proper’ pre season and it feels good to be on the eve of a new league campaign feeling fairly organised in terms of our preparations to date.
GH: The Reds have had a busy pre season. How do you feel it has gone?
SB - We’ve won three, drawn one and lost two which whilst better than this time last year still throws up elements of frustration. Defeating two sides from a level above showed progress and the goallless draw away to a much fancied Darlaston was credible and I’ll say deserved on the night. However the capitulation against Lye and the lack of cutting edge against in the last game at a well marshalled Redgate still gives cause for concern. It’s a process not an event however and we are steadily moving in the right direction.
GH: With the FA restructure in the summer, it’s all change for this season with a move to the NWCFL. What are your thoughts with the move from the MFL?
SB - It is what it is and there’s no point stressing over that which is outside our control. The big positive for me personally is that I’m a non league football geek and I’ll be visiting a host of new grounds. The flip side from a manager and coaches perspective is we’re going in a tad blind as don’t know much about the majority of clubs we’ll be up against.
GH: You start the campaign with two home games, starting on Saturday with a visit from Ellesmere Rangers. What do you know about the opposition and what sort of game are you expecting?
SB - I feel it more important we focus on getting our own house in order rather than overly worrying what others are doing. We’ve developed a tendency to put in better performances against better sides and I’d put Ellesmere in that bracket. I’m expecting them to have a solid season and a result of some form against them would be a very welcome start.
GH: On Tuesday, Alsager Town visit Evans Park. Does the fact that you have two home games to start give you a chance to get your season up and running early doors?
SB - Back to back home games to start with is great as long as you take something from them. I believe both games will be reasonable spectacles as regardless of others approaches, we’ll look to get it down and play. There’s a time for being a bit more direct when factoring in conditions and playing surface but our 3G in late summer isn’t it.
GH: And finally, what can fans expect from Town this season?
SB - I believe in the time Dom and I have been involved we’ve galvanised the 1st team and become competitive. We don’t have an abundance of supporters but those that come regularly have seen a group of players giving everything they can physically whilst trying to play attractive football. We all owe that to the game itself and those that do all the unseen tasks to ensure we get to play each week.
