Category: Headlines
Presentation Evening
A few photos from the presentation evening, Friday 22nd May 2015.
PRESENTATION NIGHT 2015
Russell Jee replaces Scott Rogers as Willand Rovers manager
New Willand Rovers manager Russell Jee says he would not have taken the job if he was not confident that they would be successful next season.
Over the past two seasons, Jee was Scott Rogers’ assistant and, with the player-manager leaving to join Tiverton Town, he has been appointed new manager at Silver Street.
Jee admits that Rogers will be a hard act to follow after a successful season that culminated in them lifting the Les Phillips Cup on Sunday 10th May, but he is optimistic of doing a good job.
He said: “It’s an exciting challenge and it will be hard to succeed last year but we’ll give it a go.
“There’ll obviously be a couple of personnel changes, as that happens every season, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“We’re looking to keep the bulk of the squad together, as we’ve been successful this year, and build on it for next season.
“We’ll be strong and we’ll compete, which is why I took the job. If I didn’t know we were going to be strong, I wouldn’t have taken it.”
Jee feels the club have made the right choice in promoting someone who was already in the club, as he already knows all about the players.
“The thing is, when you appoint someone from the outside, they’ll bring in their own personnel but when something is good and you’ve got a team in good spirit, on a winning mentality, then not many players want to leave,” Jee said.
“Once you’ve got that continuity and that winning mentality, people get used to playing with each other and you only need to tinker one or two things. We’ll be strong again.
“I was expecting to be asked if I wanted the opportunity, as usually clubs ask the assistant. I’m very fond of the club, as it’s a good, family club and a well-run club, so we’re looking to compete and stay strong. We want another successful season.”
Jee revealed he has already started planning for the upcoming season and has made contact with some potential signings.
He said: “We’ve spoken to a few players from outside of the club who seem interested, I won’t name names, though, we’ll just have to see.
“You always look to strengthen as, if you stand still in football, you won’t go anywhere. So we’ll keep the main bulk of the squad and see where it takes us.
“It always helps to have a successful season, as it makes you more likely to entice players to come to the club.
“We’re well-known as a well-run club and it’s always easier to attract players after a successful season.
“I’ve got no problems with stepping up to management and I’ve got my own ideas, so hopefully I can put them into place.
“We’ll have a good, solid pre-season and the boys will work hard and be well drilled for the season ahead.”
U18s TREBLE CHAMPIONS – Get Well Soon JJ!!
Devon County Youth League Cup FINAL
Played at Coach Road, Newton Abbot
Tuesday, 19th May 2015
Willand Rovers 3 Apollo 2 (HT 2-2) Bickle, Gibbins, Antat
Another Tuesday, another final at Coach Road, another trophy. We could get used to this!
With 32 seconds of the final left to play, referee Brian Holmes blew his whistle to allow JJ Vittles to receive attention for an injury incurred when he landed a little awkwardly after competing for a header, and dislocated his right knee. Ouch!
Mindful of the threat presented by Apollo’s excellent lone forward, Willand changed tactics and played a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to stop the opposition midfield feeding him high through balls.
As the final settled down, so Willand took the game to Apollo down both flanks with Ben Bickle and Tarji Jones prolific on the right and Alex Wright and Sam Johnson hardworking on the left. Nathan Antat played in the hole, alongside Jordan Bastin and Reece Kingdom.
Clear chances were scarce but the endeavour was apparent and so were the reactions of the Apollo ‘keeper who was doing well. Twice Alex Gibbins was presented with great chances but couldn’t connect properly.
After 15 minutes though, a breakthrough. Ben Bickle’s corner deceived everyone at the near-post and went straight in. 1-0. Maybe the team would settle.
After 28 minutes, it was 2-0. Reece Kingdom wriggled to the goal-line and put over an inviting cross which Gibbins powerfully headed back across the keeper for a great goal.
As Willand’s early exertions began to tell, so the teams concentration dropped. Jez Cross was called to make an important intervention after several ricochets ended in an Apollo player getting a sight of goal. But he could do nothing after 39’ when another long clearance from the Torquay side’s ‘keeper bounced twice and sat up invitingly for their forward to simply nudge the ball over the advancing Cross.
For all their possession and football, Willand were in danger of throwing their advantage away. And they did. In first half injury time, Apollo’s terrific striker got away from his marker and then struck a sweet low shot past Cross’ right hand into the far corner. 2-2. On balance of pay, perhaps not fully deserved but this is the beauty of the game we play.
Into the second half, Reece Browning replaced the injured Wright at left back. Willand looked increasingly jaded, like they lacked energy and inspiration. Half chances came and went while at the Willand end, Cross had to be alert but otherwise his good hands dealt with most threats.
Jake Tillet came on for Sam Johnson who had worked well on the left and Jack Rawlings came on for Tarji Jones. Suddenly there was energy and new ideas as the pace and direction returned to the side. Antat was becoming the star of the show in a deeper role where he collected the ball and would start to pull the strings of successive attacks. Then he found himself free on the right and drifting into the penalty area, he unleashed a terrific low drive which had the keeper beaten before he could react. 3-2.
Sam Rawlings came on for Nathan Antat shortly afterwards and Joey Vittles replaced Gibbins as Willand looked to hang on to their lead this time. JJ had a powerful header go narrowly wide before an exchange of passes almost set him free on goal. But his knee gave way…..
When the game restarted, Bastin was the star as he collected the ball and ran into the Apollo area and out again while the clock ran down.
Massive credit to Gary Zinc’s Apollo who have closely contested all the game with Willand this season. Well refereed to Mr Holmes too.
The presentation and celebrations were curtailed due to the late hour (it was almost 10:45pm!). Well done to the League’s committee for arranging the final at Coach Road too.
Most especially though, let’s hope JJ make s a full recovery. He was in a lot of pain and on the way to hospital when the game restarted.
Still, the treble was won and the team should be very proud – and rightly so. Jez Cross was unanimously declared the Man of the Match with Nathan Antat a close second.
They have played the best football and they have played it the right way. The only time they were genuinely stretched was at Torquay United’s academy, and even then they were the best side in the first half.
Bravo lads! Bravo!
Willand Rovers at the convention
BarnstapleTown 0-3 WillandRovers
Les Phillips League Cup Final photos. 2015
Willand Rovers player-manager Scott Rogers paid tribute to club president Pete Ward and chairman Mike Mitchell after the club’s 3-0 win over Barnstaple in the Les Phillips Cup final.
Rogers’ side took the trophy thanks to a brace from James Blake and one from Lee Smyth and Rogers revealed that he hopes the victory would give something back to the pair who gave him his first shot at management.
The former Bath City player said: “We had one goal disallowed at 0-0 but the boys were magnificent, right from number one all the way through to 11, along with the lads on the side.
“I’m really chuffed but more so for Mike Mitchell, the chairman, and Pete Duffy (Ward), who have both stood by me over the last two years. We’ve had some good times but we’ve had some sticky results, where we should have won but lost. Mike and Pete have always been great.
“We’re all always disappointed after losses but the following week we all come back in a positive attitude and go again – that’s what they’ve been like for two years and I can’t thank them enough and I hope this is me giving them something back.
“Apart from not finishing third, which I think we should have, I think we’ve done great. The cup runs do take their toll, but I’m glad that we’ve got some silverware to show for what’s been a successful season.
“We’ve proved to be a good cup side this season and winning this shows that.
“We earned a lot of money out of the FA Cup and to win this cup has been great. I can’t fault the lads and I’m just over the moon I’m able to give something back to the club that gave me a chance in management.”
The game was an even contest with Barnstaple – a team that play one step below Willand in the football pyramid – the form side in both Western League divisions, having stormed to the First Division title, losing just two games all season. Yet, as the game went on, Willand’s cup know-how shone through and they took the lead through Blake’s header five minutes before half-time.
Smyth then doubled the lead shortly after the break before Blake rounded off the scoring in the 63rd minute.
Rogers said: “In the first 20 minutes, Barnstaple were the better side and there was a strong wind.
“I think they’ve won about 90 per cent of their games this season – since Christmas we’ve probably only won about 50 per cent.
“They had a lot of momentum and winning is a decent habit to have. They came at us really strong in the first 15 or 20 minutes but our goalkeeper and defence stood firm.
“We knew that they would come at us, so we played a 5-4-1 formation with the knowledge that, if we stayed in the game, we would score goals and that proved to be the case.
“The first goal was massive as we didn’t want to go behind today. Barnstaple had a big crowd today and we had a good following, too, so the first goal was massive in a situation like that, as you never want to go behind in a cup final.”
Rogers added: “My boys react to pressure and we play cups games like we know we’re not going to get beaten, which ends up with us winning a lot of the time.
“I think sometimes we could take into the league a little more, to make sure we’re not out the game and that we are always staying in the game because we know it’s got to be decided on the day. There’s nothing worse than being out of the game with half an hour or 45 minutes to play, so the players need to take that cup mentality into the league now.”
Willand Rovers chairman Mike Mitchell praises departing Scott Rogers and new manager Russell Jee
Willand Rovers chairman Mike Mitchell was full of praise for both outgoing player-manager Scott Rogers and incoming boss Russell Jee.
Rogers is leaving the club to join Tiverton Town as a player-coach with his assistant Jee being named as the replacement.
After Rogers said goodbye to the club by winning the Les Phillips Cup final on Sunday, Mitchell had nothing but good words to say about a person who he feels could comfortably manage at a higher level one day.
Mitchell said: “It was the perfect way to end Scott’s reign. We decided two years ago that Scott would become manager and I thought he’d only be here two seasons as he’s good enough to move on.
“He’s going to Tiverton as a player-coach, though, and I had visions of him going to a higher level as a manager. He’s good enough to manage in the Conference and he’s going to make a good manager. I can’t match what he’s been offered at Tiverton, so it’s something he couldn’t refuse.
“I’ve known Scott all of his life, more or less, and he’s a fantastic guy. He’s a breath of fresh air for some places and he gets things going.
“He followed on from Clive Jones, who bought us up to a good standard and help us kick on again – we’ve had a fantastic season.”
Mitchell also revealed he is confident that Jee can continue the good work that the management team carried out over the past season.
He revealed: “Russell Jee was assistant to Scott and, about a week ago, I sat down with him and we agreed he’d take us on again. David Steele will be his assistant, with the same backroom staff. I
“’m very pleased with Russell’s appointment and one day he’ll make a good manager – this is the way we work at Willand. Everyone at the club is pleased Russell is staying, it’s a nice appointment to make.
“I told the committee last Saturday that we were employing Russell as manager and everyone agreed it was a good move.
“The first year that Scott was here, both Russell and Scott played, but they decided last year that Russell would give up playing to coach from the side and I think he’s done an excellent job. A lot of the players like him and he’s got some contacts. He’ll do his best, I know he will.
“His dad and his brother were both Willand players. He’s like a Blackpool rock, he’s got Willand running through his veins.”
Fryer’s Under 15’s Win the League Cup
photo’s from the game:::
https://plus.google.com/photos/106481448529677945455/albums/6146778374672239377
