Newhaven FC Manager Paul Harrison looks back at a successful 2012/13 season.
“Well what a season – promotion again, I never saw that coming! We were expecting to hold our own in Division Two and finish mid table or above which I was confident of achieving with the quality we had in the squad and players from the reserves also adding some quality through the season. Right from the start we have tried to maintain a passing style of football in all areas of the pitch and the players have responded brilliantly.
“We had a good start to the season winning our first three games, then we played one of the promotion favourites, Eastbourne United, and suffered a heavy defeat but it was early in the season with a long way to go and we had confidence in the squad.
“Midway through the season there were some wins and losses in the league and cup but we more than held our own. Towards the last third of the season we began to sense promotion was a possibility and continued to play with that as our goal.
“Through the whole season, with its highs and lows, the players never stopped believing in themselves and the football they played. Some very good football was played during the season along with some poor performances. A few were very difficult where we had to just dig in and battle for the points.
“Let’s say the end of the season speaks for itself with us gaining promotion as runners up.
“During the season some players and coaching staff were brought in to strengthen the squad and club as a whole. Next year will be an even harder task with a lot more games and teams of more quality who have been in Division One for a long time. But we as a management team look forward to the challenge (If we are all selected for the coming season at the AGM).
“Now we have achieved back-to-back promotions, which is ahead of the plan that we set out when I first arrived at the club, I would like to give a big thanks to the Chairman and all the committee for their hard work and support, also a very big thank you to Steve Knight my assistant who has been great through the season, and thanks to Grantham Chatterley and Kevin Launden for their valued input and help. I would like to say thanks very much to Andy Cook and Kevin Woods for their support and running the reserves along with the reserve squad players.
“But the BIGGEST THANKS of all goes to the players for their effort and hard work during the season to get a second promotion and thoroughly deserved it is.”
Final Results (All competitions): W27 (61%) / D4 (9%) / L13 (30%)
Full list of results from the season can be found here.
Congratulations to everyone associated at the club. I have always held The Dockers close to my heart as I played centre forward for the club from 1969 – 1973 when we won both the County League Div 2 title and the County League Div 1 title.
I moved on to bigger things thereafter, but Newhaven were always my favourite club, probably because it was where it all started for me as a player. Manager Dave Standing gave me a chance and the spirit that existed at the club was the best I ever encountered.
So, great to see the club back where they belong, in the top flight and I hope your success continues and that you can emulate the success the club experienced 40 years ago.