WINCHESTER CITY | POINTING THE WAY

We speak to Craig Davis as he breaks through 650 games as a manager

Loyalty is a priceless commodity for Craig Davis.

Having previously had 300 games at the helm of Fleet Town, he has recently broken through the 350-game milestone as manager of Winchester City.

“It makes me feel old,” he told us. “My first game as a manager came 13 years ago, I think it was for Fleet Town at home to Northwood, but I would have never expected back then that I would go on to manage in over 650 games at Step3/4 level; it’s crazy to think about it!

“I’m really proud of my record. Sadly, loyalty in football is becoming increasingly rare amongst players, managers and clubs, so I am grateful to have been involved with two clubs who have shown me loyalty and vice-versa.

“As a player I had always been captain of the clubs I played for, so it was always in the back of my mind to go into coaching and management, but not quite as early as it actually happened!

“I was playing for Fleet Town at Step 4 when the manager was sacked and I was asked to take over as caretaker ‘for a bit’. I was 30 at the time, things went well and I was asked to take on the role on a permanent basis.

“We managed to stay up at Step 4 throughout my time at Fleet with no budget and very much against-the-odds, so I was proud of that achievement.

“I then moved on Winchester City and to get the club promoted into Step 3 for the first-ever time and then stay at that level for three years is also something that gives me so much pride.

“We couldn’t quite stay up last season, but the club has given me the opportunity to get us back up to that level and that’s what we are working hard to achieve this season in what is a really competitive Pitching In Southern League Division One South.”

We asked Davis about his coaching and managerial philosophies.

“I believe in managing the players and handling them in the same way that I wanted to be treated as a player,” he said. “With that I mean by treating them with respect, being fiercely protective of them and ensuring that the camp is a happy one.

“I want to provide a platform for my players to go out and play their best football; I like to play front-footed football with pace and creativity in the opposition half.

“We study the opposition a lot so my players know exactly what to expect when they step out for each game because preparation is key.”

The season has started with three wins and a defeat from their opening four League games, whilst at the weekend they played out a goalless draw with Fareham Town in the Emirates FA Cup, meaning that they face a replay this week.

“We had a big overhaul of players during the summer,” Davis continued. “As a result, we are still very much gelling as a group, so to get three wins and also make it through to the first round qualifying of the FA Cup, where we face a replay this week, represents a solid start.

“We’re showing some good glimpses of what we are capable of, but there is a lot more to do. Our aim is to get in the play-offs/promoted and we will be trying our best to achieve that in what we know will be a tough season ahead.

“Personally, I want to always carry myself in a way that represents our great club in the right manner. As I say, we are all very protective of each other here and that’s something I love most about the club.

“We want to have fun along the way; it’s important that we all, that’s players, staff and supporters, have smiles on our faces as we work hard together to achieve our collective aims and objectives.”

After Tuesday’s Emirates FA Cup replay, the club has an Isuzu FA Trophy home tie against Frome Town at the weekend to look forward to.

IMAGE: Winchester City FC

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