There’s a big game in the race for the play-offs in Pitching In Southern League Division One South on Saturday as Bishops Cleeve play host to Winchester City.
The home side go into the game just one place out of the top five as they take on opponents who are currently in fourth spot, three points above them.
Having reached the play-offs at the end of last term, experienced manager, Paul Collicutt, is determined to get there again this time around as he continues to work his magic.
Colly – as he likes to be known – is one of the game’s good guys. He recently oversaw his 350th Southern League game at the helm for Bishops Cleeve.
“It’s something I’m immensely proud of on a personal level,” he told us. “Football has been a major part of my life since I was a young boy; to have been involved in the game for so long as both a player and a manager is something that means an awful lot.
“A lot of things have changed in and around football during this time, but the one thing that still remains is that fire I have inside and I’ve still got the same drive to succeed as I did as that little boy starting out.”
Things have come a long way since his first Southern League game as manager, 20 years ago.
“I can still remember it,” he said with a smile. “It ended in a 1-0 home defeat against Chasetown in 2006! Not the fondest of memories, but we put things right the following game away at Willenhall Town and ran out 2-0 winners for the club’s first-ever Southern League victory.
“As you can imagine, there have been some incredible highs, alongside some bitter disappointments over the past two decades, but it’s part and parcel of football and why we all love it so much.
“In terms of the most memorable moments, though, the victory over Torquay United in the FA Cup is right up there. To see the ground absolutely packed with a sea of green was something I’ll always remember, and the fans storming the pitch afterwards to celebrate will stay with me forever.
“It still gives me goose bumps now thinking back to it! What a day that was for our village football club against opponents with such a strong Football League history.
“The whole club is unrecognisable since I first took on role. It was the typical one man and his dog supporting from the sidelines, with a grass pitch that was mostly mud, or waterlogged with the slightest bit of rain.
“I remember once going around ten weeks without a home match, and I’d go to the ground each time with a squeegee trying to soak the water off the pitch to get the games on!
“To look at where we’ve come since those early days is incredible. The all-weather pitch has been a game changer and we now have 3,000 people using the facilities each week, with regular events on as well.
“The Cleeve Colts youth start at U5s and we have every age up to players in their 80s taking part in our walking football.”
“We’re doing okay this season. There’s still a lot of football to be played, of course, but we’re there or thereabouts where we want to be.
“We had an excellent start, going undefeated for 11 games, but due to injuries, form, the number of fixtures and changes in personnel, the results haven’t been quite as good in the past month or so. However, we’ve looked a lot sharper recently and, as I say, there’s still a long way to go and plenty of points to play for.
“I must say that Division One South is certainly the strongest set of teams since I’ve been managing. The standard is improving each season and you’ll come unstuck against any side in the League if you’re not at your best.
“It’s a cliché but anyone can beat anyone, which makes for an exciting league with all teams taking points off each other.
“We have a points target in mind, but I won’t be revealing that! The main thing for me is that we finish the season as strong as we can, take one game at a time, and come the end of the season who knows?”
IMAGE: Bishops Cleeve FC
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