HELSTON ATHLETIC | ON THE MAP

As the Cornish club look to make their mark, we speak to manager, Matt Cusack

We continue our tour of some of the new Southern League member clubs, by heading down to Cornwall where Helston Athletic will be one of three Cornish clubs competing in Division One South during the campaign ahead.

This will be the club’s first-ever season at Step 4 as manager, Matt Cusack, plots their challenge.

Having had a successful five-year spell in charge of Saltash United, Cusack then played his part in back-to-back promotions for Plymouth Parkway in the role of Head Coach before arriving at Helston two years ago.

“I was 34 when I took my first steps into management,” Cusack told us. “I wanted to be able to apply the strategies that I was using in education as a teacher of nine years at the time.

“The more I managed, the more I got a passion for it and I spent five years at Saltash United, winning the club’s first silverware in over quarter-of-a-century during my time there as well as completing my Level 2 and 3 (UEFA B) coaching qualifications.

“I wanted to take the team to Step 5 but the club were not ready to progress at the time so I moved on to Plymouth Parkway in a slightly different role of Head Coach. I saw it as an opportunity to challenge myself and progress and we went on to achieve back-to-back promotions.

“To my surprise, I was removed from duties, but I always knew that I wanted to be a number one again and around this time, the job at Helston came up.

“My remit was to reach the Southern League Division One inside three years. In year one we finished sixth in the League and won two domestic cups, the first major trophy silverware the club had won in 80+ years. In year two, the season just gone, we won the Toolstation Western League for the first time in the club’s history.

“Across both years I also completed a Master’s Degree in High Performance Coaching. Although there are many in the game that like to make comparisons, I try not to and see myself as my main competitor and just try to be better than I was yesterday.”

Just four defeats from 34 League games saw the club take the Toolstation Western League Premier Division title with 80 points as they fought off the challenge of rivals and neighbours, Falmouth Town.

“It was a tremendous season,” Cusack said with pride. “We set a target of being in the title race at the start of the season, so to win the title and achieve the club’s highest finishing position was a fantastic achievement for us.

“I am both honoured and delighted to be leading the club into new territory during the campaign ahead.

“The obvious standout points include trips to new grounds and an additional eight League games to fit in. However, one of our strengths has been the strength and depth of the squad we have. It’s now up to the players to go and prove that they can deliver at the new level.

“I was Head Coach at Plymouth Parkway when we won the Step 4 title a few seasons back, so I am aware of the challenges that we will face in what is a competitive League.”

We asked Cusack about his philosophies as a manager or coach.

“Individuals may win you matches but teams win trophies; people make the party,” he responded. “As someone who works in education, I believe in continual improvement; the training ground should be a learning environment where the players come to improve. I’m also a big believer in marginal gains theory, so if there is an edge I think we can strive for we take it when looking at the wider environment of the club.

“This is something that will become increasingly important now we have made that jump from Step 5 to 4. What was good enough at Step 5 will no longer be good enough at Step 4. So, our players need to strive for me. If they can fulfil their potential, I think a realistic aim is a push for play-offs.

“With Parkway we set a target of top eight and won the League. Tavistock went up and finished just outside the play-offs the season before last and Mousehole went from being Western League Premier Division Champions to reaching the play-offs at the level above the following season.

“I think it’s important to be aspirational but also realistic. I’m really looking forward to the FA Trophy as well, this is a new competition for us as a club where a couple of wins can set up mouth-watering ties.

“Overall, we need to ensure that we put Helston Athletic firmly on the map!”

We welcome Helston Athletic FC into the Southern League family.

IMAGE: Helston Athletic FC