CINDERFORD TOWN | BACK INTO THE FOLD

We speak to Matthew Driscoll after he guided the club back to the Southern League at the first attempt

After a long run in the Southern League, which stretched back to 1995, Cinderford Town finally succumbed to relegation at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

But under the guidance of Matthew Driscoll, they were able to return at the first time of asking following a roller-coaster season last term which culminated with them winning the Hellenic League Premier Division play-offs.

Their reward is a place in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South and whilst the manager knows it’s going to be a tough challenge, he can’t wait to get started.

“I am really looking forward to the task that stands before us,” he told us with a smile. “There is no escaping the fact of how tough it’s going to be competing alongside the ‘big spenders’, but our aim, first and foremost, is to stay in this League and hopefully surprise a few along the way.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of players who have played at Step 4 and know what it’s all about. Their experience can only help the younger ones because it is a big initial jump from Step 5 to 4.

“We know that we can’t compete financially with a lot of teams at this level, but we will work hard to get the best out of what we’ve got and defy the odds, similar to what we did last season because, if we’re being honest, going into the season there weren’t many people who thought we’d be anywhere near the play-offs, let alone win them!

“It was a roller-coaster. We started the campaign with just two first-team players remaining from the previous season, so we had to completely rebuild the team and as such we knew it would be tough at the start as the players got to know each other and gel together.

“I said at the time that we should be judged after 10 or 15 games once the squad had settled down.

“When we finally did get everyone on board, we went on a great run and it was during this time that our belief began to grow that maybe we could get into the play-off places.

“As a club, Cinderford Town, has a long recent history in the Southern League, so it was great to be able to lead the club back to where it belongs, everyone involved, on and off-the-pitch, gave their all and deserve this success.

“Even just getting into the play-offs was an unbelievable achievement from where we were at the start of the season. No-one gave us a chance going into the semi-final away at Corsham Town, who finished 16 points above us, but we beat them and then convincingly beat Royal Wootton Bassett Town 4-0 in the final for a fairytale ending.”

The proud Welshman, who recently achieved his UEFA B Licence, began his managerial journey as player-manager of Aberdare Town at an early age.

“Management was something that I always wanted to get into and it came quite soon for me,” he continued. “To be honest, I found it difficult to combine both playing and managing so I hung up my boots and concentrated on the managerial side of things.

“I had a couple of good years there before moving on to Afan Lido as assistant manager, but the Covid period was a difficult time for everyone and I ended up taking some time out and started watching Merthyr Town with my boy when football returned.

“The call then came to manage Aberbargoed and I turned down the opportunity on several occasions before finally agreeing to meet the Chairman and subsequently give it a go.

“It turned out to be a very successful season, winning a League and Cup double, but I was always only going to do it for one season, I made that clear to the club at the start and so I stepped down at the end of the campaign.

“My intention at that point was to have some time away from the game, but after meeting Nick Simonds [Cinderford Town Chairman] and walking around the ground, which is a proper old school football ground, it just felt right to take the job and I have thoroughly enjoyed it ever since.

“The passion that I have in the dug-out is exactly the same as when I was a player; I want to win every game and when we lose, no-one can speak to me for a few hours!

“I want my players to be the same and I am fortunate to be surrounded by some good characters.

“As a manger I always want teams to fear coming to play against us, but at the same time be a footballing team who plays the game the right way.

“We haven’t got a 4G pitch, so we have to mix how we play depending on the conditions. It was nice to get plenty of compliments last season on the way we passed the ball around.

“We made our home pitch a hard place to come to, just as I remember Cinderford Town always being when I was a player playing against them.

“Hopefully we can mirror that again during the season ahead.”

We welcome Cinderford Town back into the Southern League family.

IMAGE: Cinderford Town AFC