After a long and distinguished career in the game, which has spanned four decades as player, coach and manager, Steve Castle is finally coming home!
The 58 year-old, who appeared almost 500 times in The Football League as a hard-working and committed midfielder before going on to spend a decade at the Royston Town helm during which time he guided the club to promotion into Step 3, has accepted the challenge of reviving the fortunes of Bishop’s Stortford.
The Blues spent last season in the Vanarama National League North before suffering relegation and being placed in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central for the campaign ahead.
“I am relishing the challenge of managing my ‘hometown’ club,” said Castle, who took over at the helm in May. “It’s a club that I have watched many times over the years but never really had any involvement, other than seeing my son play within the youth set-up.
“I have lived in the area for the past 20-odd years, so this is a homecoming for me! I see it as the start of a new era for both the club and myself.
“The club are on the back of a relegation, which was disappointing but certainly not catastrophic. A new approach is needed and hopefully I can provide that.
“Virtually all of the players from last season have decided to move on; some will look on this in a negative way, but we’ll take the positive point of view as it gives us a chance to put our own stamp on things straight away.”
Castle has returned to management refreshed following an enforced break over the past year.
“I had to have a major ankle operation,” he revealed. “It put me out of action for a considerable amount of time. I wasn’t in a particular rush to get back into the game, it had to be the right project for me and this opportunity at Bishop’s Stortford ticked a lot of boxes.
“I’ve operated in this League before and watched a lot of football at this level, so I am expecting pretty much the same as it has been over the last few years.
“It’s a very strong division with some excellent teams within it, so it certainly won’t be easy, that’s for sure!
“We’ll go into it looking to compete in each and every game. I fully appreciate that with so many new players coming in over the summer, things may not go as smoothly as we would like early on, but on the other hand, they could gel quickly and we hit the ground running. You never know!
“The unknown is the exciting bit, to be honest. I am very upbeat about things; I just want my players to enjoy their football, be free-flowing and get into the habit of winning football matches.
“After a tough season last time out, the supporters deserve that. As a manager, I am not a great one for ‘philosophies’, it’s buzz terminology that is way overused in my opinion.
“I just like me teams to be hard-working, bright and play on the front-foot. I also like to be unpredictable and frequently mix up the play.
“One thing is certain; life won’t be dull for us over the course of the season ahead!”
IMAGE: Bishop's Stortford FC
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