Longevity is something that is becoming all too rare in the modern game amongst managers as the demand for quick success outweighs the patience needed to be able to build something over time.
At Pitching In Southern League Premier South outfit, Hanwell Town, popular manager, Chris Moore, has been in place since 2018 and has recently celebrated his 300th game at the helm
“The club’s hierarchy have been brilliant and have left me to do what’s needed to make the club successful,” he told us. “That takes a lot of trust on both ends, I guess, but we have a great working relationship.
“When I came to the club we had finished in the bottom half of Step 4 with an eye on relegation, so to be playing at Step 3 is credit to everyone that’s help build this club up along the way. It’s an ongoing process where the main commodity has been time.
“To reach the 300 games milestone recently made me extremely proud. This is a great club with great people involved and to be in charge for so long and be successful with that is a huge honour.
“Being an ex-pro I’m big on professionalism and standards. Anyone that plays for me finds that out pretty much as soon as they come through the door, that’s important to me. I can be calm and relaxed but I am also known to have the hair dryer in me as well!”
There have been highs and lows over the past seven years, but Moore has no doubt of the main highlight.
“The play-off final victory to reach this level was something I’ll never forget,” he said without hesitation. “To be one goal up and then see Chertsey Town equalise with five seconds to go, it would have been easy for our heads to drop going into extra-time.
“Even more so when not only did we go 2-1 down but also had a man sent off. To then turn it around and win 3-2 from that position was extremely emotion and just showed what this club is all about with its spirit and never-say-die attitude.
“This season’s record-breaking Isuzu FA Trophy run to the third round also provided some special moments too.
“There have been low points, of course. Losing 9-1 at home to our neighbours, Hayes & Yeading United, in 2019/2020 was certainly one of them, but I look back on that particular afternoon and smile now because of how far we have come since that fateful day.
“This season has been a bit up-and-down, a bit of a roller-coaster, just like Saturday’s game against Poole Town where we raced into a two-goal lead after half-an-hour, conceded early in the second half but then minutes later restored our two-goal advantage only to end up drawing 3-3 with virtually the last kick.
“It summed our season up in many ways, but we’re sat in mid-table and still involved in three cup competitions, which is huge for a club of our size. We’re punching above our weight being at this level so being able to sustain that would be huge for us.
“I would say the Premier South is definitely stronger this year than any previous years. As a manager you look at the fixtures and target a points tally over a group of games and I’ve never found it so difficult due to the quality in the league.
“That said, I am really looking forward to the run-in. The boys have been set a challenge and we’ll be looking to achieve it and finish as high as we possibly can.
“The club’s aim has always been to be competitive at this level, but I like to think moving forward we can work on looking up the table rather than over our shoulders, but whatever it is, it’s been one helluva journey so far and one we’ve all enjoyed!”
Moore, whose playing career included spells at Brentford and Dagenham & Redbridge, with whom he secured promotion into The Football League during the course of almost 150 League appearances over two spells, faces two home games this week against play-off chasing opponents as firstly they host Dorchester Town on Tuesday evening before Walton & Hersham visit on Saturday.
IMAGE: Hanwell Town FC
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