Let's meet the new member clubs - Market Drayton Town
Thu 20th July 2023 | Market Drayton Town | By Gary Langley
Continuing our series of interviews with our new member clubs, we have caught up this week with Paul Jackson, Chairman at Market Drayton Town to discuss what the club is about, who's who and what it's expectations are as it heads into it's first NWCFL season. After a few years of change and battles with promotion/relegation, the club were laterally moved following relegation from the Midland League Premier Division to Step Six. It is looking to dust down and get on with their campaign to try and return to the step but more importantly, get the community on board for the journey.
We started by asking Paul to tell us a bit about Market Drayton Town for the NWCFL fan who is looking for an introduction!
"We have had a number of changes and challenges around the club over the last few years and of course, like every club we had to deal with the effects of the pandemic, but in a strange way the cicumstances of that may have helped us a bit at the time. We had a diffcult season last time out in what was a strong league, but we struggled a bit towards the end but we had no complaints over it. We have taken stock over the summer of where the club is and have put a huge emphasis on becoming a community club. We have recruited a number of local players, got some new volunteers on board and are looking to be the community's football club."
You've had a bit of a double-whammy of relegation and then a lateral move, it was akin to what a couple of our former clubs have been through in reverse. Was the possibility of the lateral move something the club was aware of or was it a big surprise?
"Yes we did look at the bigger picture especially when it became apparent that we were struggling towards the relegation zone of the Midland League. We were not too surpsied at the lateral move as a number of clubs were aware of the potential for that to happen. We were no different and when it became apparent what our fate was, we started looking at the NWCFL and seeing what was going on. We are positive about it, it is a good league with a number of strong sides in it and a number of our traditional local rivals in here, so we are looking forward to the new challenge."
What was the overall effect on the club, was it a cause of a mass exodus on and off the park or it perhaps sounds like the club knew what was coming. Were you able to prepare?
"We did face a number of changes but for differing reasons, we sadly lost our Chairman recently and a number of people have had to step up or in to different roles and they have done that well. We have formed a Club Committee and as a club our motivation is to rebuild and look forward, we acknowledge the past but now need to look at the developments we can make around the club. We have kept a nucleus of the squad and strengthened that with a number of local players as well as forming a second team to ensure that we can develop players and provide competition for the squad. We have forged initial links with a local junior team and are looking to build links across the town."
You touched earlier on the fact that the club had tentatively looked at the NWCFL and had a chance to evaluate it, what's the clubs thought's on it, is it a League that you are looking to do well in?
"Yes, definately. The Manager (Adam Shillcock) is the footballing collator and has an idea on the type of team he is looking to shape for the challenge, and the new additions to the squad are showing strong potential, so we will be competitive and look forward to some great looking games."
You've mentioned there about Adam Shillcock, can you tell us a bit about Adam and the group of volunteers that you have at the club?
"Adam is a forward thinking football person who shares the clubs plans about getting the community involved here. He understands the challenges on the park and is a motivator, someone who the players can relate to and that the fans can get behind. We have a great group of volunteers here at The Gingerbreads, we have a more experienced group of who have been here with is for a long time who know the club inside and out and know how to run a matchday and to welcome the players, officials and supporters from around the NWCFL when we get going. We also have a number of newer volunteers who are really keen and have picked up things really well here and we are a good group with experience and knowledge."
We have asked this of every club that we have spoken too so far, but as a Club Chairman and a board, have you set the aims and objectives for the Manager or is that a team effort?
"This season is more about us progressing as a club as much as being successful and competitive on the park. Yes, we think we have potential to do well on the park this season but we want the town to get behind us. Market Drayton is a town that is developing, there are a number of new housing developments that have been built up and a number of families and community members that are very local to us and have a football club on their doorstep. There is a big wheel to turn to get the club going in the right direction but we are looking forward to the futire for this club and getting the town in on the journey with us."
How has your pre-season been so far?
"It's been good so far, the training has been good, we have had good numbers training with the squad and we have even had a local boxing club come down to train with the players and put them through a tough routine but it has been a good summer for us so far. We have had a few games under our belt in recent weeks and some good results, so by the time we get around to that first game against Cheadle Heath Nomads on 29th July we will be hoping to hit the ground running"
Paul, what does a successful season look like for Market Drayton Town when we get to May 2024?
"Bringing through people, getting the community down to Greenfields Lane and everybody pulling in the same direction. We will have challenged and may be in the mix at the end of the season but both on and off the park, progressing, that's what we would view as a successful season."
Great stuff, many thanks to Paul for his time and we wish you well for the new season and welcome to the NWCFL!
Let's meet the new member clubs - Market Drayton Town
Thu 20th July 2023 | Market Drayton Town
By Gary Langley
Continuing our series of interviews with our new member clubs, we have caught up this week with Paul Jackson, Chairman at Market Drayton Town to discuss what the club is about, who's who and what it's expectations are as it heads into it's first NWCFL season. After a few years of change and battles with promotion/relegation, the club were laterally moved following relegation from the Midland League Premier Division to Step Six. It is looking to dust down and get on with their campaign to try and return to the step but more importantly, get the community on board for the journey.
We started by asking Paul to tell us a bit about Market Drayton Town for the NWCFL fan who is looking for an introduction!
"We have had a number of changes and challenges around the club over the last few years and of course, like every club we had to deal with the effects of the pandemic, but in a strange way the cicumstances of that may have helped us a bit at the time. We had a diffcult season last time out in what was a strong league, but we struggled a bit towards the end but we had no complaints over it. We have taken stock over the summer of where the club is and have put a huge emphasis on becoming a community club. We have recruited a number of local players, got some new volunteers on board and are looking to be the community's football club."
You've had a bit of a double-whammy of relegation and then a lateral move, it was akin to what a couple of our former clubs have been through in reverse. Was the possibility of the lateral move something the club was aware of or was it a big surprise?
"Yes we did look at the bigger picture especially when it became apparent that we were struggling towards the relegation zone of the Midland League. We were not too surpsied at the lateral move as a number of clubs were aware of the potential for that to happen. We were no different and when it became apparent what our fate was, we started looking at the NWCFL and seeing what was going on. We are positive about it, it is a good league with a number of strong sides in it and a number of our traditional local rivals in here, so we are looking forward to the new challenge."
What was the overall effect on the club, was it a cause of a mass exodus on and off the park or it perhaps sounds like the club knew what was coming. Were you able to prepare?
"We did face a number of changes but for differing reasons, we sadly lost our Chairman recently and a number of people have had to step up or in to different roles and they have done that well. We have formed a Club Committee and as a club our motivation is to rebuild and look forward, we acknowledge the past but now need to look at the developments we can make around the club. We have kept a nucleus of the squad and strengthened that with a number of local players as well as forming a second team to ensure that we can develop players and provide competition for the squad. We have forged initial links with a local junior team and are looking to build links across the town."
You touched earlier on the fact that the club had tentatively looked at the NWCFL and had a chance to evaluate it, what's the clubs thought's on it, is it a League that you are looking to do well in?
"Yes, definately. The Manager (Adam Shillcock) is the footballing collator and has an idea on the type of team he is looking to shape for the challenge, and the new additions to the squad are showing strong potential, so we will be competitive and look forward to some great looking games."
You've mentioned there about Adam Shillcock, can you tell us a bit about Adam and the group of volunteers that you have at the club?
"Adam is a forward thinking football person who shares the clubs plans about getting the community involved here. He understands the challenges on the park and is a motivator, someone who the players can relate to and that the fans can get behind. We have a great group of volunteers here at The Gingerbreads, we have a more experienced group of who have been here with is for a long time who know the club inside and out and know how to run a matchday and to welcome the players, officials and supporters from around the NWCFL when we get going. We also have a number of newer volunteers who are really keen and have picked up things really well here and we are a good group with experience and knowledge."
We have asked this of every club that we have spoken too so far, but as a Club Chairman and a board, have you set the aims and objectives for the Manager or is that a team effort?
"This season is more about us progressing as a club as much as being successful and competitive on the park. Yes, we think we have potential to do well on the park this season but we want the town to get behind us. Market Drayton is a town that is developing, there are a number of new housing developments that have been built up and a number of families and community members that are very local to us and have a football club on their doorstep. There is a big wheel to turn to get the club going in the right direction but we are looking forward to the futire for this club and getting the town in on the journey with us."
How has your pre-season been so far?
"It's been good so far, the training has been good, we have had good numbers training with the squad and we have even had a local boxing club come down to train with the players and put them through a tough routine but it has been a good summer for us so far. We have had a few games under our belt in recent weeks and some good results, so by the time we get around to that first game against Cheadle Heath Nomads on 29th July we will be hoping to hit the ground running"
Paul, what does a successful season look like for Market Drayton Town when we get to May 2024?
"Bringing through people, getting the community down to Greenfields Lane and everybody pulling in the same direction. We will have challenged and may be in the mix at the end of the season but both on and off the park, progressing, that's what we would view as a successful season."
Great stuff, many thanks to Paul for his time and we wish you well for the new season and welcome to the NWCFL!
