Darwen New Assistant Managers Making a Difference
Wed 7th February 2024 | Darwen | By
Darwen FC have been in good form of late following a number of favourable results since the turn of the year. The Club have enjoyed recent results and credit that the recent appointment of two new assistant Managers have been part of that writes Ellie Tomlin.....
Following Alex Mortimer’s departure from the club, in mid-December, Andy Harrison and Paul Bradley took over as Assistant-Managers under Manager Kenny Langford. Since then, Darwen FC have enjoyed a successful run – 3 wins and 2 draws in their last 5 games.
The pair are no strangers to each other- nor to managing- with Harrison managing at Barnoldswick Town FC and Bradley his assistant there for the last 12 months. The pair met around 3 years ago when Harrison was looking for an assistant at Nelson FC, a club the pair succeeded in taking to the play-offs. Both ex-players themselves, they found value in coaching and found the transition to be seamless. Having proven to be a good partnership, they enjoy challenging one another and value their friendship on and off the pitch.
To become assistants under Kenny Langford at Darwen FC was an opportunity they couldn’t turn down. Harrison believes that Darwen has the best set up in the North West from a non-league perspective, with Bradley adding that the quality in the playing squad (plus an extra few they’ve already brought in) was another draw to take up the position.
With Darwen needing to win all of their next 8 games to give them the best chance of a play-off finish, it would be the pair’s greatest achievement if they finished in that position and would be down to the hard work and determination of everybody in the club. However, this is very much a long term project for the new assistants who are both very ambitious.
Harrison and Bradley would like to thank the fans for their support so far given that in the last two away games, Darwen fans outnumbered the home support! At the Anchor ground on Boxing Day there were 337 in attendance, a fantastic number showing the devotion of fans who love the club. The pair hope to get to know more fans soon and also hope they can build a bigger fan-base in future.
It is clear there are big things in the pipeline for Darwen FC with new plans being drawn up for new facilities (added to the already new facilities built this season), and the ambition from the fans and the managers matches that of the club.
Which team do Darwen need to fear most in the next 8 games? Themselves. Only the team are capable of controlling their performance in a league where anyone can beat anyone. Both Harrison and Bradley are confident the players now have that ability and are starting to believe in what might be possible.
Author: Ellie Tomlin
Photo Credit: MW Media
Photo: Andy Harrison, left, Paul Bradley, right, and Kenny Langford middle.
Darwen New Assistant Managers Making a Difference
Wed 7th February 2024 | Darwen
By
Darwen FC have been in good form of late following a number of favourable results since the turn of the year. The Club have enjoyed recent results and credit that the recent appointment of two new assistant Managers have been part of that writes Ellie Tomlin.....
Following Alex Mortimer’s departure from the club, in mid-December, Andy Harrison and Paul Bradley took over as Assistant-Managers under Manager Kenny Langford. Since then, Darwen FC have enjoyed a successful run – 3 wins and 2 draws in their last 5 games.
The pair are no strangers to each other- nor to managing- with Harrison managing at Barnoldswick Town FC and Bradley his assistant there for the last 12 months. The pair met around 3 years ago when Harrison was looking for an assistant at Nelson FC, a club the pair succeeded in taking to the play-offs. Both ex-players themselves, they found value in coaching and found the transition to be seamless. Having proven to be a good partnership, they enjoy challenging one another and value their friendship on and off the pitch.
To become assistants under Kenny Langford at Darwen FC was an opportunity they couldn’t turn down. Harrison believes that Darwen has the best set up in the North West from a non-league perspective, with Bradley adding that the quality in the playing squad (plus an extra few they’ve already brought in) was another draw to take up the position.
With Darwen needing to win all of their next 8 games to give them the best chance of a play-off finish, it would be the pair’s greatest achievement if they finished in that position and would be down to the hard work and determination of everybody in the club. However, this is very much a long term project for the new assistants who are both very ambitious.
Harrison and Bradley would like to thank the fans for their support so far given that in the last two away games, Darwen fans outnumbered the home support! At the Anchor ground on Boxing Day there were 337 in attendance, a fantastic number showing the devotion of fans who love the club. The pair hope to get to know more fans soon and also hope they can build a bigger fan-base in future.
It is clear there are big things in the pipeline for Darwen FC with new plans being drawn up for new facilities (added to the already new facilities built this season), and the ambition from the fans and the managers matches that of the club.
Which team do Darwen need to fear most in the next 8 games? Themselves. Only the team are capable of controlling their performance in a league where anyone can beat anyone. Both Harrison and Bradley are confident the players now have that ability and are starting to believe in what might be possible.
Author: Ellie Tomlin
Photo Credit: MW Media
Photo: Andy Harrison, left, Paul Bradley, right, and Kenny Langford middle.
