‘One of the best feelings I’ve ever had’ – New Crawley Town head coach Colin Kazim-Richards in dreamland after late victory over Gillingham
Colin Kazim-Richards described his first game as Crawley Town head coach as ‘one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my career’ after a last-gasp 2-0 win over Gillingham at the Broadfield Stadium.
Stoppage-time goals from Taylor Richards and Tobi Adeyemo gave the Reds a dramatic victory that kept them two points clear of League Two bottom-two.
It was a vital win for the 21st-placed hosts after relegation rivals Barrow and Newport County were also victorious on Saturday.
Kazim-Richards – in his first ever game as a manager – ran onto the pitch when Richards put the Reds ahead and led the jubilant scenes at the final whistle with the rapturous home supporters.
The new boss led a huddle at the end of the game and revealed what he told the dressing room after the game.
He said: “I just said to them inside, they've just given me an experience!
“The men in there and the ladies in there, in terms of the staff and everybody, have just given me an absolute unique experience that can never be taken away.
“I said to them it’s one of the best feelings I've ever had in my career, but it's one more round. It's not done. They all mean nothing in the end if we don't do what we're supposed to do, and I hope people understand that.
“It was great to get the win, score two goals, to keep a clean sheet.
“To keep a clean sheet, that is massive in terms of how this is going because everybody else, or a few other teams picked up results.
“When we get a nice clean sheet as well, we're able to build off that foundation.”
The Reds take on 22nd-placed Newport County next at Rodney Parade on Good Friday in a massive clash at the bottom of the table.