With Worthing FC on the cusp of glory, there are some unsung heroes to thank
The irony is not lost that as Worthing Football Club sit on the cusp of their greatest achievement in their 140-year history, the manager sat in the dugout is the same one who was sat there in perhaps the club’s darkest days.
‘December 2014 BG’, Before George, seven days or so that will be forever etched in my memory banks.
After years of financial mismanagement, over-ambition and at times plain naivety, Worthing Football Club had effectively reached the ‘end of the line’, and to make matters worse they’d done so in the middle of a season.
Processes were set up, meetings had been convened, there would effectively be one more game and then after consultations with both the FA and the Isthmian League, Worthing would resign mid-season, record expunged!
The young manager, Adam Hinshelwood, stuck right in the middle of the maelstrom, stoically went about his business – if this was to be the last game ever, he’d still put out the best team he could, and finish off with a win.
Thankfully George Dowell arrived in the nick of time, and the Rebels survived, but 11 and a half years on, that young manager still maintains the same resolve and outlook.
But while Adam Hinshelwood, like all great generals, leads from the front, it truly is a classic team effort both on and off the pitch at Woodside Road.
If, or as I believe when, Worthing achieve promotion to the National League, while naturally the players and management team will receive most of the plaudits there are three individuals connected to the club that I will be especially pleased for.
First, Keith Mitchell, the club’s Chief Operating Officer, who is sadly stepping down from his role at the end of the season due to ill health.
It’s the classic swan analogy, the beautiful creature gliding through the water, while under the surface it’s paddling like hell – well Keith is well and truly under the water but running the club on a day to day basis superbly, carrying out duties and tasks most fans won’t even know about.
I’d actually go as far to say his loss to the club will be as big as Ollie Pearce’s was a couple of years ago – yes he will be replaced, but they’re big shoes to fill, but I’m confident chairman Barry Hunter will find the right man for the job.
Second, former groundsman Mick Martin, sadly now also not in the best of health – a true football person, the like of which clubs the length and breadth of the country can’t operate without.
And finally Gareth Nicholas, a familiar face to many of the Woodside faithful (the one who looks a little like Jesus) and like Mick an amazing cog in the Woodside set-up, and the very lifeblood of the Rebels.
He’s done that many jobs, he’s almost like our very own Roy Castle!
Clearly without Adam or George, Barry or Ralph, Jon Meeney or Kilo, the eventual rise to the National League might not have happened, but these three gents will have also played their part, both this season and in the years before.
And that's not forgetting another important factor in the whole scenario, the Woodside faithful – cliche alert, they’re truly “Worthing’s 12th man”.
They will pack Woodside Road to the rafters against Ebbsfleet and shout, cheer and sing (nice songs only please) the team to glory, and again without them filling the ground each week, this momentous achievement might never have happened.
So one and all, enjoy the day, to a man, and woman, you’ve all earnt every second of it.
UP THE REBELS!