Gary Forrest and Ben Wood speak to Shildon AFC match programme editor, Archie MacKay after Wednesday night’s 1-0 Northern League Division One win over Dunston UTS at Dean Street:
Gary Forrest:
Ben Wood (with apologies for sound quality)
Tag: Gary Forrest
Gary Forrest interview: Shildon v Morpeth
Shildon manager, Gary Forrest reflects on the Railwaymen’s home draw against Morpeth.
With all Shildon’s title rivals also dropping points, the Railwaymen were disappointed not to exploit an advantage. Gary expresses his frustration at the decision to allow play to go on in the lead up to Morpeth’s equaliser and at the condition of the Dean Street surface.
Gary Forrest interview: Shildon v Consett DCC SF
Shildon manager, Gary Forrest reflects on tonight’s Durham Challenge Cup semi final win over Consett.
The victory means Shildon will play in their first cup final since 2007 with local rivals, Spennymoor Town the opponents.
The final will be played on Good Friday, 18 April, at the Eppleton Colliery Football Ground, Hetton Le Hole.
Pressure on opponents says gaffer
Gary Forrest has been talking about the Railwaymen’s upcoming league matches against two of their title rivals, and the pressure is on the opposition, he says.
“On Saturday we visit Celtic Nation for the first of two back to back games against sides challenging us for the league title,” says the Shildon manager.
“If I’m honest all the pressure is on Celtic Nation for this game. They are the team that everyone expects big things of. They are by far the strongest team in the league on paper and, more importantly, if they lose this game they will trail us by 5 points and we will have two games in hand, and that lead could therefore extend to about 9-10 points with Nation having just 12 games remaining.
“If we averaged the same amount of points in our final 12 games as we have for the season to date it would mean that they will have to win every game until the season finishes.
Gary added that the squad is in good spirits, insisting that the league title is the club’s primary aim.
“Our attitude is superb at the minute and I love these big games: it is what the game is all about. There is a great buzz about the place at the minute and the quality of our training is superb.
“I have said since the start of pre-season – despite what the nonleaguezone [online forum] experts claim – that our main objective is to try and win the league this season.
Gary says that the challenge is so great this season that winning the league will be a special achievement for whoever lifts the trophy.
“This is the strongest the league has been for many a season,” he says. “Over the last few years either Spennymoor have dominated or it has been a two horse race. This season there are four fantastic teams challenging for the title and that means there will be 12 games this season that can be classed as six pointers. Last season there were two, but there is more of an equilibrium of budgets this season, with all four sides having strength in depth.
“We have all witnessed West’s demolition of teams two levels higher in the pyramid and Celtic Nation are signing experienced, established players on loan from the likes of Bristol Rovers. I think it is fair to say that any one of the top four would be more than capable of competing at least two levels higher up the pyramid; and it is for the reasons above that I personally believe that this is the most difficult season for many a year to become league champions.
“Whoever comes out on top can proudly boast of a fabulous achievement.”
Gary Forrest comments on FA Vase exit
In the wake of Shildon’s exit from the FA Vase on Saturday at the hands of West Auckland, who won by the game’s solitary goal, Shildon manager, Gary Forrest has released the following statement:
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all the people who turned up on Saturday and gave us such fantastic support, we could not have asked any more of you.
“If we are all honest it was a dreadful game in which both teams cancelled each other out, and it appeared like both teams were too frightened about losing to actually take the game by the scruff of the neck and go for the win.
“That was one of our poorest performances of the season. Of all the games in which to put in such a poor performance, we chose that one. After such a poor performance, I tend to sit and analyse the game and attempt to work out what we did wrong and what we could have done better. I genuinely cannot fathom out why we performed so badly and have come to the conclusion that it was just a really bad day at the office!
“I know the players are hurting today and feel that they let themselves and the supporters down, but we need to put this behind us and focus all our energy on challenging for the league title. Please don’t lose faith in us as we need to do this together.
“Over the last six years we have all worked really hard to build a fantastic football club with solid foundations. The club goes from strength to strength; we have a great supporters club, youth development set up, the best social marketing and the ground looks superb in comparison to six years ago.
“Unfortunately on the pitch the word ‘bridesmaid’ springs to mind. In those six years we have finished runners up in the league, 4th in the league, semi-finalists in the Vase, quarter-finalists in the Vase, league cup finalists, and lost 5 further semi finals.
“I would love to deliver silverware to the club as it appears to be the missing piece of the jigsaw. However, we will NEVER sacrifice our principals of playing attractive passing football. This season we have scored 61 league goals in 22 games and some of our football has been fantastic at times. Yes we take risks, yes we conspire to beat ourselves at times by attempting to play football on poor surfaces and in difficult conditions, but it is the way we believe a football team should play.
“So let’s put Saturday behind us and move on to another tough game at Crook on Friday night. If we manage to pick up three points on Friday we will extend our lead over Celtic Nation to seven points, Spennymoor to 9 points and West Auckland to 14, with both Spennymoor and West playing each other the following day.”
Shildon v Hebburn
After two resounding away victories in the league, Shildon today return to Dean Street (Saturday 14 September), where they will host Hebburn Town, who are in a period of transition this season.
A near full-strength side overcame a half-time deficit to beat local rivals Bishop Auckland last Monday and Gary Forrest should have the same group of players to select from for this aftenoon’s Division One tie.
Hebburn, meantime, lost their management team and then all of their players, who followed Paul Bennett to Jarrow Roofing during the close season, and have had to build a new side from scratch.
Two ex-Hebburn players, Scott Oliver and Davy Bell, have taken up the challenge and the new management team have successfully assembled a squad of mainly young players with a base of experienced players to give the team a good mix.
The side got off to a good start, picking up a point against Guisborough, but it has remained the only point they have picked up this season in the league and they currently sit in 22nd place.
With two of the three sides above the Railwaymen on cup duty today, Gary Forrest’s side, knowing they could be top of the league by the close of the day, will be in no mood to see Hebburn’s tally rise this afternoon.
The match kicks off at 3pm. Admission is £6 adults and £4 concessions. Under 12s are free with a paying adult.
