Big Nev in Todays Paper

[BlueGate Alan]

Good interview in todays paper with Neville Southall with his thoughts of Margate, what his job entails etc. For our exiled fans I have put the report on here for you to read.

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Neville Southall is Wales's most capped footballer and is seen as one of the best goalkeepers of his era. He became a legend at Everton but now looks to embark on a new challenge with another team in blue, Margate. He's taken the job of Football Development Officer at the club, where he'll look to develop all angles of the football within the club.

 

"Were mainly looking for local players who can play in the first team, at the moment there aren't enough of them. Everything will be geared towards progression of the players, where in the past they've stagnated a bit, especially the 16 to 18 year olds because if the first team is settled then a lot of people haven't given them a chance."

 

Southall, who also holds the record for the most appearances for Everton, reiterated that is was developing the young players at the club that interested him the most. He's worked with the youth squads for Wales for four years, so no-one can doubt he has a good background on youth football. He stated that the main way to bring the kids on at the club is to get them out of Thanet and play against teams of higher calibre. "It's easy to say Margate are the best team in Thanet but if we want Margate back in the Conference we have to have players who are ready for that challenge so by playing in big matches at a younger age they can broaden there minds to see how other clubs to do it."

 

The plans for the season ahead seem pretty straightforward for the Welshman, as he wants good young players champing at the bit to get in the first team, something which would "keep the lads in the first team on their toes." However, the overall aim is a lot higher as the management team looks to "make Margate the Man Utd of the area, somewhere were everyone wants to come" also adding "If we keep positive then we've got half a chance to get back in the Conference."

 

He also explained how the young players will be sat down with before the start of the season so that they each know their role for the season ahead and what team it will be with. He expressed his opinion that "if someone had sat down with Aaron Quain and Chris Lewis earlier, and told them their responsibility in the team, I believe they would have progressed a lot more at the club." He went on to say that if this didn't happen then all the levels of football at the club would pay for it. "The reserves would get stagnated, that then runs down to all levels and you get a blockage of players and at some point they'll say stuff this, I'll go to Ramsgate, I'll go to Herne Bay, I'll go to Whitstable because they're guaranteed a game there."

 

However, it won't be as easy as it seems to change the fortunes at the club, with their well publicised financial problems coming into account. Southall uttered how the club are looking for any sponsor to come in and support the club but thinks that the supporters will play the main part in raising money. "We'll have to work with all the people and the fans who love the club, because I think there's a fantastic base upon which to work on. Is not our club, it's not the chairman's club, it's the people club isn't it?! We will be relying on the peoples help. We're a bit short on coaches, so if anyone's interested get in contact with the club."

 

It's not just coaches that the club needs though, they need to strengthen the squad list too. If the players think they may not be good enough to train with Margate, Southall guaranteed that everyone would get a fair chance to show what they can do. "Whether you're Ronaldo or someone of limited ability, you will be given the opportunity to train with us. Even if they don't get into the team, they may then go on to watch the team on a Saturday so we cant afford to let anyone go at the club."

 

After a season of goalkeeping woe at Hartsdown Park, many will look to Southall to provide a quick remedy for the season ahead and although yet to be approached he would relish the chance. "If the first team manager wants me to help with the goalkeeping training then I will. Obviously I do my goalkeeping here on a Monday night anyway but hopefully I can do that as well."

 

He'd also like to see more ex-professionals join the coaching team at Margate, claiming more people in the area would become interested in the club with big names coming in. Their experience of the game would also help players of all ages to understand the fine line between success and failure. He believes, "Knowledge is the key to football and if you can give these kids as much knowledge at the ages of 13 to 15 then that's fantastic. If we got all the youth team strikers and first team strikers together and get someone like Tony Cottee in to work with them would be great. "

 

Gate's new Director of Football Terry Yorath's will be key to their success and is someone Southall knows well, having played under him when Yorath enjoyed a spell as the Welsh national manager. "Terry has more football knowledge in his fingers than most do overall" explained Southall, "He's got all sorts of different qualities at all sorts of levels."

 

Directors of Football have come in for criticism at several clubs as their role isn't quite clear with the supporters. However, Southall remained certain that Yorath's appointment was vital. "He's here for a safety net for the manager. With it being Ashby's first job, he can go to Terry if he's not sure on certain things. There's not much he hasn't come across, be it dodgy agents or dodgy players!"

 

Many Margate supporters may also be thinking that Southall will only be here on a short term basis, after seeing ex team-mates of his taking jobs in the Premier League and international football.

 

"I have as much chance of managing Wales as I have going on holiday on the moon!", assured Southall, "When I was youth team manager (with Wales) I argued non-stop because they would give the kids hardly any cash, it was absolutely despicable. I'm much happier with youth development, that's where I see my best work taking place, not just at Margate but with the schools too."

 

Southall also explained how we he likes the honesty of the league over the Premier League claiming that 99% of the players in non league football play fairly and give everything they've got. "That's got to be something to be proud of, I don't see them rolling around crying after they've been tripped by a blade of grass like their role models."

 

But if people would rather watch Premier League football rather than supporting their local team, Southall emphatically retorted; "This is real football, where it all started"