Forest Green Rovers manager, Josh Giddins, shares his views on the Premier League Division 1 South West title win.
Sunday saw Forest Green gather att The New Lawn, while their sponsor, Glevum Security, travelled to Exeter to keep them up to date with events there, with the hosts needing to win by 11 goals to deny Rovers the title. For the last 20 minutes, a running commentary was relayed on speaker phone, with the Gloucestershire side becoming champions by a margin of 3 goals only.
Your feelings on clinching the title and promotion to the FAWPL Southern Division?
Initially great pride in that all the hard work put in by the ladies had paid off, also for all the unsung heroes who do a lot of work behind the scenes, that allows us to get on and play. And finally, pleased that we have represented Forest Green Rovers, the club and owner, who have given us such great support over the years and continue to do so.
Do you feel you will need to change much for next season and what do you put this campaign’s success down to?
The coaching staff are already planning for next season and I think pre-season will be a key factor in how we preform next year, we will need to do some things to a higher standard and we understand that.
This season’s success I feel is down to good leadership, planning (having more than one plan), team work (coaching staff and players), having support which allows team to focus on their task in hand. Ensuring all players understand their roles and responsibilities, communicating effectively and trying to inspire them to achieve. Combine these key areas with a good hard working team who quickly learn from their mistakes and have ambition, I felt we were half way there.
Where and what you were doing when the news from Exeter came through?
I went to watch the Reserves who won 3-1 and played really well before retiring to the Green Man at the club, where me and some of the players listened nervously to a live feed via mobile phone of the Exeter game.
Click here for videos of the moment the final whistle went and champagne celebrations began.
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