Nettleham boss, Paul Durrands recently announced his retirement from football after a quarter of a century in management, so we asked him about his wealth of experiences in the game.
Nettleham are currently closing in on the treble as East Midlands Premier Division leaders, Lincolnshire Cup finalists and just yesterday clinched their place in their Regional League Cup Final.
How did you come to take up being a manager and what was your previous football history?
I felt that becoming a manager was the obvious progression after playing. I was always interested in tactics and how all my managers were trying to get the best out of their players.
I played local football in Grantham from the age of 17 and furthered my career by playing semi-pro football for Harrowby United in the then United Counties League.
I retired from football at the age of 34 and went straight into management at Grantham Town Youth teams from ages U- 12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 then Grantham Reserves Senior men’s team for 3 more years.
Tell us about your earliest management experience in women’s football that you can recall. Were you a bag of nerves or was it just great fun?
After finishing in men’s football, I decided I wanted a change and was approached by the Kesteven Local Council to start up a girls football team in Grantham. So started Grantham Town Ladies FC, which I managed in the Lincolnshire League and then into the East Midlands League.
I loved my first managerial job at Grantham, as it was my first experience of women’s football there, and it left me in good stead for what the future had install for me.
I remember my first game for Grantham Ladies versus Mansfield Town Reserves. Mansfield’s manager was heard to tell his players “Grantham are new in this league and will be easy to beat”. Oh dear, he obviously didn’t know me… we won 22-0!
What are your best and worst memories of management?
The worst moment I had was leaving Rotherham United in mid season when I had taken them into the Premier League. The two best moments I have had in women’s football are easy to recall. At Rotherham we won the Midland Combination League, going through the whole season unbeaten and getting promotion into the FA Women’s Premier League.
The second was very recently with Nettleham, in fact just last season. We played Lincoln City in the final of the Lincolnshire County Cup and were basically ‘no hopers’ but we beat them 3-2 at Sincil Bank and to be honest, I have never felt so much emotion and pride than I did that day when the final whistle went.
What was you most successful side ever and what did they win?
Rotherham United were the best footballing side I have managed and winning the Midland Combination League, unbeaten was special, I have to say. Apart from winning the Midland Combination, we also won the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup twice.
Have you considered quitting before but couldn’t?
I did have a year out in between leaving Rotherham and making a return to the same club, but it was very difficult to stay away from management as it’s in my blood.
Will you follow Nettleham from the sidelines and how will that feel?
I’ll still be at a lot of Nettleham Ladies games in the future as my daughter plays there. I have a big affinity with the present team as these girls are by far the best I have had the pleasure of working with and the warmth they show me will make my last game a very emotional one.
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