Holwell Sports relishing derbies after move to Midland League

The Yellows have had two tough campaigns in the United Counties League Division One, finishing 20th, one point clear of the drop, last season after being given a relegation reprieve the season before due to league reshuffles.

But joint manager Liam Wilde believes he now has the basis of a squad that can be competitive in the new league, which is also at Step 6.

“The FA have made the decision to locate ourselves and two other clubs and I guess it brings us another challenge, which we are relishing,” he said.

“We had got used to the teams in the UCL and what the league is. Now we will have to find our feet again.

“But the other side of it is we will have more local derbies, which has to be something to relish, getting the rivalries back between us and the Leicestershire teams. Hopefully we can ruffle a few feathers.

“Some of the places we are going are into the unknown. But we are also unknown to them as well.

And with the way we play football I think we will surprise a few teams in that league.”

He continued: “When we first came in our plan was to be able to secure our own safety in the UCL by our own means and not by a reprive – and we did that.

“The second half of the season was really good and we have now put together a foundation of players that, with the right additions, I think we can surprise a few sides with next year and we're looking forward to it.”

For once the club will not be bringing in a host of new faces either.

“We have retained the spine of our team, which is good,” he said.

“They are familiar with the club and it's philosophy.

“Where we are now from this time last season is like night and day. With the right additions I don't think we are far off.

“Pre-season we can now work with the players and not be trying to find a squad and a first XI as we know the players now. Pre-season will be about building towards the season and not just trying to assemble a squad.

“The minimum is to be competitive, do what we can for the club and make it extremely difficult for every team we face.”

The future of the club's home, the historic Holwell Sports site, has just been safeguarded after a deal was struck to buy the land just hours before it was due to be auctioned off last month.

There was a real threat that the four-acre Asfordby Hill site – which has hosted football and bowls clubs for more than a century – would be bought by developers to build houses on.

Almost two years ago, administrators were called in when the landlords of The Stute sports and social club, based there, ran into financial difficulties, leading to the freehold of the whole site being put up for sale.

Holwell Sports FC made an offer of £150k last summer and they thought they had secured the deal only for another bid to come in for a higher amount.

That offer fell through though and the uncertainty continued until an auction was scheduled in late April with offers invited of around £125k.

But before it went under the hammer, Chris Clarke, manager of Holwell Sports Reserves and a committee member of the club, got the money together with his father, Robin, to make an offer which was accepted.