Post by meddles on Apr 20, 2011 10:39:18 GMT
Doswell delighted by Sutton's success
9:47am Wednesday 20th April 2011
By Graham Moody »
www.suttonguardian.co.uk/sport/8984049.Doswell_delighted_by_Sutton_s_success/
Paul Doswell has not stopped smiling since guiding Sutton United to the Ryman Premier League title.
United's manager was at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground on Sunday to watch nearest challengers Bury Town lose to Cray Wanderers and gift Sutton promotion at the third year of asking after they dispatched Hastings United 2-1 on Saturday.
The club will be given the trophy after their Easter Monday derby game with Carshalton Athletic and Doswell could not be a happier manager.
“I am totally delighted for everyone at the football club and all the people that worked so hard for this to happen,” he said.
“We had a three year plan and it is great that we have done what we set out to do.
“I cannot wait for Monday, that is when everyone at the club and all the supporters are going to be together and I am sure there will be a big party.
“The players have been tremendous, no one has had a bad season for us, everyone has held their form and their fitness and that has been important.
“It has been a long time coming but finally we have got there and it is a very nice feeling to have done it with three games to go.
"The disappointment of last year was a big driving force for us.
“It was a bitter pill to swallow to finish 15 points above fifth place and then lose in the play-offs.
“That is why I said this season from the start that I wouldn't be here next year if we didn't go up and the players felt the same.
“Kevin Scriven and Karim El Salahi, players like that that have been with me for a couple of years did not want to play in the Ryman Premier for another year.
“All of us were so determined not to go back in the play-offs.”
Festivities on Monday will include a celebratory lunch and Borough Derby Day, which will see all Sutton Council workers getting in free.
Doswell joined Sutton in 2008 after an impressive record in charge at Eastleigh, taking them from the Wessex League all they way to Conference South, but he insists his success with Sutton tops all of that.
“It is the highlight for sure,” he said.
“What I did at Eastleigh was fantastic but this tops it all.
“To win one of the toughest leagues, there is not an easy game to be had, as a manager you cannot ask for anything more than that.
“The club had had a terrible time prior to us coming in but the last three years has got everybody involved and enjoying it again."
Sutton's remaining games: Apr 23 Folkestone Invicta (a), 25 Carshalton Athletic (h), 30 Billericay Town (a).
Sutton United chairman: This is the best moment
10:12am Wednesday 20th April 2011
By Graham Moody »
www.suttonguardian.co.uk/sport/8984165.United_chairman__This_is_the_best_moment/
Bruce Elliott has hailed Sutton United's promotion to Blue Square South as the best moment of his 13-year chairmanship.
Elliott was in charge the last time Sutton won the league under John Rains in 1999 but he insists the title secured by manager Paul Doswell and his players surpasses that achievement.
"It is difficult to pick which promotion was better, they are both good and it is hard to compare them," he said.
"But this is probably at the top as I have been involved more than ever this year in helping Paul out.
"I have got as good a team off the pitch as he has on it and some of the guys on the committee are top quality.
"If the two things don't go together you are not going to get anywhere but this has to be at the top of the last 13 years because of my involvement day in day out."
United were given an open top bus tour by the council in 1999 and Elliott admits he wouldn't say no if it was offered again.
"Last time we were treated to a Mayor's reception and the bus tied in with that, so it is not for us to initiate," he said.
"If people want to do it and they think it worthy of a Mayor's reception and a celebration in town then that will be nice.
"I think it is but not everyone thinks the same about Sutton United as I do."
Sutton are back in Blue Square South for the first time in three years but Elliott has no ambitions for them to go higher.
"We have to be realistic," he said.
"Most of the clubs in Blue Square Premier are full-time, we are not and the chances are we never will be.
"We want to play in the top level of non-league football which, to me, is the level we are going to be in next season.
"My definition of non-league football is part-time football and 80 per cent of the teams in the conference are full time, we would get thrashed every week there.
"We provided a budget for the Ryman Premier and it will be similar next year and that takes a bit of funding, there's been a recession and it is not easy.
"What we would want to do is consolidate in Blue Square South , finish mid-table or a little above."
9:47am Wednesday 20th April 2011
By Graham Moody »
www.suttonguardian.co.uk/sport/8984049.Doswell_delighted_by_Sutton_s_success/
Paul Doswell has not stopped smiling since guiding Sutton United to the Ryman Premier League title.
United's manager was at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground on Sunday to watch nearest challengers Bury Town lose to Cray Wanderers and gift Sutton promotion at the third year of asking after they dispatched Hastings United 2-1 on Saturday.
The club will be given the trophy after their Easter Monday derby game with Carshalton Athletic and Doswell could not be a happier manager.
“I am totally delighted for everyone at the football club and all the people that worked so hard for this to happen,” he said.
“We had a three year plan and it is great that we have done what we set out to do.
“I cannot wait for Monday, that is when everyone at the club and all the supporters are going to be together and I am sure there will be a big party.
“The players have been tremendous, no one has had a bad season for us, everyone has held their form and their fitness and that has been important.
“It has been a long time coming but finally we have got there and it is a very nice feeling to have done it with three games to go.
"The disappointment of last year was a big driving force for us.
“It was a bitter pill to swallow to finish 15 points above fifth place and then lose in the play-offs.
“That is why I said this season from the start that I wouldn't be here next year if we didn't go up and the players felt the same.
“Kevin Scriven and Karim El Salahi, players like that that have been with me for a couple of years did not want to play in the Ryman Premier for another year.
“All of us were so determined not to go back in the play-offs.”
Festivities on Monday will include a celebratory lunch and Borough Derby Day, which will see all Sutton Council workers getting in free.
Doswell joined Sutton in 2008 after an impressive record in charge at Eastleigh, taking them from the Wessex League all they way to Conference South, but he insists his success with Sutton tops all of that.
“It is the highlight for sure,” he said.
“What I did at Eastleigh was fantastic but this tops it all.
“To win one of the toughest leagues, there is not an easy game to be had, as a manager you cannot ask for anything more than that.
“The club had had a terrible time prior to us coming in but the last three years has got everybody involved and enjoying it again."
Sutton's remaining games: Apr 23 Folkestone Invicta (a), 25 Carshalton Athletic (h), 30 Billericay Town (a).
Sutton United chairman: This is the best moment
10:12am Wednesday 20th April 2011
By Graham Moody »
www.suttonguardian.co.uk/sport/8984165.United_chairman__This_is_the_best_moment/
Bruce Elliott has hailed Sutton United's promotion to Blue Square South as the best moment of his 13-year chairmanship.
Elliott was in charge the last time Sutton won the league under John Rains in 1999 but he insists the title secured by manager Paul Doswell and his players surpasses that achievement.
"It is difficult to pick which promotion was better, they are both good and it is hard to compare them," he said.
"But this is probably at the top as I have been involved more than ever this year in helping Paul out.
"I have got as good a team off the pitch as he has on it and some of the guys on the committee are top quality.
"If the two things don't go together you are not going to get anywhere but this has to be at the top of the last 13 years because of my involvement day in day out."
United were given an open top bus tour by the council in 1999 and Elliott admits he wouldn't say no if it was offered again.
"Last time we were treated to a Mayor's reception and the bus tied in with that, so it is not for us to initiate," he said.
"If people want to do it and they think it worthy of a Mayor's reception and a celebration in town then that will be nice.
"I think it is but not everyone thinks the same about Sutton United as I do."
Sutton are back in Blue Square South for the first time in three years but Elliott has no ambitions for them to go higher.
"We have to be realistic," he said.
"Most of the clubs in Blue Square Premier are full-time, we are not and the chances are we never will be.
"We want to play in the top level of non-league football which, to me, is the level we are going to be in next season.
"My definition of non-league football is part-time football and 80 per cent of the teams in the conference are full time, we would get thrashed every week there.
"We provided a budget for the Ryman Premier and it will be similar next year and that takes a bit of funding, there's been a recession and it is not easy.
"What we would want to do is consolidate in Blue Square South , finish mid-table or a little above."