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Steve Sedgley Interview
The day after the draw for the third round of the Trophy, K's Web spoke to Steve Sedgley
| First of all, what is your reaction to yesterday's FA Trophy draw? |
 It's another game for me. Everybody else is going to build it up, but it's a good draw. It pits our team against a Conference side, so we'll be able to judge how far we've come in two months.
It'll be nice to see him (Chapple). I don't really know how people will take it, but it doesn't bother me whether it's Geoff or anyone else. The most important thing is that we're in the next round of the Trophy, so what people want to write is no big deal. And I suppose Geoff will feel exactly the same. Of course he'll want to win, but he wants to win every game he plays. But so do I. |
| What about Saturday's match? How did you feel it went? |
| It flattered us. We started off alright, got an early goal, but then took our foot off the pedal. I spoke to the players afterwards and said that there were a few who maybe took it a bit easily.
We had a few words at half-time, made a change, and in the second half we had a purple patch where we did play well for about fifteen minutes, got our goals and effectively the game was over. But that's when experienced players would have killed the game off, whereas some of them just wanted to get on the scoresheet. But that's part of their learning. They all got excited because they were five-one up and I suppose it's been a long while since a Kingstonian team was five-one up. I can understand them getting excited and wanting to score more goals, that's what happens, but they shouldn't lose sight of the fact that it was a lot closer than it looked. What do you think went wrong in the early part of the season? Too many players not playing well. It's as simple as that. We changed the team around that many times, we looked at training methods, I looked at myself, Bill looked at himself, we're honest people. But the bottom line is, when you go out on that pitch - no matter what level of football you're at - teams can't afford to carry one player, let alone the six or seven we were carrying. |
| What went through your mind when Bill Williams left? |
 I was shocked really. It was Bill who said to the club that they should give me a chance. It's been well highlighted how well we got on, I speak to him regularly and I learned a lot from him over the few months I was with him. We still talk to each other about players, and he's got his own problems now.
It was difficult though, because I've seen two people go since I've been here, and from the outside it doesn't look good. |
| So what was it like at St Albans - going into the dressing room for the first time as a manager? |
| No different really. It's where I've always wanted to be. I feel like I've been "well-groomed" if you like. I know I was only with Bill for a short time, but I learned a lot, and Kim (Harris) was a big help as well. I've had good people around me all the time which helps.
My dad was a non-league manager, so I've grown up with it really. And I know football. I don't know management yet, but you learn don't you? And the only way to learn is to do it. |
| You mentioned Kim Harris - did he come straight in as your assistant? |
| Yes, he was promoted straight away. We'd got on really well since we first met in the summer and he'd done a good job with the reserves. |
| The players seem to be enjoying games much more - is that down to results, or are results down to that? |
| First and foremost, when I took over, I just wanted to get them to enjoy their football again. They still worked hard in training, but they enjoyed it too. You've got to remember that, for the old players especially, that's really important. I've been an old player myself - and I used to love training. But if it was boring then you wouldn't do so well.
Anyway, we got them confident again and we got them playing football the way I like to see the game played. We did alright in the first game, then had a two-week break before we played again and since then (Aldershot away) things have been OK. |
| If you had to single out one player - who would it be? |
 You can't really. Under the circumstances they've all done great. Everyone of them has played their part since I took over. I couldn't really have asked for more from any of them. From when I was here last year, in the Conference, the turn-around has been amazing. I know we're not playing Conference teams now, but some of this team from last year are completely different players now. |
| Are you worried about burn-out with some of the youngsters? |
| Well you do get that, but that's one of those things with younger players. Loss of form is something that will happen with some of them too. But you have to put up with that, and the supporters need to know that that will happen. |
| Obviously injuries are going to play a part, so what is the situation if - for example - Lance Key picks up an injury? |
| The way me and Kim look at it is, OK we could get somebody in on loan, but then they're here for a month, they cost money, and then they're gone. I mean - how do people get experience in the team? By playing. That's basically what's happened with some of the players now - and they're better players for it.
You can't keep getting players in for a month here and a month there. And eventually, although you might not see it straight away, over a period of time, you'll get into a position where you have 15 or 16 players who can easily slot into places in the first team. |
| But if the situation arose where you did need to sign a player - is it possible at the moment? |
| I don't know. I have obviously spoken to the administrators, but I really don't know. There's obviously a lot going on behind the scenes, we still have a lot of debts to pay off, but as I've said before, that's something I don't get involved with.
I just steer clear of all of that. All I can do is ask for something, and if I don't get it then it's fair enough. |
| I think I'm right in saying that Liam Garman is the only "post-administration" signing - how did that come about? |
| Kim knew him at Walton and I have no problems with him recommending players at all. Actually he's injured now, but he's done well. And I think a couple of others have come in - they just haven't made it into the first team yet. |
| So are all the ex-Walton players looking forward to the Surrey Cup game? |
 Well Kim is - I know that! But the youngsters, they've come to a club like Kingstonian and they're playing week in, week out instead of getting a chance every few months. So they look forward to every game. All they need is somebody to give them a chance.
The youngsters play with no fear - it's the older players who have probably had the toughest time of all. But they've come through that, and they're all better players for it. It's like myself - I'm young to be a manager, but somebody has given me the chance and I'm doing as well as I can. I need more time, of course I do, and there are a few things I'd like to do that I can't, because of the situation. |
| Singling one player out - how do you think Dave Clarke has done? |
| I think over the last few weeks he's done brilliantly. He had a fantastic pre-season, then trailed off some and then he didn't play for a while. But he's slowly come back and he's improving all the time. |
| Ronnie Green didn't start any of your first five games, so how pleased are you with the way he's taken his opportunity? |
| I'm very pleased, obviously. We spoke to him, told him how we wanted him to play, and he's taken his chance. I've told him about how, as a defender, there are certain types of player you wouldn't want to face. And I told him - if he plays a certain way, he'd be a lot better player for it.
It was hard for him for a long while, but he's got his chance and he's been brilliant ever since. But you can talk as much as you like - when you're a player, like anything in life, it's how you perform really.  |
| When David Sadler is back from injury - well, how do you work? Do you have a first choice front pair or do you pick whoever is scoring? |
| Well it depends really. Something could happen at training tonight, so you just never know. You change your mind so many times during the week, so my Dad always said never to name the team until as late as possible.
You might wake up with something of a gut feeling that one player should start in place of another, and if you've named the team you have to explain that that's the reason why. So don't give too much away in the week and just wait and see how the week pans out. We're just lucky that we've got three strikers scoring goals now. When I was here last year we didn't have many shots, let alone goals! Now we're scoring goals for fun. But then, we do look like scoring, but sometimes we look like we're going to concede too many. It's just getting the right balance. But I'd be more worried if we weren't scoring. I've played in teams where you sneak a one-nil win, but when those goals dry up it's a bad time. |
| The style of play seems quite different - where has that come from? |
 It's how I want to play football. When I was a youngster at Coventry, we played football. Tottenham always played football. And then I was at Ipswich where I played as a sweeper. So that's the way I've been brought up.
But I like the tough boys as well, because I was always big enough to look after myself. I do like to see people get stuck in. But I think that if you look back over the years, in any league, the teams that try to play football usually end up rising to the top. If I'm going to sit on that touchline, well there's no way I'm going to watch something I don't like. I mean you'll always get those scrappy games when you grind out a one-nil win, but I do like to watch a good game. |
| What about yourself? What's your future as a player? |
| Well, I wanted to play this season. Actually I was hoping to play by now, but my knee's still not strong enough. And anyway, I think I've got enough on my plate at the moment.
If, in the future, we go on a bad run and I'm needed then I'll do it. But I'm not quite ready yet. It gives me more pleasure to see the players there now do well than it would for me to play anyway. |
| Are you on the look-out for new players? |
| Of course - you always are. People keep ringing me and saying they want to come and play here. See there are lots of players out there, and this place is getting known to be a place for young players to get a chance.
But Kim and I have said that they would need to be the right sort of person, the right sort of character to fit into our team. |
| So what sort of characters are there in the dressing room? |
| Winners. First and foremost you've got to love your club and be ready to die for your team-mate. If you're that sort of person, and can play football, then you've got half a chance.
This is a good place to be. Training is hard, but they do have a laugh and a joke. I always used to get into trouble for being too loud in training, but as long as they train hard I don't have a problem with that. It's the same as any job - if you don't enjoy it you don't perform as well as you could. |
| Presumably you don't think we're going to win the league this year, so is your aim to build for next year? |
| Well no, I mean in football you never know what's going to happen. Never say never. If you look too far ahead then you lose sight of where you are. We played Boreham Wood and Hampton and they were two tough games. After that we had six points and thought that was great. So now we look to the next game.
I used to do it when I was a player though. I used to think, well if we win our next four and that team loses one we'll go above them. Then all of a sudden you lose a couple of games, another team overtakes you and you think "where did they come from?". But we're ambitious. We want to win every game we play. It's highly unlikely, but you never know, do you? We've still got to play the big boys - Gravesend and Canvey - so we'll just see what happens. But when you do get off to a bad start it's always difficult. We lost too many games early on. |
| So what would be your aim for next year? |
| Well, that's too far away really. Ask me again in pre-season - if I'm still here. We might go on a bad run, a new owner might not like me, things change. I hope I am still here, but you just never know. But if we're all still together then I hope we can have a good go. |
| You're only a part-time manager, so what do you do during the rest of the week? |
| Hoover! But no, I go to see a lot of games, keep my hand in football, watch some players. Actually I'm busier now than I've ever been. There's just so much to do. |
| So would it be a benefit to be full-time? |
| Well obviously I'd like to do more, but money is always the problem. It's different with the older players who work, but I could be here training the younger ones who haven't got jobs.
But I'm still learning about things - the budget for one. I mean I haven't really spent much money, but it's all part of the game that I need to learn about. |
| How does winning a game as manager compare to winning one as a player? |
 I don't know really. One thing I will say is that I'm more tired after a game as a manager. See when you're playing you can do something about it. If you're a defender then you can go for a cross, but when you're the manager you're thinking "no, don't put it there" and you're panicking.
But I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's all learning for me. And it'd give me a lot of pleasure to see all of these players here go and play at a higher level. And that's the way football is. If they do well then you know that somebody will probably come down here and snap them up. |
| Do you think some of them could "make it"? |
| Yes. If they're in the right place at the right time. That's what it's all about. When I came here last year, a lot of people had good reputations, but it's what they do for me that counts. If they keep playing well then people will hear about it.
See you can live in the past too much. I don't like talking about the past really. You've always got your memories, but they don't get you anywhere. People are always saying what they've done in the past, but you're only as good as your last game. |
The interview was conducted on Tuesday 4th December 2001 by Gary Ekins
Many thanks to Steve Sedgley for giving up his time