May 2014

Finishing in 7th place in the Blue Square Premier is a good achievement, but part of me classes it as a disappointment. We had been in the play-off places for quite some time, but a poor couple of months around Christmas meant we were cut off from the rest of the pack, and this proved to be costly when it came to the end of the season. Next year, I believe we can go up, but we'll need to strengthen our side before that can happen.

In terms of the current squad's performance throughout the 2013/14 season, there were several stand-out performers. Denis Behan once again topped the goal-scoring charts, grabbing 20 goals in 47 appearances altogether, whilst Ryan Charles and Richard Offiong both got into double figures for the season. Lewis Montrose once again had a brilliant season; finishing with an average rating of 7.17 in 46 games, 13 assists and a pass completion ratio of 83%; the best in the league. Being made captain hadn't made his performances drop whatsoever it seems. At the back, Tom Parkes and Chris Robertson had solid first seasons with the club, and will look to build on their good performances next year. Max Wragg impressed after coming back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, whilst Tommy Lee will be hoping he can continue as the club's number 1 next season after conceding 47 in 44 league games with 15 clean sheets.

In order to strengthen the squad, players will need to be sold. 39-year-old centre back and former captain Graham Coughlan, who scored the goal that sealed our promotion to the Blue Square Premier, had his contract mutually terminated. He plans to retire at the end of next season, but there could be a possibility of bringing him back to the club as a coach. Adrian Nevins, Carl Tremarco and Matthew Duffy look set to leave the club, whilst Lewis Alessandra could be one of the bigger names on his way out.

May 2013

Finishing 9th in our first season in the Blue Square Premier was regarded as an extremely good achievement by both the board and the fans. The board stated that they were "delighted with the leadership qualities" that I had demonstrated throughout the season, and hoped it would continue as well.

The final standings at the end of the 2012/13 season (click to enlarge)

Our league position graph at the end of the season (click to enlarge)

Jake Simpson was selected in the Blue Square Premier's team of the year, and he thoroughly deserved the accolade. In 39 appearances, the right midfielder scored 7 goals and provided 13 assists, at an average rating of 6.97. Ryan Charles also stood out, as he once again managed to reach the 20-goal landmark; becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the process. Denis Behan and Richard Offiong had very successful first seasons with AFC Telford, as they managed 20 and 18 goals respectively. The undoubted unsung hero though was central midfielder Lewis Montrose. The 24-year-old had developed into an accomplished passer of the ball: he finished with a pass rate of 86% and contributed to 20 assists in 47 appearances. Right back Max Wragg performed well in his 33 games, coming out with an average rating of 7.15, despite having his season cut short through injury.

In pre-season, my main priority will be to strengthen the defence, as we definitely conceded too many for a top half side. There will also be a few players leaving; Simon Davis' loan deal finished and he returned to Crewe, Mark Arber retired and Paul Dixon's contract wasn't renewed.

May 2012

This month was potentially the toughest of my short managerial career. In the five months I'd been in charge of AFC Telford, I had won 19 out of 26 games, losing just twice, escalating them from 18th in the table, to the play-offs. For another manger, these achievements might've been enough, and the play-offs might be regarded as an 'added bonus', with most people expecting to fall at the first hurdle. Not for me. I believed we could go all the way. Why not? We'd beaten most of the teams above us all season, so what's different now? The fact that we're in the play-offs is the difference.

A record 4,956 fans packed into the New Bucks Head for the home leg of our Play-off Semi Final. Expectations were high, as were nerves. Ryan Charles had recently spoken to the media about how he was getting on top of the media hype surrounding him, which was good. The only absentee from the starting line-up was Netan Sansara, who was replaced by Carl Tremarco. It was Droylsden who got first blood in the tie, with former Hibernian and Coventry midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin netting after 34 minutes, and we went into the break behind. Things got worse for us when Lewis Alessandra was taken off injured with a gashed leg, shortly after the restart. However, just 3 minutes later, Ryan Charles levelled things up with his 20th goal of the season. We were unusually ill-disciplined in the match, with six of our players receiving cautions. Ryan Charles went from hero to villan in the 79th minute, when a late challenge saw him pick up a second yellow card, an offence which would later warrant a two-match ban. The game finished 1-1, but Droylsden had the upper hand with the away goal, and the fact they still had a home leg to play.

Things looked grim heading into the second leg. Charles and Alessandra's absences left us with only one recognised striker in Danny Carey-Bertram, leading to a change of formation; 4-1-4-1; the formation I used at Harrogate. How on earth were we going to cope without the firepower that had produced 36 goals in 26 games? Things really did seem like they were going against us. This was until the game started however. Jon Adams grabbed an early goal on 9 minutes after a scramble in the box, and Carl Tremarco headed in Carey-Bertram's cross for his first Telford goal on 25 minutes. A Droylsden penalty shortly after meant we went into half-time 2-1 to the good, and 3-2 on aggregate. It also meant that Droylsden had to score at win today to progress, as we now had two away goals. The game was all but finished 10 minutes into the second half when Carl Tremarco scored an almost identical goal to double his tally, and increase our lead. For the rest of the game, we basically just sat back and made sure we didn't make any silly mistakes. Droylsden did have to score three times to win after all. The final whistle went and our place in the Play-off Final was confirmed. The win just proves that three players (Charles, Sansara & Alessandra), even though they are very talented, don't make a team. Tremarco received the Man of the Match award; and to think, he wouldn't have played if Sansara would've been fit.

Our opponents in the final were Worcester City. They had beat Hinckley in the other Semi-Final in what was somewhat of an unexpected result, considering Hinckley had held the top spot for the majority of the season. Netan Sansara and Lewis Alessandra both returned for the Final, although the latter only made the bench as he had only just come back. Sansara's return meant Carl Tremarco had to move to left back in the same 4-1-4-1 formation, with Matthew Duffy dropping to the bench. Baring in mind it was a Final, with the winner sealing a place in the Blue Square Premier, it was a pretty dull match. Worcester had a goal (correctly) ruled offside, and Danny Carey-Bertram squandered numerous chances to win it for us, and the match ended goalless after 90 minutes. This lead to extra time and then if we were still level, the dreaded penalties. It looked as though this was the way things were going to go, until we got a corner in the 114th minute. Jake Simpson stepped up and floated the ball into the box, and who was there at the back post, unmarked, to head in? 37-year-old captain-for-the-day Graham Coughlan. The crowd went wild; it was the stuff dreams were made of. It really was like something out of Roy of the Rovers. Unbelievable. The final whistle went and we had done it; we'd achieved promotion to the Blue Square Premier.

I came runner-up in the Manager of the Season awards, and Ryan Charles' end of season flood of goals saw him grab the Golden Boot for the league with 20 goals. He, along with Alessandra, Simpson, Sansara and Coughlan all earned new contracts as well, the latter signalling his intention to see out the rest of his career with Telford. Despite bringing the team from 18th place to winning promotion, the board are still only 'satisfied' with my management. Bit annoying really; a little bit of praise wouldn't go a miss! And correct me if I'm wrong but there isn't really that much I could do better? Ah well, a good season overall. A very good one in fact. The players are off on holiday now, until the end of June. I might go away somewhere as well. Lincoln seems nice. Or perhaps Hull...

The final standings in the Blue Square North at the end of the 2011/12 season (click to enlarge).

AFC Telford's league positions throughout the season. I was in charge from the 17th game (basically where they started going up!).

May 2010 - November 2011

I wanted to get straight back into football after leaving Harrogate, but I had to wait until the end of the 2009/10 season had finished for the job offers to come in.

Applications were sent initially to Staines, Hyde and Dorchester, who had all sacked their manager at the end of the season. However Boston Utd and Nuneaton Borough, both promoted to the Blue Square North for the 2010/11 season, approached me and asked me to fill their vacant managerial positions. I mulled over it for quite some time, and looked at both their squads. They were pretty weak, and it would be a big job just to keep them in the division. The three teams I applied for earlier did look more appealing, so for that reason I decided to reject the two offers, a decision which I would sincerely regret for over a year after.

It seemed as though my greed had got the better of my when Staines, Hyde and Dorchester all found new managers. Unsuccessful applications were then sent to Tonbridge, Cambridge City and Sutton United, and I even sent a bit of a cheeky application to the Brazilian, Italian, Spanish and Argentinian national sides. I was rejected from all. Things were getting tough; the papers were beginning to talk, "Alex Blackburne's career is over" they said. But it wasn't, and I knew that.

The next realistic position came in November the next year, when Bath City sacked their manager. I applied, only to be rejected again. I was literally on the brink of retirement when AFC Telford came calling. The small club from Shropshire were sitting in 18th in the Blue Square North, and had recently parted company with their manager. They offered me a decent wage, and the squad actually looked pretty decent. I accepted the offer and was unveiled as their new manager on the 7th of December.