I don't think winning the league is the be-all and end all for me, says VCD boss Tony Russell

VCD ATHLETIC manager Tony Russell says winning the league does not drive him.

The Crayford-based club sit proudly at the summit of the Ryman League Division One North table, having won fourteen and drawn one of their fifteen league games and are sixteen points clear of Witham Town, who have three games in hand.

Vickers thrashed Wroxham 8-0 at Oakwood in their last game last Tuesday, where striker Stuart Zanone opened his goalscoring account with a hat-trick following his transfer from Ryman Premier League strugglers Thamesmead Town.

The victory came ten days after Wroxham lost 9-4 at home to Ryman Premier League side Margate in The FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.

“It’s a funny game, a really funny game, because for the first ten minutes they were the better side,” reflected Russell, who clinched promotion as Kent League runners-up last season.

“They came and they passed it, probably more than us if I’m honest. It took us ten minutes to get to grips with them a little bit.

“Once we scored the first couple they sort of capitulated a little bit but they wasn’t a bad side – I know it sounds bad 8-0 – but they’re decent. I can see how they get results.   They’re a little too gung-ho if I’m honest. If I’m looking at them.

“The way they pass the ball is really good, but they just left themselves open a little bit and we were quite clinical with that.”

Russell revealed Zanone’s hat-trick lifted the weight of the striker’s shoulders.

“I think he took a little bit of stick from the boys, they gave him a little bit of banter but we always knew he’d take that long,” said Russell.

“I’ve heard a couple of silly stories about how much we paid for him, which is ridiculous!

“Basically, what happened, it was all agreed he was going to Thurrock and for some reason it didn’t happen and then he said to Keith (McMahon, the Thamesmead Town manager) he wanted to come to VCD.

“He said to Keith that he wanted to come to VCD. Keith spoke to me and I don’t really know the boy but he heard about the coaching the players get here and things like that.

“When I spoke to him he agreed to take virtually a 50% pay cut – not 40% but a massive pay cut to come to us and he helped pay for it to go through. It was only a little fee because Keith had nowhere else to send him.

“Keith was brilliant with the deal itself – but it was a tiny figure.

“Stuart came here and we knew he’d struggle because we’ve asked him to do something different. We play different from a lot of teams and we ain’t going to get the ball up to him early and use his strength. We’re going to use him technically and his movement a little bit more.

“It was always going to take time but he’s just getting better. He’s really improving. He missed one just before he scored.

“The moment he scored, he’s a different player. Even at training since, we’ve seen a little weight has lifted off his shoulder and I fully expect him to go on now and have a good season.”

Unbeaten VCD Athletic travel to Brentwood Town on Saturday.

The Essex side lie second-from-bottom in the table, having collected two wins and three draws from fifteen league games.

“I’ve been to watch them a couple of times,” revealed Russell.

“I went to watch them last night against Heybridge Swifts. It’s a big pitch, a bit heavy obviously the rain is still coming down, so it’s going to be a hard pitch to play on.

“They’re very gung-ho – that’s what I will say. They come at you. If I was making an assessment report for somebody else, they’re an on their day side. If you look at it they got beat 5-0 and before that they lost 2-1 to Witham and lost 2-1 to Tilbury and lost 2-1 to Sudbury.

“No one’s given them a good hiding. They keep coming at you. They play with a very attacking formation.

“I’ve watched them last night. I’ve got an idea what we want to do. We’ll work on it tomorrow in training.  It’s exciting. If we click, I fancy us. I do fancy us. If it does click it could be exciting over there as well.”

Despite his side’s excellent start to their Ryman League return, Russell, naturally, has played down their title-winning chances.

He said: “To be fair, a lot has been made of the lead. I’ve had a couple of radio stations ring me and say the same thing, but if Witham win their games in hand it goes down to seven (points) and there’s a queue of teams behind them.

“We haven’t dominated the league. Every game we haven’t run about with a cigar. There’s been periods in the game when it’s been tight and we’ve just shown a little extra quality and the organisation of our shape of our team keeps us solid.”

Russell added: “It’s such a long way to go, it really is. I’m not driven. I don’t think winning the league is the be-all or end-all for me. I’m not driven by that. I want to come football and create an environment where people enjoy coming to football, pass the ball, enjoy the coaching and have a good bit of banter.

“I think sometimes people forget that and scream and shout on the line.

“The bigger picture is it’s such a long way away. I don’t think about it. I honestly don’t. I’m being truthful.  I think those things look after themselves.

“What you’ve got to make sure is that you enjoy it, the players enjoy it and if you can get that and everyone’s enjoying it, coming to football and playing with a smile on their face and being brave on the ball, it gives yourself half the chance.”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/vcdathleticfc

Brentwood Town  v  VCD Athletic
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 9 November 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Arena, Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9NN