I'm hungry to get back into management, says Tommy Warrilow

TOMMY WARRILOW says he is looking to get back into non-league football management.

Warrilow pulled off The Great Escape to keep Cray Wanderers in the Ryman League after winning their last ten games to create a club record for the Hayes Lane based outfit.



THE GREAT ESCAPE: Tommy Warrilow presents 22-goal striker Adrian Stone his  award at Cray Wanderers' presentation night at the end of last season.  Stone has since signed for Southern Counties East Football League side Sevenoaks Town as the players who kept the club in the Ryman League have departed.
Photo: Cray Wanderers FC

But chairman Gary Hillman opted to bring in Tony Russell, who kept Crayford based VCD Athletic in the Ryman Premier League after winning their last six games.

Warrilow is fronting a new West Ham United Academy at Hollands & Blair’s ground at Star Meadow, Darland Avenue in Gillingham, with trials taking place next Thursday, 25 June and Thursday 30 July, between 18:00-20:00.

“It’s been on the cards for quite a while to be honest,” said Warrilow.

“I’ve been speaking to a couple of people I know over in the East End and Essex about they want to come over this side of the water and it’s sort of picked up momentum over the last month or so really so we’re going to give it a go.

“It’s the first one (West Ham Academy) over this side of the water. They’ve obviously got the new stadium to fill and looking to branch out to different areas with the rail links (from Kent to Stratford) as well etc.

“So for me I’m looking forward to it. It is something different, I fancy having a go at. Hopefully we get a good turn out and start producing some good kids.

“We’re not turning anything away, we’re open for anyone to turn up, if they’re good enough and the idea is to make them better players.

“They’ve got to realise that they’ve also got an education side of it to fulfil and leave there with the equivalent of an A Level qualification to take them into the real world to find employment if the professional game has not worked out for them.  They should come out of it better footballers and hopefully with a football club.

“Yes, there’s an opportunity to play for West Ham but the realism is it’s very hard to do that but with the contacts I’ve got I can get them a game in the Kent Invicta League all the way up to the National League.”

Running West Ham United’s Gillingham-based Academy will be a day-time job, so Warrilow is itching to get back into non-league management, where training takes place at night and matches on Saturday’s and midweek nights.

Warrilow, an UEFA B licenced coach, played for Millwall and Torquay United and also played abroad in Australia and Finland.

The former central defender then moved into the non-league game playing for Crawley Town, Maidstone United, Canterbury City, Gravesend & Northfleet, Tonbridge Angels, Hythe Town, Sittingbourne, Ashford Town, Dartford, Folkestone and Cray Wanderers.

After his playing career he moved into management with Leatherhead, then he was assistant manager of Horsham for four years before moving to Tonbridge Angels. He spent seven seasons at Longmead Stadium, his highlights including beating then Conference club Oxford United in The FA Trophy and winning the Ryman Premier League play-offs and spending three seasons in Conference South. 

Last season he scouted for Ebbsfleet United when Steve Brown was in charge at the Conference South club - before turning into a miracle worker whilst in charge of Cray Wanderers for 36 games, his first experience of managing in the Ryman League Division One North.

Warriow said; “I took a rest after the seven years at Tonbridge – it was the right thing to do!

“I had a fantastic time there and I’d like to think I took the club into a better place and made it more of an attractive proposition being in the Conference South for three years.

“It’s a stronger club and I’m looking to do that somewhere else.

“I went to Cray and done what I was asked to do (keeping the club in the Ryman League) down there. 

“People have been complimenting me and the phone’s been going. I think a lot of people thought I got given the Cray job but it was well documented it wasn’t to be so I’ve got to be patient again and see what comes along in the new season.

“When I went back in January no one could foresee what we actually did at Cray would happen. It takes time and after a period of bedding in we found the right formula and went on a fantastic run.

“I’d love to do that at another club. I’m not a football snob. I’d like to manage at the highest level, like everyone. At the same time I’m not one of those managers who won’t sit down and talk to someone and want to push a club through the leagues and that’s just as exciting and rewarding as well. Hopefully something will come along. Until the phone rings you’ve just got to be patient. Hopefully it does and we can sit down and work something out.

“I’m looking forward to it (the West Ham Academy) whilst I’m out of football it gives me something to concentrate on 100% but at the same time if the phone rings and it’s a job that I want to pursue that becomes number one priority with this (Academy) running alongside it as well.

“A lot of people thought this was a job that was it. I can still manage non-league football and everyone thought this was a new job and I couldn’t manage in football.  It’s all day time stuff, morning and afternoon, it doesn’t effect it at all.

“I’m more hungry to get back into the management after I got the taste of it last year.

“The fact that we created history for Cray as well, we turned the season to being an absolute stinker to making history – it was really exciting and good to watch.

“I think our one was a proper escape. That’s what you get paid for when you’re a manager. The way it ended up it was fantastic. I’m hoping that will get a few people attentions out of it.”

To book a trial please visit www.wearescl.co.uk

For further information regarding the learning Academy please contact Peter Dutton, Director of Football and Sport – Email peter@iconic-sports-coaching.com.

For further information about the education please contact Soccer Coaching Limited – Email education@wearescl.co.uk.

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