The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Life is rarely dull when it comes to Holbeach United – and 2015 was certainly a year to remember.
It’s amazing to think that the Tigers kicked off the year with Graham Drury and John Chand in co-charge, before going on to end it with Tom Roberts as the boss following the sacking of Darren Jarvis in December.
Despite the massive changes in the dugout – and a huge player turnover – Holbeach ended 2015 in a pretty similar situation to how they started the year.
Once again they are superbly positioned to battle for a ChromaSport UCL Premier Division and KO Cup double, but it seems unlikely that they’ll implode like the Chand/Drury team did as we enter 2016.
Away from the managerial merry-go-round, who could forget Ricky Drury’s sensational FA Cup goal against Worcester City back in September?
“Overhead Rick’s” injury-time equaliser earned the Tigers national headlines and was the undoubted high of their year.
We’ve highlighted six of the biggest moments of Holbeach’s 2015 in our review of the year…
February – Drury’s resignation
Co-boss Graham Drury ended his brief Carter’s Park reign on February 22 – just moments after steering his side to a 4-3 ChromaSport UCL Knockout Cup win over Olney Town.
The former Stamford, Corby Town and Boston United manager – who would later re-join Stamford in November – left fans favourite John Chand in sole charge of the Tigers.
Chand said: “It got to the stage where Graham wasn’t enjoying the job anymore. He felt that the time was right for him to leave – and if Graham, a man that gives 100 per cent to everything, says that, you can’t argue.
“For me, Graham has been absolutely outstanding for Holbeach United.”
DOUBLE EXIT: Co-bosses Graham Drury (left) and John Chand resigned within a month of each other. Photo by NIKKI CLUCAS
March – Chand next to go
John Chand resigned as Holbeach United manager after seeing his side crash out of the UCL Knockout Cup against lower-graded Potton United – and was promptly replaced by Darren Jarvis as Tigers chief.
Chand stepped down as Holbeach boss just three weeks after his former co-chief Graham Drury did the exact same thing.
A mini-exodus of players followed, with the Tigers dropping out of the title race.
Chand said that managing Holbeach was affecting his business and private life – and added that he didn’t expect to return to management in the foreseeable future.
He said: “I didn’t want to just jump ship. Darren will now see the season out – it might be turbulent at times, but there will be no pressure.
“I would say that I won’t look to return to management in any time during the next five years.
“The time I had out of it, I could never see how I found the time to do it (management) in the first place. Having Graham was the pivotal thing. He would speak to players at night time or go to meet them to get them signed. He looked after that and it took pressure off me.
“In the short space of time that he hasn’t been here, I’ve had players ringing me at night and during the day – and I just don’t have time.”
May – Top six finish sealed
New manager Darren Jarvis and number two Tom Roberts picked up the pieces from the co-managers resigning and steadied the Holbeach United ship – clinching a top six finish in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division.
After losing their first match 3-0 at high-flying Thurnby Nirvana, the Tigers – with new signing Andrew Tidswell in their side – picked up their first win under the new regime by beating Newport Pagnell 2-1 at Carter’s Park in mid-March.
Jarvis took charge of 12 matches at the end of the campaign as Holbeach finished 26 points behind double winners AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
WELCOME BACK: Jamie Stevens (right) returned to Holbeach over the summer. Photo by STEVE RELF
June – Excitement at summer signing spree
The good times were expected to return to Holbeach United after an impressive summer recruitment drive.
New boss Darren Jarvis snapped up a host of top talent, with new skipper Jamie Stevens – who returned from Spalding United – the most eye-catching recruit.
Josh Ford, Tommy Treacher, Ricky Drury, Jonny Clay, Ollie Pinner, Jake Clitheroe and Chris Ward were amongst the others to join, giving the squad a strong South Holland feel.
The Tigers did lose much-loved physio Carol Holland to St Neots Town, though.
September – Overhead Rick lit up the FA Cup
Keeper Ricky Drury became a national sensation when his stunning overhead kick earned Holbeach United a memorable Emirates FA Cup draw with higher-graded Worcester City.
The Tigers looked to be heading out of the competition when former Premier League striker Lee Hughes headed the Vanarama National League North side ahead on 70 minutes.
But Drury, who had earlier made a stunning save to deny Hughes, blew the roof off a packed Carter’s Park when he met an Andrew Tidswell free-kick and steered a flying bicycle kick into the corner in the 92nd minute of the second round qualifying tie to level at 1-1.
Worcester won the replay 2-0, but Holbeach were firmly on the footballing map.
END GAME: Tom Roberts (right) replaced Darren Jarvis (left) as boss in December. Photo by STEVE RELF
December – Robbo takes charge after Jarvis’ sacking
Holbeach United ended the year as it started – with a change of management.
Darren Jarvis was sensationally sacked by the Tigers on December 9, just 24 hours after steering his side to a 3-1 win at Deeping Rangers that moved his side up to second in the table.
Holbeach had also progressed to the last eight of the UCL Knockout Cup, but confirmed that Jarvis was relieved of his duties for “putting the wellbeing of the club at risk” by “consistently spending more than his agreed budget”.
Jarvis issued a strongly-worded statement to refute those claims, but did accept he was “£38 per-week over budget for the season”.
The axed boss also claimed he was undermined by people at the club during his tenure, pointing the finger at number two Tom Roberts. It was Roberts who replaced Jarvis at the helm, with Andrew Tidswell stepping up to be player/assistant manager.
The Tigers ended 2015 in fifth place in the table after a 1-0 home loss to Yaxley, but remained firmly in the mix for a UCL double.
