Who’s your manager of the season?
This time of the season the clamour for suggestions regarding best players, best team and of course best manager are usually coming thick and fast.
At the very highest level of our game plaudits and accolades are being made about the Swansea manager Brendan Rogers. His stock and standing has risen considerably since promotion to the Premiership, with many inside the media feeling he should be crowned manager of the season.
So what about at our level of non-league football in Cornwall and Devon?
The habitual big names of the SWPL, namely Gilbert at Bodmin, Lynch, Buckland and Carey at Falmouth spring to mind. However for me, in the Premier, I am going for a guy who is on a budget that wouldn’t pay for half the team at Falmouth and Bodmin (I know because he told me so!).
Leigh Cooper has performed miracles at Launceston.
Taking over at the start of this season he’s had the unfancied Clarets riding high at the top of the league for most of the campaign. Many expected (probably Leigh himself if truth be known!) his team to fade away after a great start. Yet the points have kept coming and all achieved with a tiny squad just for good measure!
I feel very proud that I introduced Leigh to Cornish soccer nearly 20 years ago after spending a long and distinguished career in the pro game. I continually chased him over a 12-month period, before finally getting him to sign for Truro City after Aldershot (his last club) had gone into Administration.
He’s continued to grace the game down here in the Duchy, with his knowledge and enthusiasm ever since.
At the very highest level of our game plaudits and accolades are being made about the Swansea manager Brendan Rogers. His stock and standing has risen considerably since promotion to the Premiership, with many inside the media feeling he should be crowned manager of the season.
So what about at our level of non-
The habitual big names of the SWPL, namely Gilbert at Bodmin, Lynch, Buckland and Carey at Falmouth spring to mind. However for me, in the Premier, I am going for a guy who is on a budget that wouldn’t pay for half the team at Falmouth and Bodmin (I know because he told me so!).
Leigh Cooper has performed miracles at Launceston.
Taking over at the start of this season he’s had the unfancied Clarets riding high at the top of the league for most of the campaign. Many expected (probably Leigh himself if truth be known!) his team to fade away after a great start. Yet the points have kept coming and all achieved with a tiny squad just for good measure!
I feel very proud that I introduced Leigh to Cornish soccer nearly 20 years ago after spending a long and distinguished career in the pro game. I continually chased him over a 12-
He’s continued to grace the game down here in the Duchy, with his knowledge and enthusiasm ever since.
There are other names that will be thrown into the ring when talking about best managers during 2011/12.
The obvious overtures for the talented Glyn Hooper at Newquay, is one for starters. Glyn is without doubt a fine manager, but I mean it in the nicest way possible, when I say Glyn has had plenty of resources to work with. He would also be the first to admit that unlike Leigh at Launceston, the majority of the games for his highly rated side have not had to push his players to the limit!
Over the border in Devon, there is possible the most outstanding candidate for Manager of the season at Step 5 and above. Bideford’s Sean Joyce has blown away the rest of the South & West division of the Evo-
Back in the Duchy, Lee Hodges will have worked miracles as well if he keeps Truro in the Conference South this season. The unbelievable constraints he’s had to work with and adhere to would have had many managers walking before now. Nevertheless, Lee has not only stood firm and confronted all of these obstacles, but handled it all with a great deal of dignity, while asking his side to continue to play the attractive football associated with City over the years.
However, of all the many moves and big signings during the close season, Perhaps Leigh Cooper’s appointment to take over the reins at Launceston went unnoticed by many. Speaking to him just before the season started he was looking forward to hopefully breaking into the top half. Nine months on and who would argue that the Clarets signing of Leigh Cooper as their manager has turned out to be just about the best signing of 2011/12.
My vote for manager of season not only in the SWPL, but across both the counties, is a no brainer..
Launceston’s Leigh Cooper.
Mass
If you feel you have a better nomination - let
CORNISH SOCCER
know why by emailing davedeacon@cornishsoccer.info
know why by emailing davedeacon@cornishsoccer.info