Gibbs aiming for Sharpness to exceed expectations in Hellenic League return

Co-Manager Ben Gibbs believes that Sharpness are capable of exceeding expectations in the 2026/27 season, ahead of their return to the Hellenic League.

The Gloucestershire County League Champions are back in the Hellenic League for the first time since 1990 and kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 5-1 defeat against Longlevens, with a fairly depleted squad. Riley Goodman pulling one back in the second half.

Following the game, Gibbs praised his side for a first run out and says each game will make them better ahead of the curtain raiser in August.

“It was a tough game for us, but all credit to Longlevens – they were a lot fitter than us and miles ahead in terms of ther progression. But it was our first friendly today and we’ve only had four training sessions, a lot of our lads have just come back from a lads’ holiday and you could tell that, we were miles off them,” said Gibbs.

“But of course, that is not an excuse, it was important minutes in the legs against a really good team and we are in a better position now than we were before kick off.

There were some really good performances and positives to take. I think we could have scored a couple of goals in the first half and had a really good one-on-one chance in the second half, so we should have scored more.

But again, tired legs, misplaced passes for a couple of their goals and just silly things – but that is to be expected at this stage and we know we will get there,” Gibbs added.

Sharpness secured the County League title quite comfortably in the end last season, after threatening promotion back to step 6 for a couple of years. Gibbs, who joined the club when he was 18, has praised the volunteers at the club and Co-Manager Brad Thomas for making sure the club were in a position both on and off the field to secure that sought after promotion.

“The club has been planning for this next step for years now. I joined the club properly when I was 18 and if you’ve been down to the pitch over the years, there was nothing there all those years ago.

We’ve had to put in barriers, floodlights, changing rooms and we have done it all relying on donations, sponsors and fundraising events, we haven’t got loads of money and that is why it has taken all this time.

The boys at the club have stuck together for about two or three years now and thankfully we have always done well in the County League, but have never quite got into a position to do it [make the step up].

Last season we made five or six really good singings and I joined with Brad Thomas in running the side. He came in and it just clicked and it helped make for a fantastic season with a league and cup double.

But a lot of hard work ha gone in now and we’ve finally got over the line into the Hellenic League, so hopefully we can do ourselves proud,” said Gibbs.

Sharpness will be one of the teams to watch in Hellenic One this season, with some already predicting a potential relegation battle, but Gibbs believes the squad is good enough to turn heads and push for at least a top half finish this season.

“I think that’s a lot of people’s opinions at Sharpness [potentially fighting relegation]. I think they’re just excited to be here and whatever will be will be.

But I think for us in the changing rooms, we want to do better than that and I think from a personal level, for me, a top half to play off place finish is very achievable.

I know it wouldn’t look like that today, but seeing us last season and the fact the lads have all stayed, bar one or two, we have to look higher than just staying in the league – but obviously we have to be realistic.

We are going into a league where we are probably one of the only teams without a budget, so it is going to be tough. We are going to have to rely on our second team, who have just been promoted into Stroud One to help the squad when needed.

For me, as long as we’ve got a good and big enough squad to cope with the Saturday-Tuesday that we aren’t used to, then I think we will be alright,” Gibbs said.

One of the perks of being in the Hellenic League is that Sharpness will also be competing in the FA Vase for the first time since the 1989/90 season and Gibbs shared his pride at being one of the men leading Sharpness into a historic season.

“Little old Sharpness!” Laughed Gibbs. “A lot of people probably don’t even know who or where we are, but as I said, we had a small squad of 18 last season and 14/15 of them are all local lads, so it means a lot to all of us.

For a club like us to be in the Vase and potentially compete against some big clubs all over the country, it’s a great achievement.

We’re excited to be in the competition and after getting a bye we know we have a tough tie against either Brislington or Royal Wootton Bassett Town, so it’s going to be tough.

But who doesn’t love an underdog story? We certainly so and hopefully we can do that this season,” Gibbs added.

Sharpness continue their pre-season with a friendly against Dursley Town at Rednock School on Tuesday night, with their Hellenic season starting on Saturday 1 August.