Deakin targeting success after joining Dursley Town
Ben Deakin says he is hoping to be part of a successful 2024/25 season for Dursley Town, after agreeing to joining the club in a Player/Coach role.
Deakin announced on social media over the weekend that he would be leaving Brimscombe & Thrupp after the best part of 12 seasons, and he will be joining his work business partner, Karl Nash, at Dursley for the upcoming season.
Speaking to Severn Sport about his move, Deakin described the role as a great opportunity for him and says together, he, Nash and Brad Price can look to bring success to the club.
“I’ve had the coaching bug for the last two years now, I’d say and I’ve got a great opportunity to fulfil that role as well as still being able to play. Buzzing is literally the word for it!
Already, I cant wait for pre season to begin, I just want to get going with the sessions and games we already have planned, then see what this season has to offer!” Deakin said.
“Karl and I have worked together for the last seven years and business partners for the last five of the thm – Nash Window Cleaning & Services Ltd… a nice shoutout! So I’m already used to being around him and dealing with each other day to day.
But working alongside him in a football capacity now is something I’m very much looking forward to. I think between us, we both offer a lot on and off the pitch, and will compliment each other perfectly.
With Brad Price also helping us, I think together the three of us have a great balance to make things work and try and be as successful as possible,” added Deakin.
With approximately 500 appearances for Brimscombe and a season at Slimbridge, Deakin brings some much needed experience into a Dursley side bringing through a number of young players from the U18s set up and Nash says he is delighted with his latest recruit and believes Deakin will make an impact next season.
“I’m very happy to have Deaks [Deakin] joining us. He came to me about six weeks ago and asked about joining the Management team.
At first I thought “wow” because I wasn’t expecting that, I’ve got to be honest. But then we had a few chats regarding how he could fit in alongside me and Brad and he seems a perfect fit.
He’s done our training for the past two seasons and that is for both First Team and U18s, so he’s no stranger and it was a no brainer!
Deaks is going to bring his technical side of Management – he loves his tactics, systems, patterns of plays, something we may of been missing near the end of the year, so it’s great to include that in our plans and we all can’t wait to get started. The whole club are full invested in having him onboard which is great.” Nash said.
Deakin joins Dursley for what looks set to be a highly competitive Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One – with Hardwicke, Whaddon United and Rodborough Old Boys set to join the division, but Nash says it is important to focus on yourself and set yourself up in the right way.
“It is going to be tougher than ever,” said Nash. “Being honest, I don’t know much about the new sides in the league, but I never do!
As always, we need to be mindful of what we are doing to prepare. We have to be clever in recruitment, not only get the players fit, but keep them fit, if we can do that then we are ready to give it another good go,” Nash added.
Dursley’s first pre-season friendly sees Deakin go up against his brother, Tom, as Dursley host Slimbridge on Friday 5 July.
