Henderson targeting sustainability for Viney after returning to the club

Newly appointed First Team Manager Jamie Henderson says that he is looking to make Viney St Swithins’ desire to climb the football pyramid sustainable after his return to the club was confirmed.

Henderson, who has had two previous spells with the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two side, was announced as the successor to Darryl Addis last week – with the club in mid-table in the table.

Speaking to Severn Sport’s Buttee’s For Breakfast show, Henderson praised Viney for their noticeable progression off the pitch whilst he has been away from the club.

“Going back has been seeing the changing rooms, the money that’s already been invested on the floodlights and things like that.

Up until taking the Viney role, I was with Newent Development and I was helping them out because I know a lot of people at Newent, as I live in Newent, and going there [to Viney], it really does, it feels like a Hellenic League club.

Going there and with the floodlights and the standard of the pitch, the home dressing room, clubhouse, it’s absolutely amazing.

And it’s very much just the start, because I believe there are plans in place, obviously that’s got to go to council planning, and there’s plans in place for there to be a perimeter fence built, and also I believe a stand is being built in the sort of next year or so.

So yeah, it really is just the beginning, but I firmly believe with the sort of combination of UDA and the money they’re investing, that already is, in my opinion, the best facility in the Forest,” said Henderson.

With 11 games already played, Viney have 5 wins and 6 defeats so far this campaign and Henderson admits that his biggest task this season to start building a squad capable of mounting a serious promotion push next season.

“I think this season it’s important to pick up results and it’s important to stay away from the sort of dreaded bottom three and finish as high as we can, however for me, this season it’s more about getting a certain type of player in I’m trying to get some fresher, younger legs in it’s really important for myself getting a group of lads in who are committed to play 8, 9 or 10 out of 10 games.

And that’s also who are happy to train. So we’ve already made two or three signings, all of them sort of 25 or under that are good, capable at the level. And then next season, as you know, it’s easier to sign players in pre-season – players aren’t attached and then add a couple of extra players pre-season,” said Henderson.

“And the next season for me would be the season where I’d really like to try and get promoted,” added Henderson.

Even though Henderson is targeting promotion next season, he stressed the importance of making sure Viney will be sustainable once the promotion has been gained as going up to come straight back down would be to the club’s detriment and Henderson believes if the club are to push to reach the Gloucestershire County League, then they need to be ready for life in GNSL Division One first.

“The thing is, you can get promoted from Senior Two and if you haven’t got the capable squad, then that Senior One is a really big step up.

And historically average-ish clubs who go up from Senior Two into Senior One, they historically struggle. They lose all their players, get relegated and the process restarts.

So for me, I’d rather build a team in Senior Two that is capable of then going to Senior One and being competitive – that for me and for longevity of the success and the trajectory of what we want to go on, which eventually is to be in the County League, I think is a bit more sustainable,” said Henderson.

Viney St Swithins welcome league leaders Smiths Barometrics in GNSL Division Two on Saturday afternoon, weather permitting, kick off 14:00.

Listen to Henderson’s full interview about his return to Viney St Swithins on this weekend’s Buttee’s For Breakfast show, live from 9am on Saturday morning.

Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here

Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s Fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here