John Taylor and Dale Brooks were confirmed as the new management team at Cambridge United one eventful year ago. Dubbed "The Legend and The Professor", they reflect on their first year in charge.
John Taylor stepped into the managerial hot seat from his previous role combining playing with scouting and managing the reserve team, and the U's leading goalscorer is quick to pay tribute to his assistant manager.
"Brooksie does 75% of the coaching, that's his field and he's a master of it," he says. "He is a 'professor' and I'm very, very lucky to have Brooksie with me. He makes my life easier and there are certain days when, as the manager, I have so much on that I have to leave Brooksie out on the training field to get on with it. I know the boys are in capable hands and I can get on with doing the so-called 'managerial things'.
"We have a good working relationship. He's a trusted colleague and a very, very good friend and the team and the club wouldn't be where we are without a lot of his hard work."
Dale Brooks was youth team manager and led the under-19s to two regional titles before he was asked to become United's number two.
Explaining his reasons for accepting the new role, Dale comments, "One of the reasons I stepped up from the youth team is I had a conversation with John and he gave me some coaching responsibilities and outlined what he expected and what he wanted me to do. It fitted with my thoughts and he's given me a free role as such.
"John is the manager of the football club and he decides how we want to play, and what I try to do is put that into practice on the training field. If John wants to try and play a certain way then what I try to do is dig deep into my experience and produce that on the training ground, so it comes to fruition on the football pitch."
Paying tribute to the manager, Dale adds, "I absolutely love the job. John says he's honest and he doesn't feel pressure, and that's exactly what he's like. It's so easy to work with a gentleman like that because sometimes if the man in charge is a bit shaky and a bit stressed out then I think that reflects back into the dressing room."
The team are currently among the country's leading goalscorers and had scored in a club record 26 consecutive league games until the defeat at leaders Hartlepool, we are sixth in the league, still in the FA Cup, through to the area semi-finals of the LDV Vans Trophy, several exciting young players have been introduced into the side, and understandably John Taylor is pleased with the progress made with the team so far.
"I'm loving it," he says. "It's easy when you're playing good football and winning football matches - although we obviously had a hard start with the relegation - but we feel like we're going in the right direction. Hopefully we can sustain it, and I don't see any reason why not, and if we can then we've got half a chance."
With his background, Dale is well placed to assess the impact of the youth system on the club, and although he and John are working with a young squad partly out of financial necessity, he stresses that they are learning fast.
"The youth are definitely the future of the football club," he says. "We do need the experience in there to help us along and in terms of preparation we do try to force them to make decisions on a daily basis. Whether they're attacking or defending, unfortunately me and John can't head or kick the ball for them, and the more we force them to think and make decisions on a daily basis the more they will learn.
"It's fantastic. We know we have to take the rough with the smooth but let's hope it's a long, easy, smooth ride for the rest of our careers."
Asked about the managerial team shortly before Christmas, Gary Harwood had these words to summarise their first year in charge: "John and Dale understand our business, they respect everyone's opinions, they want to produce a winning, entertaining team, and they are committed to youth development.
"We have been pleased with the team's progress under their direction and if they continue to improve as they have then we can all look forward to a very exciting future. I also believe we have possibly the best first team squad that we have had for many years and they are still learning and developing."
Previous Main Features:
07Dec02 - The Chairman's Column - An Update
09Sep02 - Abbey Gates At Ten Year High
08Aug02 - What's In Store? A Look At The Season Ahead
12Jul02 - Harwood: There's Good And Bad News
14May02- Summer At The Abbey Stadium
02May02- Family Day A Huge Success
21Apr02 - Fans Groups Call For Direct Action
06Apr02 - League Chairman Thanks Fans For Support
30Mar02 - ITV Digital - Crowd Statistics & Viewing Figures
24Mar02 - LDV Vans Trophy Final Photo Feature
17Mar02 - Follow The U's To Cardiff!
10Mar02 - Away Day Blues
03Mar02 - The Best Of The Best?
24Feb02 - The Future of Football?
17Feb02 - U's Fans On Sky TV's Soccer AM
10Feb02 - U's Fans Feature On ITV Digital Quiz
02Feb02 - A Week In The Life of PR Manager Graham Eales
20Jan02 - U's Players Get Darth Vader Treatment
13Jan02 - Kit Carson Explains His 'Head of Talent Development' Role
05Jan02 - Dale Brooks Enjoying New Role
04Dec01 - U's Players Try Out Premiership Physio Machine
10Nov01 - U's Launch New Away Kit
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