PAUL JOHNSON has revealed the rather unlikely secret behind English football’s only remaining 100 per cent record – less time on the training field!
Johnson’s Farnham Town have won their opening 11 matches in Combined Counties Premier South – the only team in the top ten tiers of the pyramid yet to drop a league point.
But while their rivals are forced to put in the man hours in a bid to catch the ambitious Surrey club, Clarets boss Johnson is benefitting from a far less taxing schedule.
“We train once a week, and if we don’t have a game on Tuesday night then we don’t train at all,” Johnson told The NLP.
“It helps keep us fresh and hungry and the players are keen to see each other come game day on Saturday.
“Training twice a week, you get all the excuses why players can’t make it; not feeling well or the car’s got a flat tyre. This way, there are no excuses, we all train together, and if no-one is there then they are docked half a week’s wages.
“We have selected a squad mainly from higher levels; experienced players who look after themselves and are hungry to be successful.
This story is from the October 29, 2023 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 29, 2023 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CRAIG'S BOOSTS
MANAGERIAL stalwart Craig Edwards is back in charge of Barking – 23 years after he left!
LENNIE GETS THE LOVE
VETERAN caretaker chief Lennie Lawrence says he is “excited” to be handed the reins at Hartlepool United permanently – just a few weeks before his 77th birthday!
MOTORS FEELS LIKE HOLMES!
WHEN he was younger, Danny Holmes played video games that simulated being a football manager.
REES HITS FAB FOUR AS TOWN ROMP IT
RICARDO REES struck four times to help Merthyr Town maintain their spot at the top of the table with a dominant home win against play-off chasing Havant & Waterlooville.
DULWICH DISPLAY DELIGHTS COACHES
GOALS from Danny Mills, Luke Wanadio and Lorenzo’s stoppage-time finish fired Dulwich Hamlet to a comfortable win over fellow play-off hopefuls Potters Bar Town, though the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
ANCHORS A RAPID
ASHTON UNITED hit two goals in two minutes to come from behind to win at Stockton Town.
SEAGULLS KEEP THE HEAT ON ROMANS
BATH City were made to pay for their mistakes by high-flying Weston-super-Mare.
CLINICAL COLEMAN KEEN AS MUSTARD
CIAN COLEMAN’S hat-trick lifted Buxton to their highest league position of the season as they became the latest side to frustrate Scunthorpe.
KEV SEES RED IN REE PANT!
SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher hit out at referee Abigail Byrne following his side’s defeat to Yeovil Town at Roots Hall.
MARVEL MATTY DENIES MOORS
BOTH managers insisted their teams deserved more after Altrincham came from behind to steal a point in a six-goal thriller at Solihull Moors.