Smart Move Weekly Round up v Shotton Colliery

Here is the mastermind behind getting our first point of the season Mr Wayne Gredziak:

Justin Smart - Finally, our 1st point. What does that mean to all playing and backroom staff?

Wayne Gredziak -  Like I have said, Game 6 was out starting block and we always believed in this group of players that they have the required ability to give us the best shot of staying up so yes, it’s always nice to get points and start that ball rolling and it was definitely something we had earned.

JS - Why was Preston taken off so early in the game last week? He’s been a mainstay in the team so far.

WG -  Preston is 16 and has started every game so far since I have took over. I had to make a decision as a manager and not as his dad, which I felt was the best thing the for the team. He was disjointed and not at the races, he was carrying a knock that he also thought had healed, as he had no repercussions in training or the pre-match warm up but he felt it and it was playing on his mind, which you could tell so I made the decision to take him off.

JS - What was the chat at half-time last week? Whatever you said obviously did the trick.

WG -  I found out after the Annfield Plain game that shouting and trying to give them a boost didn’t work with these younger lads, so I said to them, “Let’s set ourselves targets.” First target is to put any crosses, corners or shots put them on the GK and attack them. The second target is to enjoy and look after the ball when they have it. Thirdly, have belief that once they get one, they can get another. They defiantly listened and they get their rewards for applying them.

JS - What test do our friends at Shotton Colliery provide this week away from home?

WG -  Shotton are a good side that have hit a bit of form recently, so I expect it to be a difficult game. We need to work as hard as we have been to try get something from the game but it’s always nice to go to the recreational ground as it’s a nice welcoming community atmosphere.

JS - How do we build on last week's stellar performance against South Moor?

WG -  We need to continue where we left off last week as I felt we were the better side and we definitely deserved more than a point but these better results have been coming for a while now.
  

JS - Tell us more about new boy Aidan West. I know our fans will be dying to know what he can add to the squad. What’s his pedigree like and where did he play before coming to The Citizens? And who else have we brought through the door at Leyburn Grove this week?

WG - Aiden West is a forward player who has got NL experience with Chester-le-Street Town in his younger days and has plenty of Wearside League experience, as he was at Washington at the start of this season before they folded. We have also brought in the vastly experienced Junior Masandi and he is a striker that adds a different concept to our attacking options who has played Northern League and Wearside League his whole career. And with Kallum Hannah leaving due to work commitments, we decided we needed another senior player to help the younger lads develop. Junior was offered to go back into the Northern League but he wanted to help Durham and turned them down and for that, I am forever grateful now. Yousuf Kareem is a central midfielder who is currently getting all the plaudits in Sunday football, and this is his first step up to Saturday football. What Yusef offers is a midfielder who big, strong and can scoregoals.

JS - Lastly, what's your message to our loyal fans? They will be no doubt looking forward to this game now.

WG -  As last Saturday showed, gone are the days of the 14 or 15 -0 drubbings, whereas we might go 2-0 down but we will fight to try get something out of the game. Gone are the players who weren’t fully committed to the cause. We have a squad that is young enough and mature enough to compete in this league and stay together for many seasons. I, mybackroom team and the Committee took over the daily running of this club 6 weeks ago, and look at what we have achieved in such a small space of time. We have been committed to our cause from the first day and we’re all in this together. What I am getting at is we do all this because you as supporters have been let down in the past you do deserve better standards and to watch a team play competitivefootball. We are trying are hardest to give you the best matchday experience and not worry about costs. However,with 15-20 supporters for home games, we aren’t breaking even after referees fees and end up making a loss. We keep saying this because it’s true and facts we are self-sufficient.All monies we make is used on the running of this club,nothing else. So please put the past behind us and let’s try start fresh and come down to Leyburn Grove and watch the team play. Come and buy a scarf or an online e-ticket, andhelp support this club to be great again. It’s your club we are just trying our best to ensure you aren’t embarrassed supporting Durham City AFC any longer.

​Thanks again to Wayne for his time. We hope to bring you a result against Shotton and build up that momentum we have made against South Moor. We hope to see you down there at Shotton Community Park, DH6 2JU. Morior Invictus!