Lilywhites New Management Team Announced

Gary Brooker and Colin Richards were, last night unveiled as the new management team at Leyton Pennant. The new Club Coach will  be Mark Mennell. These appointments are only the tip of an iceberg of restructuring at Wadham Lodge which, it is hoped will take the Lilywhites into a successful preparation period in readiness for the restructured Ryman League in 2002-3. Gary Brooker, who has taken the role of General Manager, has already had positive feedback from a number of Ryman Premier and Division One players who are willing to come to play for the Lilywhites next season. Fans will be delighted to know that a number of players from Lilywhites’ most successful teams are looking to return.

In bringing in the new team management, Leyton Pennant Management Committee have sought to reverse the very poor disciplinary record of the team last season. The Chairman has been called to F.A. headquaters in July to explain why the record was so bad and what the Club is going to do to make next season better. The Club had to act and has. The new team has made it a priority that discipline throughout the Club is of paramount importance.

Other changes see the return of the Reserve Team which will play in the Essex Business Houses League and will be managed by Dave Holbrook. There will also be new U16 Youth team to join the successful U18s from last year. Many people will realise that the changes made are to bring in people who have been involved with the Club for many years. It has long been the Lilywhites’ hope that the word “club” will really come to mean exactly that. The hope is that all members, players and management will seek to build a strong base for the 2002-3 season by returning the values of club pride and loyalty which has been less evident in recent years.