PAUL HUGHES says keeping the handbrake off has been the key to Kings Langley winning their third promotion in a row.
The Hertfordshire club were playing at Step 6 just three years ago before a rapid rise up the leagues.
Kings finished runners-up of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One that season, lifted the Premier Division championship a year later and followed that up with the Evo-Stik League Southern Central title.
That came on the final day of the season when, with the championship’s destination in their hands, they beat Petersfield Town to win a three-way shoot-out along with Royston and Egham for top spot.
Mentality
And joint-boss Hughes says their approach to games keeps paying off.
“I’ve said to everyone, and we sincerely mean it, that we set up to win every game,” Hughes told The NLP. “Regardless of what level we’re at, we want to win the game. We’ve lost nine matches this season and we’ve been disappointed to lose every single one.
“If you put the effort in each game, know what your jobs are and do the simple things well, then nine times out of ten you’ll get a positive result. The cumulative effect of that is winning championships.
“But the advance has been so rapid you don’t expect the players to keep up. Every level you go to there are better players and more experienced players.
“But it’s credit to our players – they’ve all grown as characters and men. To be that consistent you have to have a good mentality and mature approach. They’ve grown year-on-year so it’s credit to the players to be willing to learn.
“You don’t really keep track of it, but it was pointed out to me the other day that we’ve got ten players in the squad from the Spartan South Midlands Division One team – that’s half the squad. It’s all credit to them and their development.”
Hughes and his joint-boss Ritchie Hanlon are certainly doing something right too. The pair started out at Chelsea and both enjoyed successful Football League careers that were cut short by injury.
Challenge
Hughes, who played for Glenn Hoddle and was signed by the former England boss at Southampton, feels their background is paying off – but knows the next step will be a big one.
Long-serving chairman Derry Edgar has stepped down in a bid to attract a new person to the helm who can help the club progress, and Hughes said: “Let’s be honest, we’re moving up to a level where budgets are big.
“The reality of that is an issue and something we need to look at. Players are going to be asked to take half-days off work and they’re not going to do that for £20 petrol expenses.
“We’ll be going up against some proper Non-League football clubs, run as profitable businesses, with commercial teams to ensure players are paid and you get the best at your club. It’s a big step, but we will look forward to the challenge.”
