IT might be a long way from Suffolk to Barcelona, but Leiston boss Glenn Driver says inspiration from the Spanish giants is behind their winning start to the Ryman Premier season.
Driver, who stepped up from the Blues reserve team with head coach Tony Kinsella in the summer, has watched the swashbuckling side hit six league wins from six.
Bank Holiday Monday’s 4-0 win against rivals Needham Market took their goal tally to 20 goals and sees them top of the table – but Driver reckons they could have scored more.
“We’ve just gone in and changed the way we’ve played really,” Driver told The NLP. “We said the first line of defence would be to attack. We get it down, attack sides and get teams on the back foot.
“If I said we should have 30 goals from six games I wouldn’t be lying. We went to Canvey Island and should have been three up at half-time. Against Needham Market we should have had six or seven.
“We seem to be getting at teams. By the time they’ve sussed it out, some of the damage has already been done.
“The club as a whole are buying into what we’re trying to do and the supporters seem to be backing it as well because the gates in the first couple of games are up.
“Where we’ve hurt teams is off the ball. We’ve been good with it but we work hard to get the ball back. When we do, we’re straight on the attack.
“I’m not going to start comparing us to teams, but I watch a lot of Spanish football. Barcelona are a team I love to watch. The three up front work very hard off the ball and we’ve put that sort of spin on our side. The boys are really enjoying what they’re doing.”
Summer signing Matt Blake, who arrived from Eastern Counties Premier Division champions Norwich United, has already got five goals, while Gareth Heath has four.
Ex-Ipswich Town youngster Byron Lawrence is getting rave reviews and the renaissance of Joe Francis is catching the eye. The former Lowestoft Town and Corby Town attacker has hit the net five times.
And Driver vowed to keep the handbrake off all season – even when the winter pitches come into play.
“People say what about when the pitches get really mucky,” Driver, in his second spell as Leiston boss, said. “I don’t agree with it. No matter how the pitch is we won’t change the way we play. We’ll still try to pass the ball.
“It’s how we think the game should be played. I take a lot of my beliefs from Tony Kinsella. We get on really well and sing from the same hymn sheet.”
