By @MattBadcock_NLP
Carshalton Athletic could well play some Aretha Franklin at their end of season celebrations because for Peter Adeniyi’s promoted side it’s all about Respect!
The Robins have secured their path to Step 3 after guaranteeing a top two finish in the Bostik South alongside Lewes.
Adeniyi’s side are now gunning for the title and could potentially secure top spot tomorrow with a win at Sittingbourne and a Lewes defeat.
And the 38-year-old player-boss says it’s all been about assembling a squad happy to fight for the greater cause.
“Every single person has played their part this season,” he told The NLP. “I feel very privileged to have such a good group of players. You have your ideas but you’ve got to have people willing to buy into that idea. We’ve had that. The team spirit is phenomenal. There is no ego in the changing room.
“When players are, well people say dropped, but when they are left out of the team, it’s for a reason. When they are back in the team, they do what they need to do for us.
“Respect is a massive word for us at the club. That’s respecting everyone at the club – the bar staff, the lady on the gate, the kitman. Everyone has played their part and that filters down to the players – you respect each other.
“I haven’t played certain games this season because I felt I wasn’t required for them and there’s been other games I felt were more suited to me.
“I explain to the players that decisions are made for a reason and the player playing in your position, respect that he has as much entitlement to the shirt as you do.
“We all want to play. But if they can buy into that then there is a place for them. If they can’t, we understand they may feel the need to move on.
“Luckily the boys have bought into that philosophy and ethos. We haven’t lost anyone through the season. We’ve added one or two when we felt we had to, but we’ve kept the core of the squad we started the season. For me, that in itself is a massive achievement.”
Adeniyi has made a great start to his managerial career with promotion in just his second season.
His side also have a reputation for featuring talented youngsters who play outstanding football, while top scorer Mickel Miller landed a move to Hamilton Academical in January.
“I’m just so happy to deliver for the fans and the club,” Adeniyi said. “They gave me an opportunity last season, a young manager with little experience, and for the chairman (Paul Dipre) to take a chance on me and me repay that belief with promotion in my second season is really pleasing.
“My relationship with the chairman is absolutely brilliant. I’m just as happy for him because he’s become a friend and a mentor. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better place to start my career.”
Sittingbourne v Carshalton Athletic is our star game in this weekend’s Non-League Paper
