Ahead of Saturday's FA Vase Fifth Round clash at Hadleigh United's Tinkers Lane home, Wisbech Town have been boosted by the return of Dick Creasey to the management team and Jon Fairweather to the heart of the club's defence.
Creasey is a former manager who claimed, after he last stepped down, that he was getting too old for the role. But his fondness for the club and their need for help has led to him linking up as co-manager with current player manager Paul Cousins.
"I’m looking forward to working closely with Paul and helping him to develop as a manager," said Creasey, after taking his place once again in the Wisbech dugout.
Hadleigh United v Wisbech Town
The FA Carlsberg Vase
Fifth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 15 February 2014
Tinkers Lane
Winners receive £2500
By Alex Shaw
"It’s hard to play and manage and he can now concentrate on playing when he needs to."
Creasey's job on Saturday will hopefully be made easier with Fairweather back in his side, after a brief spell at United Counties League Premier Division rivals Spalding United, where he moved in December.
Spalding are runaway leaders at the head of the table that Wisbech currently sit seventh in, but even silverware could not replace the camaraderie Fairweather missed among his friends.
"The main reason for going back was to enjoy my football. Injuries didn’t help but I was frustrated at the lack of game time at Spalding," he admitted.
"I’m very close mates with the Wissy [Wisbech] lads and just felt that’s where I needed to be to enjoy myself again. I suppose I did miss being around Wisbech.
"It’s a great club with brilliant fans and the lads are like family. I wouldn’t say it was a mistake leaving to join Spalding but I definitely didn’t appreciate what I had at Wissy.
"I couldn’t be happier to be back, I’m looking forward to the next couple of months and the gaffer's plans for next season are promising too."
The plans that new co-manager Creasey has come in with are already being implemented and he hopes they will prove successful after landing a tough away trip to Hadleigh.
"In cup competitions you get what you get," he added. "There’s a 50 per cent chance you’ll be at home and a 50 per cent chance you’ll be away.
"We’re on the road again but I believe we’ll take lots of fans over there with us. It’s not a million miles away, it’s easier for us to do our homework and we could have had a lot worse places to go to."
