Lye Town FC

Club Statement

THE END OF AN ERA

Sadly, Grant Joshua has informed us of his decision to step down at the end of this season.

As I would expect Grant has kept me informed of his thinking over recent weeks in his usual professional way and although I have tried to persuade him to stay, his mind is made up and I totally respect his decision.

4 years ago, our club was struggling, having had a period of instability with various managers coming and going for a variety of reasons. The First Team had lost that Lye Town team spirit and togetherness that had served us so well previously.

I knew Grant from his playing days at Lye and the affinity he had for Lye Town. Although he was inexperienced as a manager, I believed he could help get us back on an even keel and move away from the threat of relegation to Step 6. Since then, what Grant has achieved in his time with us is truly incredible. His first challenge was COVID which came along shortly after his appointment. Before the league shutdown I well remember the final game away at high flying Boldmere. We won 1-0 and although we finished bottom but one of the leagues in that curtailed season that result meant we just survived the threat of relegation on a PPG basis.

From then on it has been onwards and upwards.

An 8th place finish in the WML Premier Division in the 2021/22 season was a vast improvement.

The 2022/23 started badly with us being in the bottom 2 in the league in October. I was getting lots of comments and advice to sack Grant to avoid relegation. However, I kept faith in him as I believed in what he was trying to do. Thank goodness I did because we then went on an incredible run to finish runners up in the league and then that memorable Play Off Final win away at St Neots 6-1.

Then the daunting prospect of Step 4 for the first time in our history.

The way Grant and his team adapted has been superb. We had a great start, topped the table for 1 week in December, and have been challenging for a playoff place all season. What a fantastic achievement.

There is no doubt Grant is the most successful manager in Lye Town’s history and he leaves the club in its best position ever.

I have valued the relationship, both professionally and personally, I have had with Grant who has always acted with great integrity and honesty and been totally committed to his role.

I am sure you will all join me in firstly wishing him all the best in whatever the future holds for him and secondly thanking him for all that he has achieved over the last 4 years. He will always be welcome at The Sports Ground at any time in the future. Grant you will be missed.

Brian Blakemore, Chairman

Grant Joshua statement

To all connected to Lye Town Football Club,

My decision to leave at the end of the season is not one I have taken lightly and have gone over in my head several times; it’s been the hardest decision I’ve had to make due to my feelings towards the chairman. Timing is everything in life and this feels to me like the right time to experience something new and step out of my comfort zone wherever that may take me. 4 years is a long time at a football club and it’s important to me that I leave on my own terms. I would like to come back later and that becomes difficult if things end badly and I’m not prepared to be in that situation.

Where do I start? 4 years ago, when the phone rang and it was the chairman, he asked me if I would like to come in and take over as manager, I had no hesitation whatsoever. On accepting the job I then looked at the league table and we were sitting 19th in step 5 in the Midland Football league, that would probably put most off but honestly it didn’t come into my thinking in the slightest because I was so proud to be the manager of this football club, A club I played youth football for and first team football under the late Geoff Moss. Outsiders always look down on the football club but once you have played for a considerable amount of time here then it becomes home, and I always feel that and will continue to hold that feeling with me. Neither the chairman nor I have looked back after that phone call, and we have achieved so much together.

From the bottom of step 5 to just missing out on the play offs in step 4 in three full seasons, I would consider that rapid progression. Two trophies and one promotion together we have achieved since the start of our journey. To be the manager to take the club to its highest ever league position in the highest level in the history of the club is something I will be forever proud of and will cherish because not all managers will get that feeling of a promotion. That day at St Neots will live long in the memory of the club and myself, 1-6 in a play-off final against a team in step 4 was a remarkable score line in all honesty. What a team, what a performance, what a day. Written off by everybody before we even got on the coach. These same people gave us no chance moving up to step 4, we were tipped by somebody I won’t name to finish bottom of step 4 with a record low number of points and look what this group of players have achieved, top of step 4 after 15 games!! Just missing out on the play offs in the clubs first season at the level, Incredible, I run out of superlatives for them. Our budget will be one of the lowest in the division, but you cannot buy team spirit and togetherness.

To the players, my players, thank you! You have given me memories so far in my shortcareer as a manager that will last a lifetime. I am so proud of what we have achieved together and our journey that started against Stourport Swifts in 2020. You deserve all the credit and the plaudits that will come your way. We have created a bond and a brotherhood at the club which cannot be matched. We did what no other manager/player could achieve.

Mr Chairman, Wow, What a man! You took a chance on a 32-year-old with minimal managerial experience to come in and try to save the club, many questioned the appointment, but you stuck to your guns and stayed loyal when things got tough, and we both reaped the rewards of your loyalty. Together we achieved the unthinkable for our club and that wouldn’t have been possible without you. You are Lye Town. You and the players should share credit for where the club is now. You have become a lifelong friend of mine and I cherish our friendship on a personal and professional level.

James, Robbo, Mandy, Steve, all the people behind the scenes who made my transition into the club seem effortless, I thank you for all your help, especially James Didlock who always was there when I needed him to be after bad results.

All my staff, Chris, Ross, Jase, and Pud, you should take great pride and satisfaction that I couldn’t do my job without you doing yours and being right by my side.

I am excited to see where our next venture takes us. Saturday, I want to be a celebration of a quite remarkable and historic 4 years together and we will be chasing those 3 points to ensure we finish with as many points as possible.

From the threat of relegation to step 6 in 20/21, to a JW hunt cup final win in 21/22, to a historic promotion to step 4 in 22/23, to finishing a few points outside the play offs in step 4 in 23/24 it has been my absolute pleasure to be manager of this football club, leaving as the most successful manager in the club’s history gives me some peace in my decision.

Lastly, I said in 2020 I have two ambitions, one was to leave the club in a better place than I found it, secondly was to leave on my terms whenever that may be. I’m delighted I have managed to do both.

#UpTheFlyers

Grant Joshua