Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. My Name is Christian Lawrence, and I am the Milton United Manager. If you are reading this, I suggest you get another drink from the bar first.

I will be putting my words in here at the end of each month, to provide you with an update on how the previous month panned out and what the forthcoming month holds.

I have taken on the role as the Milton United Manager, after playing for Kidlington last season. I took the job with one aim: Promotion. Pre-season was all about trying to keep the core of the team from last season and bring in some fresh faces to enhance the group. Like any team, we needed to try and get a good management team. Keeping the likes of Tatty (Assistant Manager) and Griff (First Team Coach) was crucial to show that I was not coming in to just get rid of everyone. Pre-season, as it is for all clubs is a circus, with players coming and going, however securing our Captain James Organ and Centre Forward Louis Joyce, were what you would call catalyst signings and showed mine and the club’s intent to retain previous players. We have brought in players from step 4 such as Daniel West, Mikey Mckirnan and Matty Woodley, to not only give the team some experience, but to ensure we stand the best chance and gaining promotion this year. As the head coach at Procision Oxford Academy, I have the pleasure of coaching some incredible talent every day and as Milton’s Manager, we can benefit from having a great link with the academy and providing young players their chance to push into adult football. Players such as Freddie Kennedy, Fin Baker and Casey Highmoor having already made their mark with Milton United last season. They have already been joined by Timmy Mungall, Charlie Herbert, and Casey Groves, with the opportunity for more as the season matures.

Squad size is a managers dream and nightmare at the same time, as I can only pick a maximum of sixteen players for each game. The bar has been set extremely high and it is my job to manage the players and keep them motivated, especially when they have not been selected for the next match. To have this level of competition for places and strength in depth at Step 6, shows that the players and myself are not here to just to make the numbers up. We are here to win this league and that is how we will set up from the get-go.

This past month has been a quality start to the season and to sit top of the league with five wins and one defeat, is something we can build on massively. We have consistently scored goals and I am pleased that, for most of the time, we have played in the style that we have coached within the squad. To then get through our FA VASE match after being 2-0 down, was a special moment in my first year as a manager and I look forward to many more moments like that with the lads and the club.

We now go into a local derby after losing to a strong Pershore team 3-1, which was our first defeat of the season. The boys gave everything over the bank holiday weekend; however, it shows we are touchable and must be better and fitter going for forward. The boys have had a few days off to rest up and prepare for the Abingdon match, where we look to win our first local derby and get back to winning ways. It is going to be a tough game and I am sure it will be exciting and a little heated for the neutrals watching. We will not underestimate Abingdon, as we know they have started strongly and recruited well. Like us they have a strong youth pool with a pathway to senior football and it is going to be a great game to highlight the up-and-coming young talent in the Oxford area. With so many players and coaching staff from both clubs knowing each other, it is sure to be a good game and I can guarantee we will be up for it as much as they are.

Regarding the squad, we have Mikey still missing through suspension, but a few players coming back from injury. We are looking strong with the likes of Freddie and Conor coming back into the squad, which puts us in great shape for the game. A local derby under the lights on a Friday night; something which should get anyone involved with local non-league football excited. I hope the game does not disappoint.

Christian Lawrence
Milton United Manager