BICK LOOKS BACK

RHYL head coach Allan Bickerstaff this week looked back on a championship-winning season with Dave Jones.
Bickerstaff gave an honest, step-by-step assessment of what he considered the high points of a successful campaign.

PRE-SEASON
"The hard work started from mid-June, quality players came in and Neil Roberts took us to another level, but keeping the likes of Paul O'Neill, Greg Stones and Chris Roberts was also vitally important as they went on to be crucial players during the season. Lee Kendall re-signing was a big bonus and sent out all the right messages.
"The only blot was Matty Williams getting injured which set him back about 10 weeks. We took a chance on Matty, not having seen him play, but signing him proved fully justified as he's been exceptional over the season. Every time he comes off the pitch he's worked his socks off."

RHYL 5-1 LLANELLI
"Having such a big squad we were able to play different systems against different teams. Against Llanelli, we went out to win the game and it was a fantastic day for the club. People started to understand that day the calibre of player we had brought to the club."

SLIGHT BLIPS
"From mid-November to mid-December we had a blip or two; we lost to Port Talbot, who will be a very strong side next year, while Cefn Druids came to Belle Vue, fought for their lives and quite rightly went away with three points. Everyone, to a man, was determined to beat them in the last game, to round off the season with a win. I was aware of the comments about our players - and Neil and Danny (Williams) mainly - by Druids' secretary after they beat us like Belle Vue, saying they'll soon be playing for the Dog and Duck.
"I didn't get involved, the main story should be told on the pitch, but I would say the Dog and Duck did pretty well against them on Saturday."

AFTER CHRISTMAS
"Rhyl, historically, had been great up to Christmas and then tapered off. At that point we planned things out again, pushed on after Christmas and went on a fantastic unbeaten run until the end of the season in the league. We had a blip against Bangor City in the Welsh Cup, but the main target for us was always the league and we annihilated Bangor twice in that and finished 35 points ahead of them."

FORTUNATE WITH INJURIES
"Our main aim was always to bring the championship to the club and we were fortunate with injuries, but the exceptional way the players took care of themselves was a credit to them. This, coupled with the advice and guidance they received when away from the club, was I firmly believe a major factor in the players keeping fit."

ADAPTABILITY
"When Mark Connolly was not available at right-back, Paul O'Neill could come in and do an exceptional job. The same was true of Greg Stones and Chris Roberts at left-back. Having such superb personnel around, players who could adapt, was a major factor in our success."

LATER SIGNINGS - SHERBON AND HOLDEN
"Bringing in Luke Sherbon, Luke Holden and Michael Jones in December/January gave us more options. I can't speak highly enough of Sherbon - he will be a big, big player for us next year.
"Holden started off well and was an inspiration during the run we went on after Christmas, although he did develop problems with injuries.
"We could have sat back after Christmas, but we wanted to add to the squad and go after the best players available. No-one can expect to play week after week, such is the quality of players who now have."

TITLE RUN-IN
"Come hell or high water, we wanted to get to the end of the season unbeaten.
"We had a very tough run-in, but beat the championship holders in Llanelli and the former champions in TNS as well as the likes of Haverfordwest, Carmarthen and Bangor. There were a few potential banana skins, too, such as Airbus, a cracking side, and even Caernarfon, who came to Belle Vue battling against relegation.
"It says so much about the type of players we had - if they started a job they want to finish the job."

LLANELLI 0 RHYL 1
"After we won at Llanelli people were talking about our hands being on the cup, but TNS was still a big game for me as we wanted to finish in style. Llanelli was such a professional performance, to a man I couldn't fault any of the players. I thought we were thoroughly worthy winners, Llanelli didn't change their tactics all game and with those long throws constantly coming into the box George Horan and Greg Strong must have thought it was their birthday."

PRESTATYN TOWN 1 RHYL 3
"After coming home from Llanelli, within 36 hours we were on the pitch at Prestatyn which was a massive game for us. I thought we put in another thoroughly professional performance, but unfortunately suffered injuries to Luke Sherbon and Craig Jones. To that point we'd been very fortunate with injuries."

TITLE-WINNING WEEKEND
"Everyone had an eye on the Aberystwyth v Llanelli game on the Friday night. I always had the vision that we would go out here on the Saturday needing to do it and my belief was we would do it, but it was done on Friday night for us. We needed to make sure we were motivated for the Saturday and I thought we played exceptional football against TNS and were a class above them in a fully justified 2-1 win."

HOW DID YOU SPEND THE FRIDAY NIGHT OF THE ABER V LLANELLI GAME?
"Sandra and I were sat at home, Lee Kendall was keeping me informed and he was in touch with Luke Sherbon (an Aber lad) who was at the ground.
We'd heard Aber had gone 1-0 up, but in my mind it would still come down to Saturday. Then we were told Llanelli had equalised and had also missed a penalty and that it had finished 1-1 which meant we were champions. It really didn't sink in for a couple of hours, but it was a fantastic feeling to know we'd won the title.
"I felt delighted for the football club as a whole. This football club is the best in the league and we are where we want to be."

WHEN THE TROPHY WAS PRESENTED AT BELLE VUE YOU STAYED VERY MUCH IN THE BACKGROUND. WHY WAS THIS?
"It was their day (the players). Allan Bickerstaff helped them get there, but when they cross that white line it's up to them.
"It was all about winning as a club; people hear about Allan Bickerstaff, but they don't hear about Kevin Warner, Gary Powell, Dave Cameron, Lisa (physio), the people who do so much work behind the scenes.
"It's been a long haul, though very enjoyable and a lot of credit goes down to the infrastructure of the club; people like Jamie Digwood (director of football) has become a very good friend, someone to talk to, his knowledge of football is of the highest calibre - what an influence he has been."

CONSIDERABLE FINANCE WAS MADE AVAILABLE AT THE START OF THE SEASON - WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO THE DETRACTORS WHO SAY RHYL "BOUGHT THE TITLE"?
"I can understand people saying that when you bring in top players, but the players are only the ingredients - the club has a philosophy of how it wants football to be played and the players have to link into that.
"Llanelli went full-time four years ago but Peter Nicholas didn't win the title in his first season; TNS are full-timers and have had massive cash inputs but it hasn't always brought them the title.
"It's not just a case of players going out and winning games; players need information, the input of the management.
"Rhyl are still part-time, all of our players have jobs except one, it's been a fantastic effort all-round."

YOU'VE WON THE TITLE BUT WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR BETTER NEXT SEASON - A CUP OR TWO MAYBE?
"We're under no illusions that the fans will expect us to improve next season and win a cup, possibly progress in Europe and win the league again. That's pressure, but it's a nice pressure.
"We go out to win every game, every competition, we'll try to win everything going as we did this season."

WILL THERE BE ADDITIONS TO THE SQUAD? PLAYERS RELEASED?
"We are already talking to players and yes there will be casualties within the squad but this happens with every club, every season.
"As for finance, we haven't discussed budgets yet, that will be up to Peter Parry and the board."

SOMETIMES RHYL GET KNOCKED FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH "LOCAL LADS", YET THERE ARE MANY WELSH PLAYERS IN THE CURRENT SQUAD (Lee Kendall, Chris Roberts, Danny Williams, Neil Roberts, Craig Jones, Paul Pritchard, Gareth Owen, Matthew Williams, Carl Owen etc) HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?
"I've got nothing against bringing in players from England at all, but it is great to have so many Welsh players in the squad. I regard the likes of Neil Roberts, Danny Williams and Gareth Owen as local lads."

AND YOU ARE A LOCAL MAN YOURSELF OF COURSE. HOW DOES IT FEEL LEADING A LOCAL TEAM TO THE WELSH PREMIER TITLE?
"It makes me immensely proud. We're a Dyserth family and it's nice for my parents to see their son doing well. It's nice for a local person to lead a local team to the title."

AND FINALLY, AS AN EX-PRESTATYN TOWN MANAGER, HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR THEM TO STAY IN THE WELSH PREMIER?
"Hugely important. I think Neil (Gibson) has done a fantastic job and I think they can build on what they've got and become a strong team in the league.
"It's been great to see so many youngsters get their opportunity and they will come on so much for the experience.
"Prestatyn have come an awfully long way in a short time and I think Dave Fuller deserves a massive pat on the back for what he did in helping them get there. I've lived in Prestatyn for a number of years and it's great for this area to have two teams in the top league in Wales."