Peter Duffield has praised Handsworth Parramore chairman Pete Whitehead
The sensational League Cup final victory was for chairman Pete Whitehead, Handsworth Parramore manager Peter Duffield has said.
Handsworth came back from the dead on Bank Holiday Monday to beat Cleethorpes Town 4-3 in final after scoring three times in the final six minutes.
The win rounded off a strong finish to the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division and Duffield paid tribute to Parramore chief Whitehead, claiming the victory was for him.
“It has been a fantastic end to the season,” said Duffield, who replaced Russ Eagle in October.
“We’ll take lessons from the final because with 15 minutes to go we were dead and buried.
“We have changed the squad around a lot and I was delighted for the chairman (Pete Whitehead) after the League Cup final win.
“He puts his heart and soul into the club and he is Handsworth Parramore’s first team.
“I’ve never met a man like him. When I left Belper I wouldn’t have got back into the game. It is only because of him that I came back in.
“I wanted a break and I was only out of it for three weeks and he’s the only reason why.
“I would say that all the players and management staff were delighted for him. He deserves it.”
Since his appointment, Duffield has overseen a radical overhaul of the Parramore squad.
It took time to get going, but Parramore managed just one defeat in the final 13 games.
Duffield admits he is likely to add to his squad, but believes his current crop is a good starting base for a tilt at the title next season.
“Because only one team goes up, we didn’t think we could win it,” he said, looking back when he was appointed in October.
“We took our time and give everyone a chance as there was no-one who left straightaway.
“We didn’t push anyone out. As time has gone by we have changed it and changed it.
“We think we have a bench as well and that’s important. If you have no bench, all you are doing is putting fresher players on, not better ones.
“It is coming together. I think I have built a decent enough squad to have a go next year.
“That’s the aim because there is no point being in it otherwise. It is not to say we will win it, but we will aim to win it just like Worksop, Tadcaster, Cleethorpes will.”