Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Nathan Simms says using the three week grace period rule in October prevented Houghton Main from folding and has put them on course for a brighter future.
Houghton pressed the emergency button following a disastrous start to the season which saw them lose six out of their opening seven games and left Simms struggling to field a side.
The league have been criticised by some this season over the three week grace period and controversial wildcard rule but Simms defended the league and said their procedures were vitally important.
“I’ve seen some of the rubbish said (on social media) about the (wildcard and 30-day rule) and what do people want the league to do,” Simms told Non League Yorkshire.
“Do they want teams to fold or do they want to sustain (the league) for the future?
“Without the wildcard and the little break we can get (if we’re struggling) you’re going to lose teams out of the league and it is going to make for a lesser league.
“I don’t mind any team having using the three week break rule because I’ve been through it myself.
“If you can have three games off and come back and there be a reaction and turnaround like we have had then it can only be a positive thing.
“I don’t think (the rules) have just saved us, they have saved a few other clubs and I think (the rules) will save some other clubs (in the future).
“You have got to understand that we are not paying these lads and these lads are turning for the enjoyment because they want to play and they want to win.
“Now if you’re going through a rough patch like I went through, during that rough patch it is more difficult to not only attract new players but also get your current players to play.
“If you’re in a run where you have lost five on the bounce and it is bouncing it down on a Saturday morning, these lads aren’t going to turn up and want to get beat.
“This little break for us as a club was massive for us because I could go back to the drawing board, I could rebuild, try to sign new players, try to speak to the players and say that when we come back there would be different outcomes in games.
“It worked and without it, it could have been very different story for Houghton Main.
“There’s four new players coming this week to training because there’s a buzz about the club again but before the three week break I couldn’t beg, borrow or steal a player.”
Ex-North Gawber star Simms returned to Houghton in the summer to replace Jimmy Whitehead.
Simms previously managed them from 2018 to 2020, leading them to promotion out of Division One in his first and only full campaign.
However, clearly it hasn’t been plain-sailing.
But the 0-0 draw with ambitious Wakefield AFC on Saturday highlighted the progress made since returning from the three-week break in November.
Main have only lost twice since and are now unbeaten in three and Simms is thrilled with their form and the team spirit.
“When I was asked to come back I knew it would be difficult,” he said.
“There was a couple of players still here when I was here before but I was trying to manage players I didn’t know and had never met.
“It was difficult for them to adapt to me and difficult for me to adapt to them.
“Now that we have and now that we have found a way to play which works for us their attitude is fantastic.
“They never stopped for 90 minutes against Wakefield and worked hard.
“If you had took that back seven weeks before we had the three week break we’d have been beat comfortably.
“We have rode some hard times recently and it is no secret that in the first few games that we had a few players who were influencing other players in the wrong way.
“We decided to take that three-week break which was massive for us and we have rebuilt, re-organised and made sure training was high on the agenda for all the lads.
“Lads are all attending training and enjoying it and we have a new ethic.
“Collectively they have all been brilliant for me and as a club moving forward, there’s a positive outlook and it is fantastic.
“Our WhatsApp group is red hot all week whereas before when we were getting beat every week no-one was wanting to talk.
“It was a bad time but now the lads work for each other, for me, for the club and we’re getting results.
“Since we have come back from that three week break we have played seven, won three, drawn two and lost two.
“We have lost to Swinton and Penistone and we should have got something out of those games, particularly Penistone as we were the better side for 70 minutes.
“Even speaking to their lads and gaffer afterwards, they couldn’t believe they had won the game.”
Holding Wakefield was an impressive result and Simms said his men won the tactical battle.
“We knew not to press Wakey and if we had pressed we knew we would create gaps and they would play through us as they are a footballing side,” he said.
“We were tight and compact in midfield and we broke them down really well.
“They are a fantastic side and they play out from the back.
“Wind was an issue so I knew they’d play out and I tucked my two wide-men in to make a tight five in midfield when we were out of possession.
“They made it hard for them to break us down.
“When I spoke to their manager afterwards he said he had expected us to press but obviously we didn’t and it was a fantastic result for us.”
Although Simms could speak forever with praise for all his players, two in particular stand-out.
His highly-rated captain marvel and centre-back James Byford’s season began badly with a red card in the opening game but he has been hugely important to them since in many ways.
“James Byford has been class,” he said.
“His commitment, attitude, everything about him is quality.
“He is probably our most consistent player and he’s influential on-the-pitch and he manages the back four really well.
“He’s been a massive player for us.
“When we had a tougher time at the start of the season, he rallied round with everyone else.
“Back then we weren’t enjoying coming on a Saturday afternoon, now the lads can’t wait for a Saturday.”
The other player is ex-Barnsley youngster Louis Wardle.
“Louis Wardle has been really influential in the last few games in centre-midfield,” he said.
“He rang the show against Wakefield and he’s been class.”
Although the future looks brighter for Houghton, Simms is not getting carried away.
“Short-term (aims are) game by game for us,” he said.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself and say we want to finish mid-table.
“We’re going to look up and take each game as it comes.
“I fancy ourselves against anybody in this league at the moment, I really do.
“When I stand in front of those lads in the dressing room I tell them every week that I wouldn’t swap them for another team in the league.
“I think we can progress and beat the bigger sides in the league and I think we can move up the table and finish in the top half.
“But we have to do it game by game and build and improve in every single game and we have been doing.
“We just want that to continue.”
I would like to add the important roles that both Keith Mackie and Donovan Cotton (our 2 excellent coaches) have played not only during the 3 week break where they put together some excellent training sessions with current and new players but also their continued support of Nath thru the season…their input and influence cannot be overlooked for how important it has been. Everyone at the club has dug deep to work together and give our little club a chance going forward and long may that continue because I feel we are where this club should be in the CSL Prem division however no club deserves this they have to earn it and long may that continues I know Nath massively appreciate’s both their inputs. We’re only a small club in a large catchment area fighting for players with the likes of Wombwell Main, Swinton Ath and with Dearne Community (we lost players to them) now being a big player in the area that spreads the attraction of players even thinner especially when things are not going too well.
Nath is working his socks off his energy and enthusiasm is beyond belief and it rubs off massively on everyone…we needed that when we first approached him to return to return after Jimmy. The place is buzzing again and the future appears a lot brighter we will all continue to work hard to try to both compete and be successful.
Carl, Houghton Main Secretary.