Handsworth Reserves can be very proud of their performance so far in the S&HCSL League Cup, regardless of the outcome of their quarter-final tie with Oughtibridge War Memorial at Olivers Mount tomorrow.
That’s the view of head of youth and reserves assistant manager Chris Short as the Ambers prepare to battle for the right to play either competition favourites Swinton Athletic or Kiveton Park in the semi-finals.
Division One side Handsworth have already defied the odds by speeding past their higher level opponents – North Gawber, Hepworth United, Jubilee Sports and Houghton Main – to top Group B by a country mile.
“I think where we are now (in the quarter-finals) is a massive achievement and the lads deserve massive credit,” club stalwart Short told Non League Yorkshire when asked how much of an achievement it would be if Handsworth reached the semi-finals.
“We have had a couple of dodgy seasons (which include a relegation to Division One) where we haven’t got the rewards we might have deserved.
“We have played eight games (in the League Cup) against four teams from the Premier Division and not looked out of place.
“The lads have worked hard and everyone has put a lot of hours outside of training to get as fit as they can.
“We’re going into this game (against Oughtibridge) as underdogs.
“Some people will look at it and say we aren’t now, but we are still a group of young men who are developing and learning and picking up things up.
“We have learnt a lot over the last eight games about ourselves.
“Now we have to do our jobs and play like we have been doing.
“Oughtibridge are a great side. They’ve been in the Premier Division long enough and it’ll be another tough game, but it is one we relish and one we’re looking forward to.
“Hopefully we’ll do the business and get another game.
“But wherever we get to now we can safely say we can hold our heads up high. Anything after Saturday is a bonus.”
Houghton Main’s records have been expunged as they have withdrawn in the last couple of weeks so Handsworth’s official record in the group stages reads as four wins, one draw and one defeat.
The victories contain the extraordinary 11-2 smashing of League Cup holders North Gawber – who will take their fight for a quarter-final place to Jubilee Sports tomorrow in the final group stage match.
Star striker Pat Muirhead has also won many plaudits with his free-scoring run – including six against Gawber – but Short is keen to say it has not been all about one player.
“I would say we have done very well,” he said.
“We went into the group stages as massive underdogs as we were playing four teams from the league above.
“We have a very young squad which is very capable and one we have high hopes for, but we definitely went in as massive underdogs.
“To come out of it in the way we have done and play some of the stuff we have done we’ve been really impressed.
“Some of the results have been quite astonishing.
“We have been in every game.
“At the start of the group stages we were just looking to get back into the swing of things.
“The stand-out result is the home game against North Gawber, you don’t see many of those kind of results at this level on a regular basis, especially from the underdogs of the group.
“It has been a massive team effort.
“Muirhead has scored plenty of goals and got in the right areas at the right time, but it has been about the team effort.
“We don’t want his goals taking away the credit from the team and he would say exactly the same. He’s very professional.”
The League Cup campaign will certainly be looked upon as a positive experience for Handsworth youngsters.
Handsworth are renowned for their decades-old youth system which has helped created opportunities for players at all levels.
Specifically in the Non League world in the last few years, to name just a few, the likes of Ryan Carroll, Jed Phillips, Harry Bamforth and Will Eades have come through the ranks and Short believes there’s potential in the class of 2021.
“It is all about opinions and I think there is four or five who really could go up a couple of levels,” he said.
“There’s some who are only 16 and have played with us in the group stages.
“If they play at this level for another two-or-three years there’s a pathway for them and ultimately that’s what it is all about and what we’re thinking of at training and at matches.
“The pathway is there for anyone who wants it.
“It is all about working hard and digging in and sometimes coming through some tough times.
“People want to play as high as they can and sometimes some people want to be there a bit quicker than they need to.
“It is about managing expectations and seeing players grow into the game and there’s plenty of players who have done that over the last 20 years (at Handsworth).”