This Saturday’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie at Highbury against Farsley Celtic marks exactly twelve months since Micky Mellon took over the Fleetwood Town hot-seat.
That first game saw the new boss take his side to Wakefield in the same round of the competition and return home with a place in the next round with Adam Warlow and Jamie Milligan included on the score sheet.
Mellon says his first year in management has not only seen the first team progress but advances in all areas of the club.
“It’s been a good twelve months and we’ve advanced at great pace. A lot of people don’t realise that we haven’t just build a first team. We’ve built a whole infrastructure right the way down to the academy and into the juniors. We’re now working with the younger age groups of 16 and downwards with John Hills coaching the under-16’s boy’s team. These lads will be looking to enter the development programme next September and we are preparing them now. That shows we are not just looking at the short-term but the future as well.”
The first-time manager doesn’t dwell on last season when Town achieved their highest ever league and FA Cup finish, but wants to raise the bar.
“What we have done in the Blue Square North is commendable as well. Finishing in eightth place last term and sitting in fourth at the moment means we have moved forward. Always wanting to improve is what Fleetwood Town is all about. If someone was to offer me fourth place and a point off the lead at this stage of the season then I would have jumped at it.”
The former skipper of Blackpool, Tranmere Rovers and Burnley says the Cod Army support is a big driving factor in the clubs’ success.
“The crowds have always got behind the team and they are a big part of what we are trying to do at the football club. We want to play the game the right way and win games with attractive football. Long may the good support continue to grow and increase. Keeping the fans informed is essential and I’m pleased I’m able to put my point of view across through our top rate website.
“The majority of the support are sensible and know the game. They know there isn’t much that can be done on the training pitch to eradicate the individual errors which have cost us games this season. I don’t remember us been given goals like the ones we have given away at the likes of Hyde and Vauxhall Motors. What we can do, though, is ensure players concentrate at all times and make better decisions. That will see us win more games of football.”
Mellon, 37, is just as enthusiastic for this Saturday’s game as he was twelve months ago.
“It’s back to the same stage of the FA Cup this weekend were I started with Fleetwood Town. We’re in for a tough game against Farsley Celtic but I’m looking forward to it just as much as day one.”
Fleetwood chairman Andy Pilley appointed Mellon ten games into last season and says the new boss has taken the club to a new level.
“We have a talented coach in Micky Mellon and he now has his UEFA `A` licence. He’s raised the profile of the club with the type of attractive football we are producing. He was a great professional footballer and he brings the same qualities to the dugout. His contacts are second to none and we’ve seen that pay dividends in the squad he has assembled.
“Good football and facilities have seen a steady increase in support and regular four figure crowds are now coming through the Highbury turnstiles. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to complete the fourth stand and we hope to have that completed and in place at some point next year.”
The chairman says football at Highbury offers a good afternoon’s entertainment and recommends people join the 1,000 plus home crowds.
“I think the football at Highbury is first class and I’d urge anyone to come along and sample it for themselves. They won’t be disappointed with the match day experience. We have fantastic facilities and cater for the whole family. Both AFC Telford United home games stand out in my mind as great entertainment when we put one over on our big rivals.”
Pilley is looking for a repeat of last seasons FA Cup run and looks forward to the opportunity the FA Cup provides of being pitted against Premier League giants.
“The FA Cup Second Round match against Hartlepool United stands out in my mind from the last twelve months. It speaks volumes to say a Football League side were relieved to hear the final whistle. We were just a step away from being in the draw against the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool. We were very close and being in the hat with Premiership teams would have been fantastic. It was a record-breaking cup run for Fleetwood Town and added to the pages of our history book.”
