It is now 2 months since my last article and we are well into our season in the ADL Premier Division - currently sitting in second place a point behind the impressive Aston Park but with a crucial game in hand and still, although only just, a one hundred percent winning record.

The lads started the season in fine form with big wins and all credit to the them for some great performances, in particular the 10-1 win over last season's county cup finalists Walton Court Wanderers, but recently we have started to struggle and this is something we have moved to address quickly with a new set of rules, mainly for the first team players but also as a club in general, and a more professional attitude to matchday preparations. The problem is when you have a talented team and you are winning without stretching yourselves, players tend to drop standards and start to get lazy, and this is what has happened at the club over recent weeks. I have seen it happen in my previous years with Royal Oak and unless it's sorted early on it will become a big problem for us so it is up to me as manager to raise the bar and the players to follow.

Off the pitch Ralph Perna has also joined me as Assistant Manager, and he is settling in nicely. His knowledge and experience with a passion for the game will be invaluable to me and the team and hopefully this will be the beginning of a successful management partnership at Haddenham. Unfortunately however, leaving Haddenham is Denal Thomas, our captain who is returning to his former club Kidlington FC in the Hellenic Premiership. Denal found it difficult with travelling to games and training as he does not drive, and it had started to affect his game. I wish him all the best in the future and hope that one day he will return to play at Haddenham. Taking his place as captain is David Champ, who deserves the captaincy but I will remind him of the responsibility that goes with it!

The next month of football for Haddenham Utd is going to be crucial to our hopes of winning silverware this season. We have a Berks and Bucks cup tie against North Bucks Premier league opponents, Lavendon Sports, and what could almost be a league decider against undefeated Aston Park. These will both be tough challenges for the lads and I’m sure they will rise to the occasion and do the team proud. If you can get to either game to support the team it would be much appreciated by everyone and we will try our best to provide an entertaining game.

Finally I want to congratulate the reserves with their first win, which was against Quainton. I know Mike and the lads have been desperately unlucky so many times and with players away and injured it has been a hard start to the season, but hopefully as people recover and the few young lads that have joined recently, the ressies will have turned the corner and can start looking to move up the table.