TAMWORTH boss Andy Peaks says staying in the National League last season was his biggest achievement in the game – but knows he has to do it all over again this time.
The Lambs begin their campaign against Scunthorpe United this weekend – the team they beat to promotion from National League North two years ago.
But while a big atmosphere will be created for the curtain-raiser, Peaks knows he will have to work hard to keep Tamworth at this level.
Last season was a memorable one for the Lambs in more ways than one.
Not only did they consolidate their position in the National League, they came close to making the play-offs.
Add to that a famous FA Cup run, which resulted in Tamworth hosting Tottenham in the third round, and winning the Birmingham Senior Cup against Burton Albion, and Peaks knows it will be a case of ‘follow that’.
But the Lambs boss says the reaction was a mixed one in terms of preparting for the new campaign.
He told M6 Sport: “It was unbelievable season for the club and raised our profile nationally with all over the coverage we got.
“It helped us to sign new players, which we’ve done this summer.
“But I’ve also had agents on assuming we’re a full-time club, we’ve had to tell them we aren’t in a position to finance some of the deals they were talking about.
“I think I’m right in saying we’re the only part-time club in the National League this season.
“So again, we’ll be underdogs, but all of my teams have had that spirit which uses that.
“The best way to describe it is that we’ll be ‘punching’.
“To try and replicate that would be what we want, we still want to aim for the play-off places.
“The expectations around the ground are high as fans and think we can go even better. But I’m very realistic, I still know it’s going to be really tough. A lot of the teams are getting stronger compared to us as part-time.
“But we learnt a lot about this division last season.
“And from where the club’s come from in the last three or four years, you have to embrace it and enjoy going to these grounds.
“We’ve always built on what we’ve achieved and we want that to continue.”
The arrival of teams like Carlisle United and Truro City have not helped Tamworth’s cause, with most of their team having regular jobs in the week.
Peaks added: “We’ll have some long away trips this season, but we’ll be prepared for that.”
Tamworth’s biggest loss this summer was prolific goalscorer Dan Creaney, who signed for Midlands rivals, Solihull Moors.
Peaks made it clear at the time that Tamworth could not match the Moors’ offer.
He added: “They made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“Of course it’s a blow, Dan’s been a major part of the teams I’ve had here.
“But it’s not all about him, we have a squad of players here, all of which are valuable to us as National League club.
“We also lost Munashe Sundire to Torquay, and we understand that sometimes work commitments play a part.
“But we also haven’t signed players just for the sake of it, quality matters more than numbers, but we’ve got some good people in who I think will fit in to the way we want to do things.
“Plus, the core of last season’s squad will still be here. I’ve got some exciting players and some youngster as well.”
Tamworth have been able to sign players such as former Hednesford and Solihull forward Manny Duku, while Joe Rye and Olly Lynch have arrived on loan from Barnet and Luton.
A number of free transfers have also arrived at The Lambs.
Stefan Mols (Curzon Ashton), Tyler Roberts (Fylde), Alfie Bates (Brackley), Joe Riley (Fylde), Harvey Sayer (Lowestoft) and Ruben Wyatt (Northampton) are all part of Peaks’ squad.
But while the players are still part-time, Peaks’ role as manager became a full-time one last season – and he admits that has freed him up to do more for the club.
The Lambs boss has been able to give up his teaching job at Tresham College in Kettering to concentrate on Tamworth.
He added: “It makes things a lot easier.
“Before, I was doing things in my lunch breaks and in between lessons, stuff like that.
“But this’ll be even more beneficial because I’ll be able to go and watch some of the clubs around us.
“If it’s six weeks down the line and I can buy in a certain position, I’ll be hopefully have an idea of who’s playing where and where I can go rather than just ringing clubs saying: “What have you got in this position?”
