REACTION | Jamie McGrath Post Match Interview | Suffolk Premier Cup Final 2024 | Needham Market V Felixstowe + Walton United | 16.04.2024 |

Matchwinner Jamie McGrath reflects on Tuesday's Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Final win, the battle for club's season top scorer and more.

DK: Well, that's the second trophy you've won us this season now. 

JMcG: I don't know about me, but it was a massive team effort and it wasn't the best game tonight, but finals are all about winning and we managed to get over the line, so that's all that matters. 

DK: Two trophies now, we'll get the second one later this week, you must be buzzing with that?

JMcG: Yes, it's going to be an unbelievable week and this was the perfect start to that week. We knew we had a job to do today and then that meant that we could enjoy whatever happened Saturday with the second trophy lift, but just to get over the line today was excellent. 

DK: Talk us through your goal from tonight.

JMcG: I saw Tommy Smith was free down the left-hand side, just managed to get in front of the defender at the near post and just about getting any sort of contact on it and then thankfully it flew into the back of the net. 

DK: I don't think there'll be many times so far that you've won one trophy, let alone two in the space of two weeks. 

DW: J-Mac, J-Mac! 

JMcG: Yes, it's not something that happens regularly, so I think when it comes around you've got to really enjoy it because, like you say, it's a pretty rare thing to happen, but it's awesome.

DK: Has it set in yet, the double champions? 

JMcG: Probably will more on Saturday when we get the second trophy, but it will just sink in what an incredible achievement it's been for everyone involved with the club. 

DK: Must feel nice to have won this, second on the trot for you and then fourth overall for the club in a row? 

JMcG: Yes, it's brilliant for me. I mean, I didn't really feature that much in this cup last year because I got injured towards the back end of the season, so to be able to play in most of the games this year, contribute, score goals, etc., it's even more pleasing, but like you say, for the club to win it four times on the bounce, it's just ridiculous and just a testament to all the hard work that everyone puts in at the club. 

DK: Having scored, what, you must be north of about 20 goals now this season. Do you ever get bored of it? 

JMcG: No, you never, ever get bored of scoring goals, no matter how many you score. And I think particularly on occasions like tonight, it's extra pleasing. 

DK: I think you're, if not dead level, I think you're within one or two away from Seth, as overall top scorer this season. One mad battle you two are having.

JMcG: Yeah, you know, Seth's been excellent, particularly in this competition. He's scored, it feels like, hundreds of goals in this competition. So yeah, it's been a credit to him, the progression that he's made this season. Not just the goals, I think his all-round play, he's been excellent and he's been a threat all season long. So yeah, neither of us really care about who finishes on top. It's just been great that we've both been able to contribute so much more this year.

DK: After the first half was a bit more of a tighter battle as such. The second half, we imposed what we've done all season.

JMcG: Yeah, I think there's been many occasions this year where we've come in at halftime at 0-0 and then come out second half and won 2, 3-0. So there was no panic stations at halftime. We played OK, could have probably played a bit better. They were decent, to be fair to them. They passed the ball around nicely. They worked hard. They pressed us and made it a real battle. So yeah, we had to get through that first half. And then obviously the sending off helped as well. But like I say, we've done it so often where we've come out second half and then really took the game to the opposition. So I'm sure we'd have done that anyway. 

DK: Did you enjoy your first of two photos with the trophy?

JMcG: Yeah, it's always nice to get a picture with the trophy. And I'm sure there'll be more from the dressing room and there'll be more to come on Saturday as well.

DK: Yeah, you'll have both on Saturday. 

JMcG: Yeah, exactly. The photos, the celebrations, everything. It's just incredible. And yeah, we're really looking forward to the occasion. 

REACTION | Kevin Horlock, Tom Rothery Post Match Double Interview | Suffolk Premier Cup Final 2024 | Needham Market 2-0 Felixstowe + Walton United | 16.04.2024 |

Manager Kevin Horlock and Assistant Manager Tom Rothery reflect on winning a league and cup double.

DK: I don't know which one of you wants to start us off by recapping that game. 

KH: It weren't a spectacle, but obviously off the back of getting promoted, and which was an unbelievable feat from everyone involved, to put the cherry on the cake, to win a Premier Cup, it didn't matter how it happened and we got the job done. It wasn't a great game. It was slow tempo. They sat behind the ball. I know it's going to be said that they're sending off changed the game, but the outcome was going to be the same no matter what happened. And in the end, it became a little bit of an end-to-end training game, which wasn't great on the eye, but it's about the trophy, four in a row and a double. So we're all very pleased. 

DK: Did your tactics come to fruition tonight, Tom? 

TR: No, not really. I didn't think we were brilliant in the first half, to be honest. We got better towards the end of the first half, but obviously, like Kev said, the sending off does change the game. But I was still confident. And that's what we said at half-time. You know, we've been in the changing room a number of times at half-time, nil-nil, still felt we'd go on and win the game. Obviously, you know, them losing a player potentially helps us go on and win the game. But I still think we would have gone on and won the game. But we don't know that now. And at the end of the day, all that matters is you win the trophy. And I said that last year when we did the interview about, you know, is it going to be a spectacle? You hope it is. And, you know, you always hope the final's a great game and you play the best that you can and you win. But ultimately, I'd rather do ugly and win than play brilliantly and lose. So, you know, that is all that matters in a cup final. It just wasn't a great game, unfortunately, for people that watched. I don't think it would have been that enjoyable for the spectators. But, you know, from our point of view as a management team, you just want to win. And that's what we've done. That kind of is what we've done all season. We didn't concede again, you know, and we've found a way to win. So we've been very good at that this season. 

DK: Did it seem poetic that it was Jamie to win the league and this cup? 

KH: He scored, yeah, he scored the hat-trick, didn't he? And he scored again tonight. He's a player that obviously... It was Tom that... He got mentioned. He came to the club and we see something in him that was transferable to any level of football. And he's obviously got up to speed with it. He's got stronger. He's got to the pace of the game at the level we play at. And he's been sensational, to be fair. I know he had injuries, but when he's been in the team, he's contributed. He's not just scored goals, but he's brought the team into it and hold-up play was really good. So he's been a really good signing. So I'm pleased that he's got the goals. It just shows there's good players at lower levels that all they need is an opportunity. And we've just basically given him the platform to go and show what he's got. And he's done that. And he paid us with goals that he scored. 

DK: How does it feel to both of you, personally, to have made double history in both ways? 

KH: Yes, look, since I've come into the football club, obviously, as academy manager first.

And then, obviously, the upheaval of a manager losing his job, which is never nice for anybody. The best signing I made was convincing Tom to stay because he's a loyal man. And obviously, Wilks had brought him in and we had a conversation. And I'm thankful he stayed because it just works. We're different characters, but we get on like an house on fire and we bring different things to the party. And Tom does things that I can't do. And I do things that Tom can't do or don't want to do even. And it just works. We work so well. And I'm lucky to have Tom here. And the group of players we got to work with is a pleasure as well.

DK: How about you, Tom? 

TR: Yes, I mean, to be brutally honest, when Wilks left, the first thing I wanted to do was leave because that's kind of how I'm made up. And that was my first initial reaction. It was Graham Emerson that made me sort of think about it, really, and then meet with Kev.

And once I met with Kev, really, to be honest with you, it's just like I've said before, he's a very infectious character. So, you know, Kev says about it being a good decision. It was a great decision by me as well because I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. And, you know, and I've always said, I've always felt we weren't a million miles away. But, you know, this season, obviously, to achieve the league promotion and then get the cup as well is brilliant. And the lads deserve a hell of a lot of credit for that and should be very proud of themselves, and obviously we're very proud of them. And hopefully the whole of the club is. And it's brilliant for everyone behind the scenes as well. You know, like I mentioned, Graham Emerson, Dave Clarke, Keith Nunn, you know, people like that, Cracker, Mark Easlea, do you know what I mean? Ken. There's so many people behind the scenes. Dave Hales, so many people behind the scenes that do a lot of work. And, you know, I'm really pleased for them as well, because, you know, we've had some tough times.

KH: For me, my driver was always Graham Emerson. Graham was obviously at the club when I first came here. He's been at the club forever and put a lot of time, effort, money into the football club. But he understands it. He's always backed us, me and Tom. 

TR: Yeah, 100%.

KH: So what we've achieved is, for me, for Graham, as well as anyone else involved. But the club's as good as it is and as great as it is. And it's getting loads of publicity at the minute. It's because of people like Graham Emerson that build it from the foundations up. It's not silly with the budget. We stay within budget, but he's there if we need help. And he's the reason why we're having all this success. 

DK: Four in a row, though, the third  team to do it just seems fitting. 

KH: I don't think anyone's won it five, but we're definitely up there with teams that have won it four times. So we're really proud of that. It's a competition that we take seriously.

We want to win every game we play. But the Premier Cup is one that we're proud of. We've obviously won it four times. And as much as we've got to deal with now, obviously going up a level is going to be tough. And trying to add one or two faces and the travelling we're going to have to do and the better teams we're going to come up against. We're still going to take this competition seriously and we're going to try and be the first team to win it five.

DK: It's the first of two trophies this week with the league title on Saturday. The continuation of the trophies. 

KH: Yeah, I think it's important. I think you're always judged as a management team, as players. Everyone asks you at the end of your career, what have you won? And it doesn't matter what level it is. It's still difficult to win league titles. It's difficult to win cup competitions. Obviously, it gets even more difficult when you go higher, but it's still tough. And not too long ago, I remember the club had a nice brand new trophy cabinet put up in the boardroom that looked blooming empty. I ain't going to lie. But obviously, over the last three, four years, we've added a few trophies in there and we keep striving for more. It's still got a load of space in it. So there's still loads to learn and still loads to do and loads to achieve. But we've made a solid start on filling that cabinet. 

DK: Do we start to call it the Horlock and Rothery trophy cabinet? 

KH: Well, I won't go that far. We might lose the first six games next season, they'll be calling for our heads. So don't engrave that on there too soon. Football's fickle at the minute. We're the flavour of the month. Obviously, we've done really well as a management team, as a pair. The team have been incredible, but football can change quickly. So we'll enjoy it. We'll enjoy it. But then we'll start working hard, trying to prepare for next season. 

DK: What's been the most pleasing moment? And don't say winning the trophies.

KH: I don't KNOW. I think the pleasing thing for me is obviously we discussed at the start of the season that our league form or league position had to improve. We've created history again. For me, the seasons before that have been really successful. The Premier Cup, the FA Trophy, to quarterfinals for Needham Market, the quarterfinals, two games for Wembley to lose to Stockport, who by the way are in League One now. The FA Cup run to get to the first round for the first time in the club's history was monumental. But we spoke and me and Tom said we want to improve our league position. We knew we were close, not a million miles away. We've added good players. The best squad, I think, or most balanced squad we've had, and it's proved that. Lads have took on board what we've done on the training pitch and Tom's done final third stuff and we're scoring more freely now. And all the little things and all the hours of work that we've done have contributed. And that's, for me, the most standout special thing is the progression that the group have made.

DK: What about you, Tom? What's pleased you the most this season? 

TR: A lot of things, really. So one being proven right for me and Kev, because we always felt we weren't a million miles away. But obviously you sound a little bit delusional when you're 18th in the league. But I never thought we was a million miles away. I think the cup runs sort of told us that and showed us that. But I think the most pleasing thing for me is I think we made some decisions in the summer, like getting Patch involved with doing warm-up and doing a bit of coaching. Munno obviously coming back in the building. The signings that we made, so that's pleasing. And then for me, the other pleasing thing is just watching the players grow as individuals and as a collective and really showing what they can do consistently. I think that's where they deserve so much credit because I think that we've always known the players are good players, but we haven't been able to show that consistently. And whether it's the little tweaks that we made, whether it's the momentum from winning games or what, I don't know. But like I've said previously, Kev's said about it before about us being relentless. I think we've done that this season. We've been relentless. The lads have continued to turn up, whether it be at training or games, with a good attitude. And off the back of that, they're now reaping the rewards. Obviously, a trophy tonight. They're going to get another one Saturday and they really deserve it. They genuinely really deserve it. I know that's a bit of a throwaway comment and anyone could say that. But me and Kev see how hard they've worked and I really do feel they deserved it. But I think we've made lots of little changes, not monumental ones that have worked. And we'll have to do the same again this summer to be successful again next year, which obviously is what we'll aim to do. So, yes, it's just nice when you put things together and all the hard work that you do, whether that be us as a management team or the people behind the scenes, like I mentioned before, it's nice to then get success and hopefully everyone enjoys that success. Because like Kev said, it can turn. We know it can turn. It can change. So it's important that you do enjoy those times. And for me personally, Saturday's a day I'm actually going to enjoy for once because I don't enjoy it enough. 

DK: How do we, obviously you're going to say go out to win the game, but how do we mark Saturday in an even more special way than it will be already? 

KH: To be fair, I don't think it really matters what we say now because you've got that much writing up to do, mate. I'm not sure this is going to be ready to be printed by the weekend.

DK: It will be, trust me. 

KH: I'm hoping people turn up in their numbers. Obviously, we had big crowds against Stockport in the trophy, in the FA Cup run. A lot of people have been through the turnstile, but not too often do they come in their numbers altogether. Obviously, we've got a group of loyal fans, not massive amounts. The young lads have made a big difference. I'm hoping they bring their drums. I'm hoping it's a big crowd. I'm hoping it's a nice game. I'm hoping it's nice weather and we can celebrate because what this group of players have achieved, and I've said it before, this season for me has been the highlight of my career, even when I was playing. So, I want us all to come together and enjoy and celebrate what we've achieved as a collective because I don't think it'll really sink inhow special it is until later years down the line. It's an unbelievable feat. A little team like Needham Market is going to be playing Step 2. And we've just won the fourth Premier Cup in a row when they'd only won two in their history. So, it's bigger than probably what people think. So, I'm hoping we can get a crowd there and celebrate. 

DK: What, bigger than winning at Wembley? 

KH: Yes. I suppose, obviously, as a career, as a footballer, that was massive for me. But the group of players I'm with here, obviously, being with Tom and the rest of the staff is special and it's something that is different to playing. As a player, you can affect it physically by running around more often than not. It was me kicking people on the pitch when you could. But it's different as a manager. I don't know, obviously, your head's there for the chop. And I've said it before, I get all the praise when we win. But I couldn't do this job without Tom. And obviously, we couldn't do this job without the group of players. So, it's about everybody. And that feels really special. 

DK: And Tom, how do you see Saturday without giving much away? 

TR: Me being me, it will put a damper on it if we don't perform, if I'm being brutally honest. So, I still will prepare for the game. And I'm hoping the players will. And I know Kev's laughing because that's just where we're different. I was still fuming after Stamford on Thursday when we turned up at training. So, for me, it's another game. But I am going to try so hard to just enjoy Saturday because it is an amazing achievement. And I want to enjoy it without being a grumpy little brat like I always am.

KH: If the deadline hadn't passed, I would have let them play. I'm not sure where I would have done that. 

DK: So, the players got absolutely racked with fire in your belly at training then on Thursday? 

TR: Not really. I didn't say too much. I was too busy moping about, really, to be honest. At the end of the day, there's going to be a drop-off because we've won the league. That's natural. I think that is natural. 

KH: And the fact that they'd been on the beer... 

TR: And the fact that they'd gone out Saturday and obviously enjoyed themselves. But, like I said, just for me, when you turn up to a game of football, you make a lot of effort to get there. You make a lot of effort in the preparation and you want to win. That's what football is about, isn't it? It's not about turning up. It's about winning. So, that will be the aim for Saturday. But once the full-time whistle goes, I'm going to try and forget whatever the result is and try and enjoy it.

REACTION | Tommy Smith Post Match Interview | Suffolk Premier Cup Final | Needham Market V Felixstowe + Walton United | 16.04.2024 |

Defender Tommy Smith reflects on last night's Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Final, and winning a league and cup double.

DK: Well, nice for you to finally get your hands on it a year later. 

TS: Finally, second time lucky. I think it was more than deserved today.

DK: Yeah, do you think the red card changed the game, maybe?

TS: I'd say it had an influence on the game. I still thought we were in control of the game. I didn't think they really, really threatened too much. They do have dangerous attacking players, but I didn't think they caused us too many problems, but obviously a red card is going to be an advantage to any team. 

DK: I believe it was you that got the assist to the second goal? 

TS: Yeah, it was. The first actually decent cross I put in after about 100, so I'm glad that it resulted in a goal.

DK: After losing out to us last year, it must be nice to win it with us? 

TS: Yeah, it's lovely to do it with us. Hopefully many more, and I believe there will be many more. 

DK: Caps off an absolute bonkers season, winning a historic double.

TS: To be honest, I can't believe it. It's been an absolutely incredible season. I'll be honest, I did not have any idea of what this season was going to be like when I signed, but this didn't think was even a chance. I think we've had one of the best seasons in Suffolk non-league of all time.

DK: How do you have a better season than this? Is it possible? 

TS: Yeah, I'd say it's possible. I'd say we can really, really fight in this league next year. We've definitely got the players for it and definitely got the squad to really compete next year. We're going to do everything we can to finish as high as we can. 

We haven't been in that league before, so it'll be a good opportunity and a good experience, but I feel we can really hold our own in the league. 

DK: Yeah, it's going to be a bit more travel, but I think this year has given us a taster for what's to come. 

TS: Yeah, exactly. I mean, this league's a nightmare for travel, so all you're doing is adding a bit more onto that. The Tuesdays is what will hurt, but hopefully there isn't too many of them. I think Saturdays will be okay because we leave pretty early anyway, so we'll just have to wait and see and see how we go.

DK: Returning to tonight, did you expect it to unfold in the way that it did? 

TS: We know they're a good team. They're up there in the league below. We knew it'd be a battle because in cup finals anything can happen and form sort of goes out the window, but I still think we would dominate and we did. I still think we'd had the better of the chances and we did, so I thought the game went how it should have, but obviously a red card obviously helps us a bit as well. 

DK: Next up, we get our league title on Saturday against Mickleover. 

TS: Yeah, exactly. We're going to do everything we can to win that game. We want to win that game to show our authority in the league to the team in second or third. I'm not sure where they are now, but we're going to give everything for these next two games and finish on a high.

DK: It'll be one savour though on Saturday when you get the champagne in your hands yet again. 

TS: Yeah, it'll be a great feeling. It's already a great feeling no matter what happened before tonight, whether we would have won or lost. We've had an unreal season, so this just puts the cherry on the cake. There's nothing more we could have done this season, nothing more. We had a good cup run. Unfortunately, we didn't get into the first round of the FA Cup, but you wouldn't have expected this at the start of the season, so it's been nothing more than unbelievable.

REACTION | Kevin Horlock + Seth Chambers Post Match Interviews | Needham Market v Ipswich Town U18S | 20.02.2024 | Suffolk Premier Cup SF |

Kevin Horlock reflects on last night's win over Ipswich Town Under-18s.

DK: Into the final, you must be pleased? 

KH: Yes, that's what it was about tonight. Obviously, we rotated a little bit. I think it was four changes, giving lads minutes for what is going to be a massive end to the season for us. So, with all of that getting to the final, we obviously don't just want to get there. We want to go on and win it. So, tonight was a tough test. I thought Ipswich played really well first half. They passed it around well. They showed good strength, quite direct, and they landed on the ball in advanced areas. They were running at us, but I just thought we possibly showed them a little bit too much respect. We didn't really put ourselves on the game and show our strength. So, we addressed that at half-time. I thought the second half was a really good performance. We created lots of chances and could have scored more. I know Marcos made saves first half, but second half, we were pretty comfortable and obviously sending off helps, obviously. But I think by that stage, it was pretty clear that we were probably going to go on and win it. 

DK: A superb game for the neutrals? 

KH: Yeah, it was a good football game, wasn't it? First half, I think second half was more of a proper match in terms of there was tackles. There was aerial battles. There was obviously a bit of argy-bargy and pushing and stuff. First half was a little bit Academy football. I think we got sucked into it where they were playing out from the back and we were trying to play all these little pretty triangles where the real football that we play is leaving it in good areas, making the defenders run towards their own goal and feel uncomfortable. And then they drop off and then you get the opportunity to play. And I thought we took on instruction at half-time and carried it out really well second half. 

DK: The second half comeback was great, not just the manner we scored in quickfire fashion, but also the way the goals were taken.

KH: Yeah, there were some real good goals. I thought Seth put himself about. He caused problems second half. Obviously, throughout the team, there was that little lift in energy. And I've said it about this group before, they find a way to win. Things didn't go our way first half. We found ourselves 2-1 down, but this team is never beaten. And again, we showed real qualities of sticking together, team spirit, fighting back and getting across the line and finding a way to win. So, yeah, it was a really good performance in the end.

DK: And Eddie Barker got his first team debut as well. 

KH: Yeah, it's pleasing. Dylan, obviously, is not here. So we was a little bit light today. So we only had three on the bench. And I think it was important that he's done well in the 23s. And I thought it was important that I give him some minutes. Obviously, I would have liked to have given him longer. But the way the game panned out, that's just how it happened. So credit to him. He's a good young footballer and hopefully another one that's coming through the academy that's going to make the journey all the way into the first team. 

DK: Why was Dylan not here tonight? 

KH: He was unwell, Dylan, today. So he stayed away and stayed in bed. Obviously, I don't want him getting it passed on to any of the other lads. So obviously, we could afford to do it tonight with lads that wanted to get minutes. So we'll train Thursday. Hopefully, Dylan will be better and we'll have a full squad. It's good to see Patch back today, albeit for 20 minutes, what it was. Byron, obviously, playing. So, yeah, it's a happy camp. And nearly, I think it is a full-fit camp other than Rhys Harris.

DK: How do you reflect on the team performance? 

KH: Yeah, I think it was really good. Like I said, I think we showed him a little bit too much respect first half and didn't press nowhere near high enough, nowhere near with the energy that we normally do it with. But I thought second half, once we did that and addressed it at half-time, I thought we looked dangerous. We pushed two up top, caused problems and left it in behind them. And it worked today. So, yeah, it was a good day all round.

DK: Do you think the sending off impacted the game? 

KH: I think it made it a lot more difficult for them. There's no doubt about that. But I think we were turning the screw. We obviously got back level and I think there was probably only going to be one winner. Albeit, they gave us a real good game. They were obviously a young side, mainly scholars. I think there was three pros in there, but mainly scholars. So, that would have been a good test for them tonight, as it was a good test for us, because we don't normally have teams in our league that play the way, obviously, Ipswich do and the way that they keep the ball, they protect the ball, that they're prepared to take it in tight areas when they're marked. So, we don't normally face that. So, it was good for us and hopefully they've got something out of it as well in terms of playing a top-run league team at Step 3.

DK: Saturday, we're away at Leamington, another big one.

KH: Yes, they're all big now. I think someone said, that's another cup final win. I said, we've got another 13 cup finals before we worry about the Premier Cup. We've got big games ahead. There's going to be bumps in the road, no doubt. But I trust this group. This group don't know when they're beaten and they give everything, so, I'm proud to be their manager. 

Seth Chambers also reflects on last night's semi-final. 

DK: Another two goals for you in this competition, you must be pleased? 

SC: Yeah, it's nice to get two. I kept plugging away, I missed a fair few in fairness. So it's nice to get the two in the end, but to get into the next round is the main thing really, so I'm happy with that.

DK: Yeah, a bit of a topsy-turvy game, you must be pleased that we got over the line? 

SC: Yeah, it was good to obviously get the win in the end. I think we know as a whole that that's not necessarily good enough. First half, that wasn't good enough from us, but what's good is we're finding ways to win regardless of the opposition and that's the main thing really, getting the win, getting into the next round or getting the three points, whatever it is, making sure you get over the line.

DK: It must make it more satisfying being the match winner again? 

SC: Yeah, like I said, it was a frustrating game. The ball was struggling to stick, you blame the conditions of the pitch or whatever, but I didn't have my greatest game today in fairness. It was nice to get the goals in the end, but I'm just glad we managed to, like I said, get over the line.

DK: Kind of sums up football, you feel like the day's not going for you and all of a sudden the ball falls perfectly?

SC: Yeah, that's football at the end of the day. You can miss 20, but you've just got to get on with it and get on to the next one. Thankfully, I've managed to do that and like you said, I've managed to get one and then another after that, so it's a funny old game.

DK: Must keep your confidence up high though with big games to come? 

SC: Yeah, like you said, it's good habits. Obviously, I know I've missed a few, but if you're getting in the right areas, you're making the chances happen. I'm glad that a few of them have come off. Jacob's had a good shot, I've managed to follow it in and Tev's put in a good ball, which I've managed to get in as well. It's always good to get some goals and I think as a team, if you're high scoring, regardless of the game, they're good habits to be in. 

DK: And having scored 10 goals in this competition now this season, you must love playing in it?

SC: Yeah, it's a big deal in terms of the league's important and other Cup competitions, but the Premier Cup, you've got to make sure you show the rest of the county really where you're at. Thankfully, over the last few years, we've managed to do that and we take the competition seriously. I'm glad that we've managed to get into the final and hopefully we can get our hands on it again.

Eddie Barker comments on making his first team debut. 

"It feels good to have made my debut it was a great experience and a clear step up from u23 football. I really enjoyed the challenge and was great to be a part of an important win." 

Hugh Cullum | Get To Know Q&A #11 | 19.11.2023 |

Defender, and Academy graduate, Hugh Cullum is next in our 'Get To Know Q&A' Series, talking about his loan spell at Thetford Town and being recalled to play against Berkhamsted, Mickleover and Stowmarket.

About his loan spell and the aforementioned First Team matches.

DK: First of all, how have you been finding your loan spell at Thetford so far, and it must've felt good being back involved the last week or so with us?

HC: Yeah I have enjoyed every minute, playing every week and everyone is a good group of lads. Yeah it’s good to come back and get minutes and contribute to the team. 

DK: You slotted back in seamlessly, did it feel like that despite playing in important games?

HC: Took some time to get back up to speed but all the players helped me settle in really quickly and get playing. 

DK: What did you make of those 3 games, and is it especially pleasing to have kept 2 important clean sheets?

HC: Yeah it’s always nice to keep clean sheets, that’s what my job is to do, but no especially the point away at Mickleover was great result. 

DK: What stood out to you as the most important part of the last 3 games? 

HC: I think personally just being back and playing was the most important part for me. 

Quickfire Questions:

Favourite Hot Drink: Cup of tea.

Favourite Cold Drink: Lucozade orange.

Favourite Snack: Any kind of biscuit. 

Favourite Takeaway/Dinner: Chinese. 

Favourite TV Show: 100% The Walking Dead. 

Favourite Film: Shawshank Redemption. 

If you were to be in a tv show/film what would it be, and why? Peaky Blinders no reason just would be cool to be in that. 

Favourite Hobby (other than football): Pool or Darts. 

Favourite Game: GTA V. 

Team you Support: Ipswich Town. 

Favourite Professional Player (current/all time): Robin Van Persie.

Favourite sport other than football, and why? Reckon the darts because the atmosphere. 

Favourite moment in a Needham shirt so far and why? Definitely making my debut at home. 

Do you own any sporting memorabilia, if so what's your favourite and why? Probably my England shirt. 

If you could’ve been involved in any sporting event ever, what would it have been and why? The 2022 World Cup final just to see Messi win it close up and personal.

If you could swap places with anyone else in football, who would you pick and why? Jude Bellingham, very young and an unbelievable player.

Player Profile:

How would you describe yourself as a player? Good on the ball, would say I’m quick not slow, good range of passing, good defender.

What’s the one thing you think you’re personally known best for and why? Probably my positioning sense and reading the game.

What inspired you to be a footballer? My dad and my brothers.

Best Player Played With and why? Corr toss up between two, Josh Stones from England who now plays for Wigan, but I’d say Josh Stokes who now is doing bits for Aldershot.

REACTION | Nathan Munson + Seth Chambers Post Match Interviews | Needham Market 7-0 Stowmarket Town | 14.11.2023 | Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final | Bloomfields |

REACTION | Nathan Munson Post Match Interview | Needham Market 7-0 Stowmarket Town | 14.11.2023 | Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final | Bloomfields |

Goalkeeping coach Nathan Munson reflects on last night's win.

DK: Nice win in the a cup, against your former team.

NM: Yeah, I think so. You know, it's an important competition.
Tom and Kev, would quite rightly would say that all the time, it is animportant competition. We know that it means a lot to the fans, re-run of last years's final, but a very different result.

DK: And you were on the other side of it in the final as well?

NM: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. On the other side of it, that day was a game of,
well, quite high quality actually. This game Stow, of course, have taken a bit of a different direction since then. Wilks, you know, is a fantastic manager, he's still there at the helm, so they're getting good guidance. But we see that they've taken a different direction than they seem to have a really young side out today
that worked hard. But you could see that there was a gulf in class. 

DK: Yeah, very clinical from us and Seth in particular.

NM: Yeah, absolutely. I think first half we weren't brilliant. I think it probably flattered us possibly a little bit.
We went in at half-time three-nil and, you know, we were really keen to make the point at half-time, you know, you've got them where you want them now, but we really wanted you to push on. And second half is an opportunity to really put them to the sword. So that's why Tom and I are particularly pleased that second half we were clinical. Seth was absolutely fantastic. He was climbing up to score, was excellent, you know, he's come on an enormous amount since I was last at the club. Really impressive, but all round I thought the boys, you know, really put it in second half. You can see Stow, actually their started to drop a little bit, but it was, you know, in the end of it, really, a really, really, sort of clear result. So we're quite happy with that. Put it away two months, the semi-finals, the latter part of the season.

DK: I think so. First half when Seth got his second, two-nil already, but it was a bit of a big moment because Ingers just had his pen up save, put the ball straight back in, scored.

NM: Yeah. Yeah. I think that's one for that there'd be an honestly deflated with that one, because I think the penalty save just gives them a little bit of a glimmer, and then, like you say, literally it's a straight ball over the top, they're not defending it, Seth's in, scored, three-nil half-time. You know, they've got a mountain to climb, we've got the cushion. So then, you know, how are they going to play it? Are they going to sit in and try and, you know, just damage limitation or are they going to come out? Which obviously opens up the opportunities and space for us in the second half. So yeah, that really finished the game I think as a contest in the second half. We come out and we did the right things. We kept our standard high, we kept passing, we kept working hard and that told in the end.

DK: Spoken about Seth and getting five goals and assists, but, Tev got three assists as well and a goal himself.

NM: Yeah, Tev was really good tonight. He's really agile, saw that last year of course at Stow when he was there. He really adds a lot of energy to the team.
You know, the assists were great and had some real good qualities as well, which I don't think people always recognize actually the level of quality he's got in his game. Seth was excellent, I don't know if he's got the match ball. Did you see Drew? If we've got a second match ball, then the club would be in a bit of trouble!

DK: Don't think we have one!!

NM: He'll have to pay for it! But yeah, good I mean, I think in all the all-through side, the clean sheet was really important today, you don't want to leak a goal and then turn it into a battle again. Marcus had to make saves, but you know, thoughout the team everyone's done their job, really. 

DK: Yeah, a solid team performance, and it was good for Ollie to get his second senior goal as well.

NM: Yeah, and a really good header, actually. You know, at the back post, it's a great header back across, really pleased for him as well. It's nice when you can, you know, rotate and give some of the lads a few more minutes, than ordinary they'd get in league games. They come on and make an impact. That's absolutely what you want. I mean, Seth, you know, five goals, it's a selection headache for Kev when he's back with us for the next game, for sure.

DK: Yeah, for Ollie's goal in particular. It's quite unusual, because you don't usually see Jamie whipping them in, he's normally on the end of it, and Ollie the other way around.

NM: Yeah, yeah, yeah, but a good ball in and I think we had an overload in the back post,
because I think Ollie was there and I don't know if there was someone else who looked like that might've been Ingers, like an overload sort of queuing up to head it back in, but it was a really good ball in and a great header back across, yeah.

DK: It's difficult to kind of compact it, isn't it, into one interview?

NM: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, there was a lot of goal action. I mean, quite, you know, a decent crowd as well, which is, which is, you know, good. Lots of goals, good endeavour from the boys, clinical. No game, Saturday, so we're all good, we get rest and repaired now, we have one or two knocks, gives us the opportunity just to get the boys all ready for the next match, Saturday week, Bromsgrove at home.

DK: It's a question I normally ask Kev, but what pleased you most tonight?

NM: Me, ex-keeper, clean sheet! Done!

DK: How have you found it being back at Needham?

NM: Yeah, great. Yeah. I mean, it was just work, really work commitments that made it impossible for me to  stay at the time, and so I won't be able to make all of the long away trips, but, you know, I love being in and around the club. Tom and Kev Barty, you know, Bex everybody involved on the management side, are excellent. I've known a long while, of course.
I've known a lot of players for a long while as well, so it's great to be back. It feels like the right place to be, so yeah, thoroughly enjoying it, and it makes it a lot more enjoyable when you win more than you lose, so that's nice. 

DK: Yeah, not much has changed, but also you're coming back into the building with us flying, did that give you any nerves if you didn't want to sort of jinx it?

NM: No, not at all, I mean it's easiest time to come into a football club, isn't it, when you're coming in,and the team are playing well, they're winning, they're keeping lots of clean sheets, but I mean it's massive credit to Tom and Kev, they've both known again inside out. They've made some really shrewd additions to the club during the close season, obviously, they didn't have the season that they wanted to last year, you know, from a league perspective, and did really well in the cups. You know, the Premier Cup winning that, and the FA Cup great run, but I know Tom and I know Kev really well and they've been bitterly disappointed with their league position, so really pleasing that they've made additions that they have in the summer, and you can see out there today, well, this evening that they're starting to bear fruit, and you know, to be second in the table, listen, nothing's handed out in November. We all know that, we've been a game long enough to know that, but to be second in the table to have the clean sheets that have had, the number of wins that they've had,
and now to be in the semi-final of the Suffolk Premier Cup, which we pick up again in March,
and a good run in the FA Cup is really testament to how they've pushed the club forward in the last period of time.

DK: With being an ex-keeper, the amount of clean sheets that we've been keeping, which has been frightening, must be even more pleasing for you?

NM: Yeah, I mean, I can't take credit for many of them, to be honest, just the last two or three, but, yeah, I mean, that is a fantastic base to build from. There have been a number of games this season that just through not giving anything away, enables you to nick one late on is a winner, and that is why keeping clean sheets is so, so critically important, because it always keeps you in the match. I mean, you look at some of the players that you've got, it's no surprise. I mean, Marco, excellent, excellent goalkeeper, been around this level an awful long time, you know, and then in front of him, really solid defensive unit. They all know each other and have played together for a long period of time as well.
So, you know, it's a real team effort, but the clean sheets are excellent reward for real team harmony as well.

DK: And to finish off, we've got a break, like you're say, until we played Bromsgrove
but they're another difficult side to play.

NM: Yeah, Bromsgrove, I mean, I don't think they're having their best season this year.
They're a funny side sometimes, you know, some years there, they have a big budget and they're all up there, and then other seasons, they'll be less so this season, but never the less they'll be a really tough match. They'll come down there, you know, they'll have watched a bit about us, and they'll prepare properly, as we will, and it'll be another, you know, important match, another big match. You know, from our perspective, the lads have got a little bit of time off now, we've got one or two injuries, and we need to clear up, and then we'll hit it hard next week with training Monday and Thursday, and go through the preparation. I'm sure Tom will have some details on them for what'll be an important match,
and we hope that we can get another three points.

REACTION | Seth Chambers Post Match Interview | Needham Market 7-0 Stowmarket Town | 14.11.2023 | Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final | Bloomfields |

Five goal hero Seth Chambers reflects on last night's win.

DK: What a night for you, Hey. 

SC: Yeah, yeah, it's a good team performance, going forwards I think first half especially, I thought we could be a lot better. I know we've scored seven and people look at that and think we've played really well, but I think we can play a lot better than that. We maybe lowered our levels a little bit. I know we've got lads that are struggling, but I think we got the result. We got seven goals, so that's the main thing. 

DK: Five for you as well. 

SC: Yeah, the ball kept coming in the right area. Thankfully I was on the end of it. I missed a few earlier on in the season from some angles and positions that you'd never want to miss from, so I'm just glad that I can get on the end of a few tonight. 

DK: You must be indebted to Tev for getting the assist for three of them. 

SC: Yeah, Tev put in some good balls tonight. A lot of the lads put in good balls whether there for my goals or the other ones and we're getting players in the box attacking crosses, which is the main thing, causing their defenders trouble.

DK: I can't remember many games, if any, where a player's got five goals and an assist, six out of seven goal contributions. That's something, isn't it?  

SC: Yeah, it's good. I mean, just trying to make those runs use the energy I have. Obviously a lot of the lads out there have played a lot more minutes than me, so it's only fair that I do a bit of running for them, try and be busy and get in the areas where they're going to struggle with and I think I managed to do that a few times tonight, but lads found me very well and it made it quite easy for me, really. 

DK: You've scored eight goals in this competition now this season, 10 in all competitions, five in one night. You scored the winner in the final last year. Is this competition, the Seth Chambers cup or something? 

SC: No, no. It's a competition I like playing in. I think as a team we like playing in and it's one we take seriously. We'd love to win it again this year. It's definitely a priority of ours and onto the next game really. 

DK: How does that sound, when I that you've scored 10 now in all comps, top scorer for the season and obviously eight in this one?

SC: Yeah, it's nice to hear, of course my job's to score goals, so I've got a few tonight, but I could add a lot more this season than I feel. I feel I've got to keep working harder now, making sure I deliver over however many games. It's long season ahead. I like to get a few more than I've got at the minute. I wouldn't have to stop now. 

DK: I think this night couldn't have been any better for you, could it? 

SC: No. Yeah, the Ollie goal, he's headed it back across goal. I'm nearly, if I had a bit more energy I might've been able to sneak that off him as well, but no, I'm proud. A few of the lads got some goals as well, and Ollie got a goal, which I know he'll enjoy. Yeah, I think overall performance wise, going forward, especially we work hard at training with the runners and making sure we've got a lot of energy and that paid off a few times tonight, so hopefully we can continue to do that. 

DK: Only two other players scored when we scored seven is quite incredible, isn't it? 

SC: Yeah, well lads are putting in great areas for me. I'm making that run. I mean, like you said, Tev's found me in the six yard box, you don't get that all the time. The service was second to none really, and it's my job to get on the end of them. They should be asking the questions if I'm not there or if I miss it, so I've got to thank them for that. Really, they made it easy for me tonight. 

DK: Well, the first goal, well, is from around eight yards out. You had to pedal back and over head kick it in. 

SC: It's one of those ones, you don't score those every week. The balls kind of bounce before me and I'm not really shooting. I'm just trying to get it back into an area. It's hit me right on the top of the toe and managed to go in, but yeah, it's one of those nights I think have a game like that every time, but I think some of the habits were good. I know energy, I was a bit knackered towards the end, to be fair because not played many 90 minutes, but fitness is good to get a full game and hopefully I can get a few more minutes over the season. 

DK: Where does this rank in terms of your first team career so far?

SC: Yeah, it's a good game. It's one that'll probably stick in their mind over the next few years, but I'd like to push on some of the FA Cup games are good, obviously, but you want to make those regular, you want to keep striving for more, so I'm not trying to rest on that at the minute, not resting on the laurels. 

DK: The more goals, the merrier. 

SC: Yeah, a hundred percent. A hundred percent. Like I said, that's what I'm here to do. That's what they ask of me to try and score goals. Thankfully, I've got a few tonight and hopefully I can continue. 

Byron Lawrence | Get To Know Q+A #8 | 13.11.2023

Midfielder Byron Lawrence continues our Get To Know Q&A series, and also discusses his return to injury after 2 years out.

Quickfire Questions:

Favourite Hot Drink: Hot Chocolate

Favourite Cold Drink: Orange Juice

Favourite Snack: A chocolate flapjack

Favourite Takeaway/Dinner: Cannelloni

Favourite TV Show: Friends probably all time favourite, but The Bear is my current favourite.

Favourite Hobby (other than football): Walking my dogs

Favourite Video Game: Don’t play it anymore but Crash bandicoot was the best game.

Team you Support: Manchester United 

Favourite Professional Player (current/all time): Wayne Rooney  

Favourite sport other than football, and why? It changes but i started playing golf earlier this year and I love it, even though I’m still crap!

Favourite moment in a Needham shirt so far and why? My one and only adult Hatrick, against Hitchin. Luke was a legend for giving me the penalty that day for my third.

If you could’ve been involved in any sporting event ever, what would it have been and why? I’m probably a rubbish United fan for saying this but it would have been class to be Aguero scoring that winning goal in 2012. 

If you could swap places with anyone else in football who would you pick and why? Its got be Messi, won’t ever be a player as good!

Player Profile:

How would you describe yourself as a player? A midfielder that likes to get on the ball and start attacks, who can chip in with the odd goal or assist. 

What’s the one thing you think you’re personally known best for playing wise and why? Maybe hitting the ball as hard as I can from distance and hoping it goes in the back of the net. 

What are your standout moments from your career so far and why? Probably waking up in the ambulance the day I got injured, I was high as kite! I've played in some really good teams but I haven’t got a promotion yet so hopefully I can achieve that at some point, fingers crossed its with Needham!

What inspired you to be a footballer? Probably watching my older brothers play football every week, I've always loved playing football.  

Best Player Played With and why? Thats a tough question as I’ve played with a load quality players. But I’ve never played with or against a better goalie than the main man, Marcus Garnham!

Being back playing:

How did you find it being back out there for the first team against Long Melford, must've felt good? Yeah its been a long process getting back to football and I still need to manage my ankle moving forward. But I loved playing again, I've missed it a lot these last two years. 

Did it make it any more special being captain? That was nice of Kev to do that. Kev's been great with me throughout my injury and I know how pleased he was to see me back on the pitch. Even if he had to close his eyes every time I went into a tackle! 

How do you think you did, as you got a couple of good shots off at goal? Those shots weren’t my finest! But yeah I thought I did alright. I just wanted to make sure my ankle coped with the game which it did, so I was happy with how it went.  

We've spoken about it over time, but how did you find the recovery process over all? Full of ups and downs. Its been frustrating at times, especially when I wasn’t sure if I would make it back onto the pitch again. But that makes me proud of myself that I’ve got to this point. So I’m going to try and enjoy every minute I get to play because it can easily be taken away. Jenks and Bex have been really helpful through every step. Day to day having my girlfriend and dogs keeping my mind healthy has been the most important thing. 

The support you had during your recovery must have made it even more special to be back playing both with the 23s and first team? Yeah I’ve had incredible support from so many people willing me to get back on the pitch, so it feels great to finally get there. 

With our start to the season, did it make your return back to the team more seamless? Yeah the boys are flying this season which makes it a really enjoyable team to get back involved in. Hopefully as time goes on I can contribute to a successful season!

REACTION | Tevan Allen + Kevin Horlock Post Match Interviews | Long Melford v Needham Market | 01.11.2023 | Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup R2 | The Skyline Networks Stadium, Stoneylands, New Road |

Midfielder Tev Allen reflects on last night's win.

DK: Through in the cup, two assists for you, not bad!

TA: Yeah, not bad! I think it was a potential banana skin, and these games are never easy, because - obviously with no disrespect when I say this but - coming to a pitch like this we're not really used to, it becomes a leveller, and that showed by the scoreline, because we haven't conceded in god knows how many games and we concede 2 in a game like this, which on paper should be comfortable for us, but all credit to them for getting the goals, and yeah we're through. That's all that matters really, cup football that you get through and how you get through it doesn't really matter. So, happy, happy to get 2 assists, done the job.

DK: We don't normally score many from corners!

TA: I've been saying, honestly I've been saying for weeks, since I signed in pre-season that I wanted to take corners. I didn't want to push anyone off them, and I think it's only recently from the last game that I played, Stamford away, that I said, 'let me take the corners', and proof is in the pudding! I think I've took 5 corners, 3 assists, so hopefully I can take more.

DK: Is that the perfect way for you to come back from injury?

TA: Yeah, a hundred percent, I've been chomping at the bit, like I hate missing games of football anyway, and to obviously not play Saturday (away to Royston) and not even be there to see what actually happened - I was obviously glad the boys got a win, got a clean sheet - but yeah, it's good to come back in the fold straight away and make a difference really. Or be able to do something, get the two assists, it's all want to do, and I just love playing football, so I don't care what kind of game it is I play.

DK: Having kept a lot of clean sheets most games this season, was it good in a way to have to come from behind?

TA: It is, because it shows our character again, but it's not good the fact that we are conceding, it's not panic button, it's not panic stations, but for our personal pride, and our standards we didn't want to concede those goals. So that's obviously still something that you learn every game, something we have to look at, go back to the drawing board and hopefully can change that Saturday and we don't concede.

DK: Saturday we're back home in the league against Nuneaton.

TA: Yeah, it'll be interesting. I think any game in our league is a hard game, it's just how we approach it and I think we've been good. We've been good home and away, so at the moment we're kind of flying in our performances. We just need to keep our standards, like I said before in the last interview - never get too high, never get too low - keep doing the same things every week, and come up against new challenges and see how we combat them and hopefully win the game.

DK: Main thing is, like we've said, we're still in the cup!

TA: Hundred percent, in the quarter finals now, Stowmarket at home. Yeah, old club, so that'll be interesting for me, and seeing some old faces, we played them in pre-season, they'll be tough. Every team that we play is going to be tough, no matter who we play, it could be step 6, could be step 7, I still believe it's going to be a tough game. So, yeah we'll give them all the respect, and hopefully we'll again play the way we did today, just have that passion, have that hunger, and to be able to win, to win the game and get to the semi final and hopefully go for a 4-peat of this cup.

DK: Basically take every game as it comes?

TA: Every game as it comes, that's in the league, that's in any cup, we done that in the FA Cup, even with the FA Trophy, we did lose first game, but we still had to take it as it comes and unfortunately we lost that one. But yeah, we just keep moving forward, we have to keep moving forward. 

Manager Kevin Horlock reflects on last night's win.

DK: Not pretty, but still in it!

KH: Yeah, it was about getting through. It was always going to be difficult coming here, obviously the pitch was heavy, and the way they set up I don't think I've ever seen it before really, I think it was a goalkeeper, nine behind the ball and one up top, and it's difficult to break down at times. There's a lot of bodies, but we were resolute, we kept going, we got the winner in the end, so I'm pleased, albeit bored during the game- and its not one I'll watch back. There wasn't much, I think a few of the lads have said they might have to go to gym tomorrow, because they've not done much in the game but we're through to the next round, and that's what we've come here for.

DK: Having made a few changes, does it make it a bit more pleasing?

KH: I expected to come here and win, obviously I would've liked it to have been by a bigger score margin, but when people sit behind the ball like that it's difficult at times and if you want to get through, and we have, obviously it was a little bit, not nervy but, touch and go at times. But t you have to deal with it when you come to places like this, and you're up against it, you've got to dig deep and I thought the lads did that, and we're through to the next round. That's the main thing.

DK: But coming from behind is something we haven't had to do much this year. 

KH: No, and then that's pleasing. We don't want to concede goals, if this is a league game I don't think we do. I think we're probably little bit off it defensively we knew we probably could be, which is a little bit disappointing but we got back in the game. That's pleasing from that point of view that we pegged them back and got what we deserved in the end.

DK: Is there anything that pleases you tonight?

KH: I got to rest players, I think the biggest, or the most pleasing thing or me, was seeing Byron in a first team shirt again, I thought he did OK. It was probably quite a nice game for him to be involved in, because they didn't press and just let us have the ball all over the pitch. Not a great surface for him to play on, but he's played 45 minutes for the first team which pleases me on my birthday, it's the best birthday present I got today.

DK: To be dominant with possession, is the only disappointing thing that, there wasn't not many in the game overall, but that weve not had many chances at goal?

KH: Well it's difficult, they had nine people strung along the edge of the box so it makes it very difficult. There's no space really to run in behind, and there's not many gaps, so it lent itself. I feel for the people that have come and watched it really, the way the game set up, but it is what it is. We're through, so that's the pleasing thing, we wanted to be in the next round, Stowmarket in the next round at home, so we look forward to that!

DK: It's nice to see Seth back on the scoresheet.

KH: It was a great finish to be fair to him, he's made a good run across the fella and got good contact with it and scored, so I'm pleased for Seth, and obviously Pagey's come on and got the winner which is good when forwards are scoring, offensive players are scoring goals, it gives you confidence so that's pleasing.

DK: Pagey came on and added that extra dynamic to us.

KH: They weren't really moving out of the holes they were sat in, they weren't really marking, they were marking spaces, just strung along the edge of their box so Pagey's someone that can shift the ball and go past people and find little pockets, so that's the reason we've put him on there and he's popped up, scored the winner.

DK: He almost got it (the winner) a bit earlier, when he struck the post.

KH: Yeah, he was unfortunate to be fair, I think he's hit the outside side of the post and went out for a throw-in didn't it, but yeah he added that little bit of a spark that we needed, because like I said it is very difficult to break teams down when they sit 9 on the edge of the box. 

DK: Tev's corners worked a treat.

KH: Yeah, to be fair Dan rose well and it came at a big moment actually, because obviously they get the goal and they get up leading, and sometimes it can make it even more frustrating. You start panicking, it was a good ball in, and Dan rose well and it was a firm header to get us back in it, so yeah that was pleasing. 

DK: I think we've got 4/5 players all level for top scorer now, so that's interesting to see unfold.

KH: Yeah look, we're scoring goals from all different areas, midfield are chipping in, we've got wide players, obviously Jamie's back and scored a couple the other day, so yeah it's nice that they're shared about, because that means you're scoring goals freely and from different areas so I don't know what they're all on, but like you say they're all in and around the same mark so hopefully they can add, everyone can add a few more by the end of the season.

DK: Hopefully on Saturday at home to Nuneaton, who aren't enjoying the best times of late.

KH: Nah, that's a big game for us, obviously we've been unbelievable home and away recently, the lads have been tremendous so it's a home game, we need to look forward to that and hopefully turn up. I'm not sure they'll set up like Melford have today, so hopefully there'll be a bit more space on the pitch where we can hurt them and it will be much more of an exciting game.

DK: Was it something you expected, them to sit behind the ball tonight?

KH: Not quite like that, I don't think I've ever seen that, but I knew they'd probably let us have the possession, but I thought pressed higher to give themselves a chance of maybe hurting us more, but I'm not here to question that. Obviously we're through, so that's all that matters.

DK; Just pleased that we've won?

KH: Yeah, that's all we were here for, I don't care whether they sat 9 behind the ball or nine up on our back four, or back three that at times we played tonight. I think we could've played one at the back at times, but that's their choice, I don't care we're through.

DK: You said it was your birthday as well!

KH: Yeah, 21 today, sorry 51, where's the time gone, yeah my birthday today. Just had a quiet one really, and obviously then had a nice night out watching this spectacle. Yeah it was great, I can't wait to get home to bed though.

REACTION | JAKE DYE + TOM ROTHERY POST MATCH INTERVIEWS | NEEDHAM MARKET V BURY TOWN | 08.08.2023 | 2023-24 ENDEAVOUR AUTOMOTIVE SUFFOLK PREMIER CUP FIRST ROUND |

Goalscorer and right-back Jake Dye reflects on the Premier Cup victory over Bury, his goal and the second half comeback.

DK: How can you describe that one? 

JD: Where do you start? First half a below average performance from us, bloody took in what we did Saturday, so yeah 2-0 down, a lot to do. Boys showed character, albeit they went down to nine men, lost their goalkeeper. We started to create chances, started to move them about. To be fair to Bury they were resolute, done their job, but yeah we showed our quality in the end, which is promising. 

DK: And another goal for you tonight! 

JD: Yeah, I don't know, I don't want to use them up already, but went and attacked the ball, come off my head, actually kept my eyes open this time which is always good, but yeah really chuffed with it! 

DK: Must've meant a lot to you lads to have dug deep and came from 2 down to win? 

JD: Yeah, of course, like you say, showed good character, we always knew what Bury was going to do. Especially when they went down to ten men, and then nine men, and being 2-0 ahead we had to pick them off. Our quality showed through, there's still little bits which obviously we're going to work on in training. Need to polish off for Saturday, obviously cut out mistakes, that's the main thing. Tom said it before, we're really, really good before the halfway line, getting to the halfway line, getting to our attacking third and we sorted off played a bit off the cuff and yeah it's things we're going to try and work on for Saturday. 

DK: Yeah, it's that resilience to bounce back from Saturday to then keep the confidence up and fire those goals in. 

JD: Yeah, definitely, obviously first game of the season always disappointing and it's a one off game, then to find ourselves 2-0 down we sort of thought, 'what we doing,' but like I say we stuck together, started passing it, obviously pitch is really nice and we put the chances away when we could. 

DK: Do you think the red cards changed the game? 

JD: Yeah, in terms of finding little spaces, little pockets always helps us, but they had the same game plan when they had 11 men let alone 9 men, so we just had to show our quality, move them about and choose the right pass at the right time. We still missed a few, but to score 4 goals in the end is pretty promising! 

DK: It's the perfect block to move forward with with in terms of confidence and all round. 

JD: Yeah I'd say so to score four goals in the second half, just got to take that performance to Saturday. It's another win under our belt, obviously want to win the cup fourth time in the row, but like you say, take it into Saturday. Hopefully we can play our game and just show everyone what we're about really. 

DK: Three late goals, we didn't do that much last year. 

JD: No, we didn't. That is the one thing we're missing, we kept a lot of clean sheets, didn't concede many goals, obviously the final product let us down last year, but yeah when you've got Seth striking the way he does, getting into positions, making them runs he always looks like he's going to score when he gets in, so I'm really chuffed for him to score 2 and put the away. 

DK: Yeah, all the goals (for Needham) are from former or current club Academy graduates! 

JD: Yeah, you go, that's a good stat, isn't that?! Yeah, we're a tight knit bunch, like I said Seth really deserved it, took his goals well, obviously mine was put on a plate for me couldn't really miss, but obviously lads coming through the Academy score goals is brilliant for the club. 

DK: Do you think you could've possibly had another goal or two tonight? 

JD: Myself? I would never say no, but yeah I was sort of in the right place in the right time, maybe I had one in the first half which I put over the bar. Didn't really find myself in too many goalscoring opportunities, but I'll take the one and hopefully get more in the season. 

DK: Another one (goal) Saturday? 

JD: Fingers crossed, fingers crossed, that'd nice, wouldn't it?! 

DK: Yeah, a big game, at home again, will that help? 

JD: Yeah, I think so, obviously the pitch as it is suits us down to the ground. Halesowen obviously came up, beat Leiston at the weekend, so they're going to be no mugs, going to have to be on the top of our game, but like you say hopefully take the 4 goals in the second half as confidence, train well Thursday, recover and hopefully go again Saturday!

REACTION | TOM ROTHERY | NEEDHAM MARKET V BURY TOWN |

Assistant Manager Tom Rothery also reflects on last night's win!

DK: How do you reflect on last night's game?

TR: Ultimately with cup games it’s always about getting through. First half we were in possession but too slow, not enough cutting edge, not enough runners in behind but again conceding created some of those issues as it then allowed Bury to sit in and counter which they did really well. Bit for us to break that down we need to move the ball quicker and have more fluidity and intensity in our play. 

DK: Would you say the lads showed great resilience to come from 2-0 down? 

TR: They reacted well obviously the sendings off aided that comeback but the first red card comes from making a run in behind which caused the GK to make a decision which he got wrong and it was worthy of a second yellow which then gives us a man advantage. I still think we didn’t do enough at times after that to work the outfield player who goes in goal but Seth’s introduction to the game certainly added that. 

DK: Would you call it a more clinical second half performance? 

TR: In part yes because we scored 4 but with the amount of possession we had we need to be creating more. 

DK: It must've been pleasing to score multiple times late on and score from a corner, both things we didn't really do much last season?

TR: We don’t score enough from corners, last one was the final of the Suffolk cup, it’s something we work on but clearly still need to do more. Hopefully it helps confidence having scored 4 but again that final third area will be something that we will work on Thursday. 

DK: Looking ahead, how important is it to take that momentum into Saturday?

TR: Winning games helps with momentum, every game is important so hopefully it helps but we will need to be better on Saturday to get a result. 

DK: Halesowen will be another tough test, one the lads will need to be replicate the second half performance.

TR: Every game at this level is tough, they’ll be organised. They look like they have good technical players throughout the team and pace so they’ll come with huge threats that we will need to contain and hopefully we will give them some things to worry about.