Steve Chettle – A Year At United – the Nottingham Sport

It has officially been a full year since Steve Chettle took charge at Basford United. Here we take a look at the first 365 days of his tenure at Greenwich Avenue.

The Signings

Steve Chettle inherited the majority of his squad from former Basford management duo Martin Carruthers and Mark Clifford, adding a small number of players to begin shaping it into his own.

Callum Chettle and James Carvell signed for the club before Steve Chettle’s official start date. Carvell struggled for minutes and spent time on loan at Belper Town where due to fixture postponements he was unable to get a run of games under his belt. Callum Chettle appeared to be one of the first names on the team sheet, making 34 appearances over the course of the season. Jamie Walker, who had worked with the boss at Ilkeston Town, was added to the squad at the start of the season and made 13 appearances but ended the campaign on loan at Newark Flowserve after a one-month loan spell at former side Ilkeston Town and has since left the club for Long Eaton United.

Cieron Keane and Rev James came in part way through the season, featuring 12 and six times respectively. Forward Ash Worsfold was another player who joined the club part way through the campaign, joining from fellow NPL side Gainsborough Trinity. The lively striker featured heavily, but struggled in front of goal, finding the back of the net on just two occasions in 17 games. Both Worsfold and Keane have since departed with James signing for the new campaign.

16-year old Wayde Hines was signed from Eastwood CFC and was involved with the first team throughout the back end of the season and has joined the club’s academy as a first-year scholar.

Arguably the best signing though was Kane Richards. The former Derby County man was one of Basford’s star performers in Chettle’s first season and could have easily been named player of the season had it not been for the performances of captain Matt Thornhill. Playing 34 times, Richards was in double figures for both assists and goals, earning himself a new contract before the season was declared null and void.

Ahead of the new season several players have departed the club with Chettle moving quickly to improve his side. Coming into the squad are Niall Towle, Jordan Pierpont, Charlie Gatter, Kyle Dixon, James Tague, Marcus Marshall and James Clifton, all of whom will be looking to claim a place in the starting 11 over pre-season.

Basford United’s squad for the new season, Kieran Preston, Jordan Pierrpont, Dom Roma, James Clifton, Stef Galinski, Charlie Gatter, Lewis Carr, Ryan Wilson, Callum Chettle, Matt Thornhill, James Carvell, Kane Richards, Rev James, Niall Towle, Kyle Dixon, James Tague, Marcus Marshall, Wayde Hines.

League Form

When the season was ultimately declared null and void Basford were in a poor run of form, despite occupying a play-offs spot, having lost three straight games. However, that dip in form aside it was a very successful first season in charge for Chettle. His side were unbeaten against the other teams that ended the season in the play-off places, with wins over both Lancaster City and FC United of Manchester to put a smile on Chettle’s face. While a seven-game unbeaten run in the league shows that Basford have what it takes to consistently pick up points.

There were some low points for Basford in the league, a 2-0 defeat away to run away league leaders South Shields and a 4-1 hammering at home to Hyde, show there is still work to be done at Greenwich Avenue, however overall it was a successful first year in charge for Chettle.

Cup Form

It will be a case of the less we talk about cup matches the better for Basford United. Knocked out of the FA Cup in the first qualifying round at the hands of Matlock set up Basford’s season in knock out football. There were wins in the FA Trophy and the Integro League Cup to shout about as they beat Mickleover Sports and Carlton Town respectively by 3-0 score lines. However, in both competitions they were knocked out in the next round with 3-1 and 5-0 defeats to FC United of Manchester and Matlock Town respectively. Their defence of the Nottingham Senior Cup was always going to be a difficult task when they were drawn against Nottingham Forest Under 23’s, but they gave a strong account of themselves losing 2-1 in a tight contest at Greenwich Avenue.

Overall a disappointing first year in cup competitions for Basford and they will be hoping that the new season brings with it a cup run, as long as it does not impact their aspirations in the league.

Dual Role

As well as being in charge of the first team Chettle heads up the clubs’ academy set up and it was a good year in that role with four players making it into first team squads. Richard Wynder, Brontae Wint, Jacob Tyler and Mackenzie Rooney were named as unused substitutes in Basford’s FA Trophy games against Mickleover Sports and FC United of Manchester. Rooney would later go on to make his senior debut in a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest Under23’s in the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup, showing the success of the programme in preparing players for senior football. With the club also adding an under 21s set up there is greater opportunity for their young players to make the step into senior football.

Chettle’s own view

“It was going ok (until the season was voided), we had a really good preseason. We were comfortably in the playoffs at the end of the season and we had a good run at new year, but then we had a bad week at the end of the season where we lost three games in that week, which we hadn’t done all season. There’s been ups and downs all year, but I have really enjoyed what we’ve done and I’m looking forward to building again for the new season. Overall if I had to give it a grade I’d say it was a B-.”