DAN BATEMAN says that Matt Eggleston’s return has given everyone at Wokingham and Emmbrook a big boost.
The duo have been reunited having previously worked as joint-managers of the Sumas for three years before both stepping away from the club in April 2016.
Having taken a year out, Bateman returned to the hotseat on his own last summer, but he now has Eggleston back by his side as part of an ever-growing coaching team which also includes Clive McNelly, Jamie Shepherd and Ben Winship.
And the set-up appears to be working with Wokingham now on a run of four straight wins, including’s Saturday’s 3-1 success at Penn and Tylers Green and the impressive 1-0 victory over Premier Division outfit Reading City in the Hellenic League Cup at Larges Lane.
Wokingham youngsters crowned British champions
“Matt has come in again to help me out and he’s fantastic at getting the team spirit going and getting all the lads pulling in the same direction,” boss Bateman told The Wokingham Paper.
“We work really well together and now it’s a really good place to be.
“We’re hoping we can carry that on now and try and get ourselves back somewhere near the top of the league and challenging come the end of the season.
“Matt’s one of my best friends and I’ve been close to Matt for a long, long time.
“Even when I came back last year I spoke to him and it wasn’t the right time for him with family and work commitments.
“Matt’s always known that the offer’s on the table and as soon as he wants to get back involved I’ll happily get him back involved with me.”
He added: “It came at the right time for us.
“We were lacking a little bit of experience and although he’s not an experience on the pitch, he’s good with the lads off it.
“The young lads in the squad have taken to him and we’re in a really good place as a club now and moving forward.
“Hopefully we can use this as a springboard now for the rest of the season, get on a run and start to move up the league and hopefully do well in a few cup competitions as well.
“The thing is with non-league football, there’s so many jobs to do and you do need plenty of help.
“So it’s great that I’ve got my management team somewhere where I want it now.
“We’re strong and let’s hope we can use it and benefit the lads as well.”
Sumas have also been busy improving their team on the pitch.
Sean Woodward has returned again in goal having missed the start of the season due to his cricket commitments with Finchampstead CC and he proved his worth with a brilliant display in the win over Reading City.
And there is also a new arrival in the shape of former Sandhurst Town captain Harry Oakley, with the centre-back expected to make his debut when Wokingham go to Penn and Tylers Green in the league on Saturday (3pm).
“Harry’s been a good player at this level for a long time,” said Bateman.
“He’ll give us a bit of experience and a little bit of leadership.
“We’ve got some really good young players there but where we are lacking is a little bit of experience so I was on the lookout for an experienced centre-half to come in and he can help the younger guys.
“Charlie (Dean) who plays in there is 20 and (George) Marsh is 19. They just need someone with a little bit of know-how.
“When you look at the games we’ve lost, we let ourselves down on the experience side of it and we were probably a little bit naive.
“So to bring a player in of Harry’s quality is a great fillip for me and I’m really pleased with it.
“Hopefully we can bed him into the side nice and quickly.”
Sumas are up to sixth in the Hellenic One East table and go to Holyport in the Subsidiary Cup on Thursday night (7.45pm).
