Downham reflect on huge progress

Downham Town’s 2017/18 campaign can be summed up perfectly in one word - progress.

The Memorial Field outfit made giant strides on the pitch, going from strength-to-strength after Paul Neary took control of first team affairs following the departure of Pawel Guziejko.

Neary, assisted by Ray Harrison, led Town to their first Norfolk Senior Cup final since 1968 and guided Downham to one of their highest-ever league finishes.

After a change of manager at the end of September, Downham never looked back.

They gained momentum and started to climb the Thurlow Nunn First Division standings which Neary put down to the installation of a new philosophy at the club.

Neary said: “We didn’t change much when we came in.

"We didn’t go and sign a new squad or anything like that, we just sat everyone down and this is what we want to do going forward and everyone bought into that.

“It was a change in philosophy, a change in attitude and it made a huge difference.

“We worked for each other, never thought we were beaten and didn’t fear anyone.

“That mental attitude helped us to achieve more than anyone though we were capable of last season.

"I think it will take us ever further next season and we are not looking to stand still.”

It remains clear Neary has high hopes for his squad next term and who can blame him.

His side achieved so much in a short pace of time throughout the 2017/18 campaign.

But having turned a few heads with their Norfolk Senior Cup run, Downham won’t be seen as an easy fixture, as has been the case in previous years and rightly so.