By Jon Couch
AMBITIOUS Julian McCalmon is looking to family ties to help fire a Kidlington title push – with three footballing brothers playing together for the first time.
McCalmon's side more than held their own in their maiden Southern League Central season last year with experienced striker Anaclet Odhiambo, 35, and younger brother Eric, 28, leading from the front.
Now, the Greens chief has finally managed to get the third Odhiambo sibling on board after former Oxford, Stevenage and Brackley Town full-back Eddie, 31, agreed to complete a family reunion after signing from Southern League Premier rivals Banbury United in a player-coach role.
“It was always the joke when we were kids that we could form a five-a-side team, so it's very special we are finally getting to play alongside each other,” Eddie told The NLP.
Successful
“I enjoyed my time at Banbury, but the opportunity of linking up with the manager [McCalmon], my brothers and a club as ambitious as Kidlington was a no-brainer really.
“Not only is it special for us as a family, but the club have three good players who can help them win games and be successful.
“The family are looking forward to us playing together, hopefully with everyone there to watch, they can make a difference to the gate!”
For McCalmon, Eddie's arrival brings a happy ending to an on-going ambition to reunite the Tanzanian-born trio after coming so close last summer.
“We very nearly got all three here last year,” the boss explained. “We had Anaclet and Eddie here but just as we agreed a deal to bring Eric in, Banbury came in for Eddie and we couldn't stand in his way.
“Clet and Ric were massive players in our team last year and it was a huge boost to us that they agreed to sign for another season. Then I got a phone call out of the blue from Eddie saying he has bought into what we are trying to do here and that he too wanted to sign!
“At the time I was looking at another centre midfielder but when a player of Eddie's quality and experience calls you up and says he wants to play for you then you get the deal done. It was no-brainer really.”
Talented
As well as tying down the Odhiambo trio and a number of last year's squad to new deals, McCalmon has also brought in a cluster of top new signings this summer, including talented centre midfielder Declan Benjamin and winger Mark Bell, from Banbury, Cirencester centre-back Ben Brown and North Leigh midfielder Aaron Woodley.
Now, ambitious McCalmon has set his targets high – to win the league and bring Step 3 football to the Oxfordshire village for the first time in their history.
“I only have one target and that's to win it,” McCalmon added. “I was a winner when I was playing and I'm the same as a manager. When it's not mathematically possible then we'll sit down and reassess the situation but until then we'll be going out to win the league. It's the only mentality to have.”
