A PROFESSIONAL approach has been the key to success for Banbury United – and manager Andy Whing believes they can keep on flying under the radar.
The Puritans weren't talked about among the Southern League Premier Central promotion candidates but now they must be taken seriously.
Tuesday's victory over Bromsgrove Sporting was their 14th game unbeaten which broke a 60-yearold club record and took them up to third after nine league fixtures.
Yesterday, they took on Bath City in the FA Cup looking to make further history having reached the first round proper last season for only the third time after a 47-year wait.
Whing, below, an ex-pro with Coventry City, Brighton and Oxford United, was appointed in May last year and overhauled the squad for this season, opting for a group.
Despite a reduced budget, they've spent wisely bringing in a head of recruitment and fitness coach, with GPS vests, to head in a more professional di- rection.
Whing, below, an ex-pro with Coventry City, Brighton and Oxford United, was appointed in May last year and overhauled the squad for this season, opting for a group.
“It's just trying to bring those little things that I'd have done as a professional footballer like the food we have after a Thursday evening training session.
“We're trying to do as much as we can as a part-time club. Those little things I've learnt from my professional days seem to be helping at the minute.
“I always remember Michael Appleton coming in at Oxford United. He had an overhaul of the squad, changed the backroom staff and everything about the club. Everything was in place for them to get promoted to League One the next season and they did.
“I learnt a lot from that and working under different managers. We've got a professional mindset within our squad which they've all bought into.” Whing had plenty of thinking time after last seas on 'curter tailment and made ten player changes in the summer.
Their strong start has already turned heads with captain Jack Westbrook signed by National League South side Hemel Hempstead only last week.
“Our players will be looked at and at the same time that will help with recruitment by being able to show that players are going higher,” said the 37-year-old.
“We thought we needed go a little bit younger this season, more dynamic, more athletes in the team, players on the up who want to progress.
“I didn't want players talking about money, when I was a player the conversations were about where the club was going, how do you see me, can we all progress? That's the conversations I've been having with players. They want to progress and think they can play higher.
“We're a good footballing team, they work their socks off, a lot of what we talk about is the off-the- ball stuff. It's a really good group we've got. “We're kind of un- der the radar this season. Our budget is a lot less than last season but we've tried to be clever off the pitch.”
