We are the champions
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Forres Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley found it impossible to hold back the tears after the final whistle as he embraced the players and then the family as the crowd swarmed on to Mosset Park on Saturday.
Talking in the midst of the celebrations he admitted it was difficult to take in, “I never thought I would see this day if I am being honest. I am thoroughly proud of the club, not just the players but also everybody behind the scenes and I am going to enjoy this that is for sure.
“Another clean sheet for us, we have had the best defence in the league and the spirit of the guys today said it all. I was emotional at the end of the game and am sure it will slowly but surely sink in but right now I just couldn’t be happier.”
24 hours later and the Gazette caught up with him again as he strolled into the clubhouse at the Forres Golf Course having completed his round in the Mechanics golf day. It was a more relaxed bonding session for the team who were able to reflect on the events of the previous day.
It was an ideal way to round off the weekend according to the Forres boss. “People can forget the pressure that goes along with winning the title and it was a massive release yesterday but also being able to have a day on the golf course, in a more relaxing atmosphere, but still as a group.
“Leading on from the great celebrations last night everything simply came together on the same weekend and it could not have been planned any better. They say that fate deals you the right hand at time and I think that came to fruition this weekend.”
Rowley has now joined the select club of Highland League winning managers such as Steve Paterson, Gregg Carrol, Charlie Duncan, Bobby Wilson, Harry McFadden and Innes McDonald. It was a thought that hadn’t even come into is mind before we highlighted that face. His response was typically modest. “I tend to underplay my input in things because I do feel that without the players I wouldn’t have been successful this season.
“If you don’t have the players at the club then it doesn’t matter how good a manager you are tactically or in terms of motivating players you won’t go on and win things and it is them that makes my job easier.
“Maybe in a few years or a few days time I might look at things and feel that I am up there, not with the greatest managers by any stretch of the imagination but with guys who have won the title and who have gone on to be legends in their own right, so from that point of view it is exciting but I wouldn’t class myself alongside them.”
Looking at the development of the squad over the last few years it was the arrival of the Fraser twins which proved to be a pivotal moment in the progress towards the title. Rowley underlined just how highly he rates them and credited them with setting an example to everyone at the club, even those almost twice their age.
“We have probably got the two stars of the Highland League in terms of their age and the years that they have to come. We are lucky to have them. The players who have been here for a few years got their eyes opened when Graham and Lee came training with them.
“Nothing is too difficult for them in training and they want to win everything, whether it is sprinting, five-a-sides, shooting or whatever we are doing. Their attitude has rubbed off on the players”
The signing was a real coup for Forres especially given the financial might of other clubs in the area and as Rowley explained it was the atmosphere at the club that proved to be the key factor in attracting them to Mosset Park.
“Graham and Lee were pretty disillusioned with football. They travelled up and down the road to Ross County for many years and it took a while to try and persuade them to come back to football. The decision made to join us was all down to their feeling for the club.
“We took them along to training without any pressure on them we didn’t ask them to sign as soon as they came along we just gave them a feeling for the club. Once they had sussed out their own ideas and found out how well they got on with the other players I think it was an easy decision for them and the fact that they signed three year deals within a few months of being here speaks volumes about the whole environment at the club.
Having looked a key point in the development of the championship winning squad it was surprising to find that the pivotal game in the gaffer’s mind was a match that ended in defeat, the 3-2 loss at Harmsworth Park, Wick.
He said“We were three nil down at half time and didn’t kick a ball and deserved to be three down. For them to come out in the second half and show the attitude that said “right, we are going to give absolutely everything we have got” and we were unfortunate not to get something out of the game in the end. That just enhanced what I thought about them, showing their desire to try and win games in adversity and that proved that day that we had enough about us to go on another run and to go on and challenge.
“The Keith game reinforced that. We hadn’t kicked a ball for 85 minutes, we were 2-0 down and the game was finished but we ended up with a draw and that point has proved vital, that point has seen us win the championship.”
Rounding off the interview Charlie thanked those nearest to him for their support and dedicated his own part in the title win to his family.
“The commitment that my family have shown me by coming to games and by understanding that I am away from them for long periods of time whether it be for training or on the long days Saturdays for the games and it is a credit to them that they have shown their support and this is as much for them as it is for myself.”
