From Youth Team To First Team In Quick Steps
31 Aug 2009

John Farrow took over the first team in October 2008 after predecessor Mark Sansom resigned to take up a new position as Braintree Town reserve team manager.
John had only just established himself as Barnstons Reserve team manager when he was invited to take up the management of the first team.

Johns first job was to settle the depleted team and recruit new players to replace the players that decided to go with Mark to Braintree. The loss of five key players to Braintree Town made a huge hole in the squad.

Sadly, John found it difficult to recruit players who had already established themselves with other teams. This made it even more difficult to achieve anything. The team struggled with player availability week in, week out, and John was often called upon to provide players for a depleted reserve team too.

John believed in the nucleus of the team and those players who chose not to abandon ship have both Johns, and the clubs sincere gratitude and respect. John remained positive throughout, even in the face defeat and believes that with a little more work and one or two more committed players, Barnston could turn it's fortunes around.

John continued to face the challenges of the job and did not flinch in his responsibility or his commitment to the players and the club. John Farrow has always believed that the club has great potential and Barnston are capable of good football.

John gave up his previous roles within the club of Youth Chairman, Treasurer and Child Welfare officer to concentrate his efforts on the first team.

He says that after many enjoyable years in charge of the youth section and some degree of success with his own youth team, the development of the soccer school and further development of Five other youth teams within the club, he cannot continue with the youth section and still focus his attention on the first team. Something's got to give.

John wishes all the youth team managers every success for the future and hope that the youth project continues to grow and flourish. It is Johns true belief that all football clubs needs a well organized youth section to provide home grown talent for the senior teams future survival.