Andy’s champs march onwards
WHEN Andy Peaks pitched up at Tamworth a little over two years ago, they were fourth bottom and just three points above the Southern Premier Central drop zone.
Fast-forward two years and Step 3 survival has been transfor med into successive titles and a return for the Lambs to Non-League’s top table after ten seasons away.
Peaks’ part-timers have stunned a well-resourced, in some cases full-time, beast of a National League North to become champions.
They won the Souther n Premier Central on the final day of last season. This was almost a breeze in comparison and Peaks couldn’t be prouder.
“They’re both unbelievable – but both very different,” Peaks says. “Last year we were in the ascendency for a long while, we hit a blip and all of sudden with four or five games to go we were quite a few points behind Coalville.
“The momentum we gained to then win six games on the trot and win it on the last day was an unbelievable feeling.
“But I think things were different last year. We had the debacle of having to replay the Nuneatonn game we were winning that got abandoned. That seemed to galvanise the group – it was us against everyone. It was a different mentality last year because we felt we had to prove everyone he were hard done by.
“I still say it was wrong we had to play a game behind closed doors when we were winning 2-0 and it was nothing to do with us. That rankled me and it rankled the lads, we used that to make us stronger.
“This year has been different. No one really gave us a chance. I always thought we’d be able to compete. But that first game against Scunthorpe – who were always going to be up there – and the fact we matched them, even though they beat us, just added to the belief in the group.
“So it was a different feeling. It was still nice to get over the line. It wasn’t the same as last year – but, then, the goal is a much bigger goal. A bigger achievement.”
Peaks places emphasis on recruiting the right characters. In his changing room the Lambs have, he says, a group playing for the shirt and each other.
Togetherness
“I’ve said to the lads for the last couple of weeks, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing and go and achieve something you deserve’. Because they do deserve it as a group.
“None of the lads are on lots of money. I’ve not got any superstars. It’s not the way we run our club. I’ve got a group who work really h
