Dave Anderson has promised that he will be a much calmer presence in the dug-out this Sunday!
During his three years as Wimbledon manager, Dave was prone to the odd outburst from the touchline, but that’s not been as prevalent during Chertsey Town’s impressive run to Wembley.
In an extensive interview ahead of Sunday’s FA Vase Final against Cray Valley Paper Mills, Dave said: “I’m an experienced guy now and the art is to stay nice and calm. You have to look nice and calm, no matter what you are thinking! I’m okay with that now, I’m in a different place. I came out of retirement to do it. I’m not as edgy and twitchy and I’m a bit calmer in dug outs these days! I know people won’t believe that, but it’s absolutely true! Of course, I’m looking forward to it, to be going to the national stadium.”
Dave added though that his experiences at Wimbledon helped to cope with the pressure during Chertsey’s run towards Wembley.
“In the latter stages of the FA Vase it helped me that at Wimbledon we dealt with that sort of pressure every week. That sort of focus and intensity. Without a doubt that has helped me to get the side this far. I joke with the lads, I’m trying to remember the game, but I think it was Northwich away and there were 800 or 900 there and the boys were saying, ‘there is 900 at the game today’. I said to them that if they wanted to see 900 at Wimbledon, you just had to go out at half past one! By 2 pm back in the day there used to be 2,000 fans, so I always wind the lads up about that stuff. It is beneficial to be experienced going into these games and my big experience is the three years at Wimbledon.”
Wimbledon fans, including Commercial Director Ivor Heller and our former Chief Executive Erik Samuelson will be at Wembley on Sunday, and the Northern Irishman is very grateful for the support.
“There are a few of my former players going, including Micky Haswell, and Wimbledon supporters too, and that’s brilliant,” said Dave. “That doesn’t surprise me. I love it, and I would never take it for granted, but it doesn’t shock me. I’ve always been well looked after when I’ve returned to the club since I’ve left. They always look after their own and I’ve no doubt that they will be there. I will be delighted to see them.”
Take a look at Rob Cornell’s extensive interview with Dave Anderson, which is split into two below.