The year 2016 will certainly be remembered as the year everything changed at Spalding United.
With hugely respected duo Marcus Ebdon and Danny Hussey walking away from their long associations with the Tulips in April, the last remnants of Pat Rayment’s successful stint at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field essentially went too.
Enter Dave Frecklington, who has proved to be an inspired choice to lead Spalding into, as Ebdon put it, a “new era” at the club.
The former Lincoln United chief arrived with talk of promotion inside his three-year plan – but already looks to be way ahead of schedule.
Indeed, the Tulips are looking odds-on to clinch – at least – an Evo-Stik NPL First Division South play-off place in 2017.
A total revamp of the playing roster – only Michael Duggan, Nathan Stainfield, Paul Walker, Neal Spafford and (via Holbeach United) Adam Jackson remain from the old squad – has worked superbly for Frecklington, giving the Sir Halley faithful real cause for optimism this year.
We’ve picked out seven key moments from 2016 for you in our review of what was another strong year for the boys in blue…
JANUARY: 150 not out for Duggan
Loyal keeper Michael Duggan kept a clean sheet in his 150th Spalding United appearance as the Tulips drew 0-0 with Sheffield FC at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
It was the highlight of an otherwise unremarkable Evo-Stik NPL First Division South clash.
Then boss Marcus Ebdon said: “Reaching 150 games for the club is a great achievement and it’s nice for him to mark it with with a clean sheet.
“To spend so long with one non-league club, these days, is very rare and he should be congratulated for that.”
The Tulips presented Duggan with a framed ‘outstanding achievement’ certificate (pictured) to mark the occasion.
FEBRUARY: You must be Josh-ing!
Spalding United supremo Marcus Ebdon was left baffled as star striker Josh Moreman dropped down two levels to sign for UCL Division One side Peterborough Sports.
The Tulips’ leading scorer had snubbed a move to higher-graded King’s Lynn Town just two weeks earlier – and followed Jake Newman (Stamford) and Mitch Griffiths (Lincoln United) out of the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
Ebdon said: “I can’t pretend to understand Josh’s mindset.
“I guess some players these days are just of a different ilk from my day.”
APRIL: Ebdon and Hussey leave their posts
Boss Marcus Ebdon admitted that it was “the end of an era” after he and number two Danny Hussey resigned from their roles at Spalding United following the final game of the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South season.
The Tulips finished a satisfactory campaign in 12th place are were held 1-1 by Leek Town in their Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field finale. It marked the end of a four-year Tulips stay for both men, having both worked under former boss Pat Rayment.
Ebdon won nine, drew ten and lost ten of his 29 games in sole charge.
Ebdon said: “I’ve had a great four years here, it’s a great club with great people. I’ll certainly miss all of them. It’s time for a new era here.”
MAY: New boss talks up historic promotion
Spalding United pulled off a real coup by enticing highly-rated Dave Frecklington to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field as their new manager.
The former Lincoln United, Stamford, Grantham Town, Spalding and Lincoln City (youth) player brought trusted assistant Chris Rawlinson with him to South Holland – and immediately targeted what would be a historic promotion.
Frecklington – who led Lincoln United to the play-offs in 2015/16 – revealed a three-year plan to get the Tulips promoted to Step Three and also described them as “ambitious” and “the right club” for him right now.
He said: “The biggest thing for me about Spalding is the ambition of the club. We’ve agreed a three-year deal here, which will involve stability first and foremost.
“Obviously, I’ve got ambitions to manage at a higher level and I feel that Spalding, at the present time, is the right club to help me do that.”
“From what I’ve been told, promotion is the aim for me – whether that happens in year one or year three.
“The foundations of the team are already there, it’s just about making sure we touch the squad up in the right places.”
As well as sealing Frecklington’s signature, Spalding also announced that highly-rated skipper Nathan Stainfield had signed a contract to remain at the Sir Halley for at least another season.
JULY: Tulips stun Pilgrims in cup clash
A late winner from Rees Longville-Daley earned Spalding United a stunning 1-0 win at Boston United in the Lincs FA Senior Cup.
In what was Dave Frecklington’s first senior game in charge, the 90th-minute goal gave Tulips fans an exciting glimpse at what the future could hold.
Frecklington handed debuts to a host of new signings, including Brad Barraclough, Matt Varley and Nathan Whitehead.
The Spalding supremo also landed Cenk Acar, Andrew Wright, Sam Downey and Chris Hamilton as his rebuilding job continued to gather pace.
OCTOBER: First-ever award winners
Spalding United were named the first-ever ‘club of the month’ in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South after making a blistering start to the season.
The Tulips went top of the table for the first time after making it ten games unbeaten, before finally losing their record with a 1-0 home defeat against Leek Town at the Sir Halley.
Boss Dave Frecklington said: “To be club of the month is obviously great news. I’m absolutely delighted and achieving accolades is always nice.
“We couldn’t really have done much more and that recognition is a nice boost for the lads.”
They did, however, crash out of the FA Trophy with a 4-1 defeat at Gresley – prompting Frecklington to swoop for Conor Higginson, Charlie Gatter and Danny Durkin.
DECEMBER: Title dream after super December
After a difficult November, Spalding United surged back into the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South title race after a devastating run of form in December.
The Tulips beat Loughborough Dynamo (3-0), Market Drayton Town (3-0), Gresley (2-0) and Lincoln United (1-0) to end 2016 in second place, leaving boss Dave Frecklington dreaming of the title and promotion.
He said: “We’ve got a lot of our rivals to play in 2017 – including (then leaders) Shaw Lane and Witton Albion twice. Things are in our hands.”
Brad Wells also ended 2016 top of the scoring charts.
