Pinchbeck United manager Lewis Thorogood says there’s plenty more work to be done as a year into his tenure he continues to re-establish the Knights as a step five side.
The former Spalding United boss came in during the second of the two COVID curtailed seasons, in both of which Pinchbeck were rock bottom and facing relegation from the United Counties League top flight.
An over two-year winless run was brought to an end in September and although Pinchbeck have struggled in the last few weeks, conceding 16 and scoring none in their last three games, Thorogood believes they are progressing.
“I always knew that coming to Pinchbeck was going to be a challenge,” he says on the anniversary of taking charge.
“After a few years of success they’d had several years of rockier times and, let’s be honest, only COVID-19 stopped them dropping from step five.
“I saw my job as trying to stabilise the club and look at it as a whole.
“It’s been a long process and a hard slog at times to get people to come here, but it’s been ok despite the fact we’ve hit a rockier patch.
“A lot of the ground work was done in 2020.
“The first lockdown was about trying to regroup and rebuild and we used the end of season cup to prepare for this season and started to see shoots of green.
“It allowed us to rebuild the confidence and positivity we lacked at first.”
Nearly a quarter of the way into the United Counties League Premier Division North season and Pinchbeck are fifth from bottom, something that looks healthier than when they were stranded at the bottom for the past couple of years before the season’s were cancelled.
The last three results, including Saturday’s 3-0 loss in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup, however have set them back.
Summing up the season, Thorogood said: “August wasn’t bad and we picked up four points and narrowly lost out to Skegness in the FA Cup.
“September was a great month where we remained unbeaten in the league.
“October has been rockier but you’re going to get ups and downs when you’re still building the club up on and off the pitch which includes putting on events like the fireworks display this Saturday.
“There’s still a heck of a lot of work to do and we’re still a way from the end product but it’s been an interesting year and we’re certainly in a better place.
“When I came in I needed to help make Pinchbeck United a respected and sustainable step five club and we’re making steps to get there.
“Every day is a new challenge and there’s a lot more that we’d like to do.”
Thorogood was pleased that Pinchbeck were able to create more chances against Skegness but is concerned at the lack of goals currently.
And he’s looking to bring more players in to go with Archie Moyses returning from Lincoln United and the signing of former Sleaford and Blackstones keeper Caleb Pipes-Goulsbra who saved a penalty on his debut at Skegness.
“The big thing for me is we’re lacking up front.” He said. “We seem to be lacking that.
“If we can just get a lead I fancy us to go on and win.
“We’ve got a little break now just to freshen up, work on a few things and we may be able to bring one or two more players in.
“I think it’s one of the most competitive step five leagues I’ve seen in terms of the quality of the opposition which has been superb.
“The Leicestershire, and particularly the Nottinghamshire, sides that have come in have just increased that quality and it seems like more of a step four league now.
“In turn that’s making everybody step and sharpen up .”
