Darren Goodall recalls ups and downs in charge of Lye Town

At one time Lye were knocking on the door of the Evo-Stik League First Division South during an impressive Midland League campaign that ended with a fourth-place finish.

But after seven years in charge, Goodall has stepped down so a fresh pair of hands can take the lead role he shared with joint-boss Martin Thomas,

Now Goodall has looked back on his time at the club who he helped make the leap from the West Midlands Regional League to the Midlands Premier.

He recalled the ups and downs and hopes they can continue to rise up the football pyramid.

Goodall, aged 46 and originally from Rowley Regis but now living in Telford, said: “I think it has been a great seven years which has been up and down.

“I would liked to have won a few more trophies but I got the team out of the West Midlands Regional League where they were fighting relegation.”

Goodall took over seven years ago when the club were fighting to stay in the Premier League of the WMRL, but he turned them into title-challengers.

In his third year in charge they endured heartbreak in the last game of the season – when they just needed to win their final game to gain promotion.

“We were one or two points clear and we just needed to win that game to go up,” said Goodall. “But I think it was our first away defeat. We had a great season and had been right up there at the top of the league, but we got pipped to the post in the last game and were left gutted.”

AFC Wulfrunians ended up leapfrogging Lye by one point to win the league and achieve promotion.

But Lye overcame their heartache the following season (2013/14), and were crowned champions.

Since then they have been finishing higher and higher in the Premier Division of the Midlands League. They claimed fourth place at the end of this season – their highest finish in non-league football.

The club enjoyed a great start to the season and had their eyes on finishing in the top two, but they dropped off the pace slightly towards the end of the campaign.

However, a dispute over a new lease on their ground – after Dudley Council proposed to hike their rent by 500 per cent – delayed Lye with preparing a bid and meant they wouldn’t have been promoted even if they had won the league.

But Goodall is confident a new deal will be reached for next season, and expects the club to be eyeing promotion.

He was glad to have finished his managerial stint on a high, where he saw his team beat Loughborough University 1-0 at home in hist last game.

The players formed a guard of honour and he received a send off after the match.

“It was a really magical day and really good to remember,” he said.

Goodall is stepping down because he believes he has taken Lye as far as he can. But he won’t be cutting his ties, as he will be helping out with the committee and watching from the sidelines as a fan.

Despite taking Lye to their highest finish and leaving them in a good position, he feels disappointed he didn’t achieve more with them.

“We are the most talented team in the league, but we didn’t have the best mentality,” he said.

But Goodall paid tribute to the set-up of the ‘traditional’ club.

“Brian Blakemore, the chairman, has been brilliant. He wants the next step now which is to get promoted,” he added. “Next season the club will be thinking they can win the league. They will have the experience of Martin Thomas and Craig Harris, who is one of the most enthusiastic people in football, leading the club.”

And what was his most memorable game in charge?

“It was the season before last against Shepshed, we were 4-0 down,” said Goodall. “The clock said 72 minutes and I banged on three substitutes who changed the situation. We didn’t deserve to be trailing 4-0, but we pulled one back and ended up winning 5-4.”

Asked about his next step in football management, Goodall said: “There has been rumours going around, but I haven’t been approached by anyone.

“I’m in a win-win situation. I either get approached or I get to do things I haven’t been able to do for the last seven years.