Ahead of East Cowes Victoria’s Gold Cup final derby against Cowes Sports this afternoon (Saturday), Island Echo has spoken to manager Alex Smith – just days after leading the Isle of Wight club to promotion into the Wessex Premier.
Although Vics achieved considerable success under Graham Daish in the 1980s, the East Cowes side were the ‘poor relation’ of the Isle of Wight’s ‘Big 3’ football teams when Alex Smith took up the manager’s hot seat back in December 2022.
At that point in the season, the Victorians were stuck in the Wessex League relegation positions with only 1 win in 17 games and an average attendance of 80.
East Cowes Vics had not won the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup since 1989. They had not beaten local rivals Newport in a league game for 3 decades. They had never achieved promotion to the Wessex Premier.
But today, Vics are the best-supported side on the Isle of Wight and the whole of this season’s Wessex Division 1. The previously unfashionable East Cowes side are 1 of only 2 Island teams in the Wessex Premier and will appear in a Gold Cup final this afternoon for the first time in over a decade.
Before Alex took over at East Cowes Victoria, he had watched the team suffer a humiliating 1-7 loss to Fawley at Beatrice Avenue.
Alex recalls the experience:
“I watched the game with chairman Mark Greenslade on the far side of the pitch. I think he was embarrassed.
“I was given the remit of creating a team the community wanted to support and families wanted to watch. I was really confident of turning things round. The team just needed guidance and structure.
“Keeper Alex Ram, full backs Harrison Yates and Toby Snow, captain Liam Newbold and defensive midfielder Jordan Chapman were all in the side that were comprehensively beaten. This season, the same guys have the best defensive record in Wessex Division 1.”
Island Echo asked Alex what he attributes Vics’ success this season to, in winning promotion and appearing in the Gold Cup final.
Alex said:
“We show a greater degree of commitment than a typical club at this level. We look after our players as well as we possibly can, which is worth that extra 1%. We put principles into practice to get the best out of each individual.
“Everyone is here for everyone else. The team have a sense of togetherness required to punch above their weight. The young lads care about each other and have a genuine hunger.
“We’ve attracted senior players to the club of the quality of Els (Elliot Wheeler) and Gareth Bricknell. They have chosen us as they see we are going in the right direction. Our success is no fluke.”
On the experience of winning the playoff semi-final and final, Alex has said:
“On Wednesday (the semi final) it was intense. My heart rate went through the roof. The game just passed me by. However, I felt more relaxed at Saturday’s final. We’d achieved what we’d set out to do by just being there and – in a sense – we’d already won.
“Both our opponents had drafted in players from higher divisions, who weren’t able to compete against the commitment of the likes of Raff (Rafferty Boyd-Kerr) and Yak (Jacob Reynolds).”
On Vics’ prospects in the Wessex Premier, Alex says:
“We don’t have any ‘crazy’ ideas. We’ll start off by aiming to consolidate our position in the division.
“We aim to strengthen the depth of our squad and create a bit of competition with everyone fighting for their place in the side.
“We shall treat every opponent with respect. However, our set up – which delivers intensity and a defence that is hard to beat – will allow us to transition. We are more than capable of winning games deep and late.”
Alex is aware of speculation linking him with other sides but is more than happy at East Cowes Victoria, telling Island Echo:
“I have no idea how long I will stay. But I love it here. The club and the chairman are very supportive.
“It is no secret that I was approached by another local club earlier in the season. There hasn’t been any contact since then.”
Alex sees the established Wessex Premier side and cup holders, Cowes Sports, as favourites for the Gold Cup final today, putting Vics’ chances as no higher than 40%.
Alex says of his side’s prospects:
“We have to reach the right levels of intensity for the ‘big’ games.
“The hardest thing to do is to come back down from the high of last weekend (winning the playoff final). However, ‘big’ players step up for the ‘big’ games. I trust our players.”
Cowes Sports face East Cowes Victoria in the final of the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup at the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park) this afternoon (Saturday). Kick off – 15:00.
