CROSSLEY REASONS SEES 1874 TO SHINE
ASK Damian Crossley what he’s learned as a righthand man, experiences that put him on the path to managing 1874 Northwich, and he answers clearly.
He was in the dugout alongside Steve Cunningham when Buxton were promoted as champions to the National League North in 2022, and was part of Jody Banim’s coaching staff when Ashton United made the same step up four years earlier.
Cunningham even called Crossley’s new employers to endorse his old assistant when a vacancy for manager was advertised last month.
“Working with Steve is like taking a roller-coaster ride!” Crossley told The NLP.
“He’s enthusiastic, passionate, emotional even – but he’s a great man manager, very good at building relationships at a club. That’s definitely something I’ve picked up from him.”
The 48-year-old assisted Cunningham in spells at Colne and Curzon Ashton before the pair switched to Buxton.
Earlier, he moved initially into coaching at a semi-professional club after accepting an invite from Banim to join him at Ashton in 2016. The duo worked together again during a five-month caretaker spell with Warrington Rylands last season.
Crossley said: “For a long while, I wasn’t bothered about being the guy in charge, but that’s changed over the past 18 months or so.
“If I’m ever going to give it a go, then now is the time, and I’m excited to do that at a club that has a reputation for allowing its managers and players to grow without putting them under pressure.”
1874 announced last weekend that the search for a new manager, prompted by the departure of joint bosses Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison after almost seven years in charge, had concluded with Crossley’s appointment.
1874 are a false in position. There is the quality in squad and starting the good. XI is pretty However, need they help Damian Crossley
He inherits a side that sat 18th in the Northern Premier League’s West Division standings before kickoff at Hednesford yesterday.
They had lost their previous five matches, shipping 15 goals. For now, his remit is to extend the Cheshire club’s stay at his level to a fourth season after a successful application to move upwards during a restructure of the National League
System at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.
“I think 1874 are in a false position,” added Crossley.
“There is quality in the squad, and the starting XI is pretty good. However, they do need some help. I do want to change how they play but I’m reluctant to get rid of people for the sake of it – I’ll be fair to everybody who wants to stay.” Tasked with hiring a manager for the first time since Ian Street’s appointment shortly after the club’s formation little more than a decade ago – Bowyer and Goodison were promoted from within in March 2017 – 1874’s board wanted to make a considered choice.
“We feel Damian’s ambition, aligned with his understanding of our ethos, makes him a good fit,” said chairman Steve Richardson.