New Captain de Havilland Pushing for Promotion

 

 

Towards to conclusion of last campaign, Will de Havilland became no stranger to donning the armband but to have the role set in stone meant a great deal. Asked to describe his initial feelings about taking on the role, de Havilland’s first words were: “Very, very proud.” 

 

“I was honoured when the Gaffer asked me at the end of last season, obviously with when we had the club captains last year, [Alan] Massey and [Craig] Rossy, out for the last six or seven games last year, the Gaffer sort of gave it to me. I think we've done quite well. So, yeah, it was nice for him to ask. I'm looking forward to it.” 

 

An experienced character on and off the pitch, de Havilland has been part of the leadership group at York Road for all of his spell so far. But the new permanent position creates the opportunity for an enhanced role and a few minor adjustments to his style. 

 

“I've got to lead by example a little bit more, which I'm happy to do. I always sort of like to lead by way of playing and always being ready to battle. So, whether it's going good or bad, I'll always show up and be ready to battle. So, yeah, to just try and lead by example is how I'm going to take the role and [use] what I've learned from the previous captain, Massey, who I thought was a really good skipper and really enjoy playing under him as captain.” 

 

Having featured alongside each other 71 times for the Magpies, our new Club Captain could not underplay to role which his predecessor played. 

 

“He's a legend of the club, a really good guy in general,” de Havilland said. “It was really good playing under Massey, he's always willing to help everyone, which is what I'll take from him. Hopefully I pass that down to the younger lads as well. He was always willing to help out, pass on tips and advice, especially to the younger ones. So, I'm definitely going to try and incorporate that because he did it really well for a number of years.” 

 

With Massey and many others departing over the summer, there has been substantial changes to the playing squad at United. de Havilland is looking to embrace the numerous new teammates who will join him wearing the black and white stripes. 

 

“I think it's almost a brand-new squad, really,” he explained. “There's probably four or five of us left. But I think everyone who's come in as gelled pretty well already quite quickly. It's not an environment where people come in and feel a bit nervy and stuff. It seems as if we've already gelled quite well as a team, which is good. And it's shown in the pre-season performances. So, we'll be looking to carry that into the start of the season because I think it's really important we start well this year because we got off to a really slow start last year and it ended up costing us. So, I think starting fast this year is going to be really important - just carrying that momentum on through the season.” 

 

“Yeah, it's been tough this year,” said the 30-year-old. “We've done a lot of work, and I think it was something [we struggled with] last year. I think the lads are fit, we're doing all right injury wise, whereas last season we'd already had like three or four really bad injuries and a lot of surgeries at the start of the season. But this year there's no serious injuries, just a couple of little niggles. But it looks like most of the lads are going to be fit for the start of the season, which is really good news. And yeah, we've worked very hard, so we're in good shape as well.” 

 

As our number 4 enters his fifth season as a Magpie, he wanted to reiterate just how much being part of this club meant to him and what a pleasure it is to represent Maidenhead United on the pitch. 

“I've loved my time here. I think when I came here, I sort of got to know straight away that I was going to love playing here. I get on really well with the gaffer, the staff and all the backroom staff as well. There's a lot of good people in the club, which is the main reason I sort of wanted to stay because, it's important you enjoy what you do – and playing for Maidenhead, I've really enjoyed.” 

 

“It was gutting to go down last year, [it was a] huge disappointment. But I believe that we're going to have what it takes to give it a go to get back up, and I'm really hoping we can do that because the club does deserve to be in the National League. I think it's definitely a National League club, so it deserves to be back up there and hopefully we can do that this year.” 

 

An impressive pre-season has seen United record three victories and a goalless draw against Championship opposition. These games ahead of the season create the positivity and a contagious hunger to carry that form into the season as we look to make an immediate return to the National League. When asked about his aims for the season, Will was assertive: “I'd be disappointed with anything less than playoffs, personally.” 

 

“I mean, giving it a good shot of winning it is what we're really aiming for, too. We saw last year in that league that the last game of the season there was about six teams who could still win the league. So, we know it's not going to be easy, but we certainly back ourselves to be up there and winning a lot more games this year. So hopefully we can go out and do that. And, however we do it, whether we do it by playoffs or winning the league, hopefully we can get the club back up.”