Following the appointment of Duncan Bray and Nicky Handley as Assistant Managers for the coming season, Colls Manager Brendon Ormsby has expressed his delight with his fledgling management team.

Appointments from Within

“When I was appointed to the job,” Ormsby explained, “one of the issues I needed to address was who to bring in as my No 2. Despite spending over three decades in the game at professional and semi-professional level, my knowledge of the teams and players at this level was limited, so it was apparent that I needed somebody with a great working knowledge of the teams in our league and the players at this level.”

“I toyed with the idea of bringing in an assistant from outside the club to bridge the gap. However, the problem was finding somebody who I could trust and who is in tune with my way of doing things. The last thing you need as a manager is an assistant who has conflicting ideas about how the game should be played. It confuses the players and undermines the manager. As things developed, it became apparent that I had the ideal candidates under my nose. Nicky was a great help last season, while Dunc has really come to the fore during the closed season.”

Both Bray and Handley will combine their duties as part of the management team with playing. Bray ended last season on a high, and has looked extremely sharp in pre-season. Handley, by contrast, is struggling to overcome injury, and is currently undergoing an intensive physiotherapy and training regime to regain match fitness.

The No 2 role

Off the pitch, both have demonstrated an intimate knowledge of teams the Colls will be playing against, together with a good knowledge of the players at NCEL, Evo Stik and Conference levels. Both assistants have played a vital role in helping Ormsby to bring the right quality of player to the club – together with goalkeeper Lee Kelsey – as he seeks to enhance his squad for the start of the new season.

However, the gaffer’s right-hand men are not expected to just perform the role of recruiting sergeants. They will also play a significant part in coaching and developing the team, with both Handley and Bray highly qualified coaches.

In choosing his two senior players as his assistants, Ormsby has recognised that the role of assistant manager is crucial, and should enhance the managers influence over his team, whilst also providing a buffer between manager and players. “It’s a different relationship,” the manager noted: “Particularly as the two lads are still playing.”

Ormsby explained: “The relationship between players and an assistant is different to the relationship a player has to the manager. I am sure that Nick and Dunc will be excellent in their roles – they already have the respect of the players while retaining a closeness to their team-mates, but they also understand what we are trying to achieve as a club and have demonstrated great loyalty to myself and the club, professionalism and good judgement. Crucially, they have both bought into what we are aiming to achieve, and to my way of going about things. It’s a difficult balance – being an extension of the manager on one hand, while remaining a friend to the players on the other.”

Nicky Handley

One of the most respected figures at the club, Handley worked closely with Ormsby as Club Captain during the closing months of the 2010-11 season, and is no stranger to striking such a balance. As long-standing club captain, he has experience of “running the side on the pitch.”

During a long and distinguised career – which is, by his own admission, mostly behind him – Handley has graced the British Universities Premier League, NCEL and Northern Counties. He won the UniBond First Division with North Ferriby, and was club captain at Ossett Albion. Having also played for Worsborough Bridge and Emley, he has great experience of the non-league scene from NCEL level and above.

As a captain, Handley is a great leader and communicator, keeping the players on their toes. During pre-season he has taken many coaching sessions, and is focused on helping to get Pontefract Collieries promoted from the NCEL First Division.

As well as combining the roles of club captain, player and coach, Handley sees his role as being a person that the players can use to link themselves and manager. 

He is already a valuable consigliore to the gaffer, who relies heavily on Handley’s input in preparation for match-days, providing Ormsby with enough information to enable the gaffer to make good decisions.

Although Handley’s focus will inevitably be targeted on driving the first team towards promotion, he will also play a significant role in moving the club forward in many other ways. As a Teacher of Physical Education, and currently Head of Year at one of Barnsley’s largest schools, Handley has many professional and coaching qualifications (not to mention a referee’s badge!), Handley is a “football professional”, who loves being involved in the development of young players.

Handley is acutely aware of the role of the club in the community, and committed to helping the club achieve it’s vision. “I would like the community of Pontefract to be proud of the First Team and the Club for what it achieves, and thus get behind the club in numerous ways: from fans, volunteers, and committee, and a whole host of other jobs that are involved in runnining a football club at this level. It would also be great to see the club attract more sponsors, and for local businesses to be involved in the club at all levels. Also, to see the club involved with all the local schools from Junior to Secondary, and any schools of specialist status in Special Educational Needs, where the club can make the link of community club with the young people and their families.”

Handley’s role will also see him being involved in the running of things like summer camps, and coaching sessions run in local schools by the club’s qualified coaches. The club is currently working on a Junior Elite Development Centre, and Handley will play a key role in this.

Duncan Bray

Duncan Bray is a former Barnsley Academy striker who joined the club mid-way through last season, having previously played for Emley FC in the Unibond Premier League at 17 years of age. He is a proven goal-scorer at non-league level, having scored over 60 goals in two seasons for Sheffield FC and over 40 goals for AFC Goole in under two seasons. In total, Bray can boast a total goal count in excess of 250 NCEL/Unibond goals in his career.  His other clubs include Garforth Town, two spells at Ossett Albion, Stocksbridge Steels, Retford, Shirebrook and Worsbrough Bridge. 

Bray has a BSc (Hons) degree in Sport Development and Coaching from Sheffield Hallam University, which gives him a solid coaching foundation. (He also has a Masters Degree in Computer Science, so he should be able to help the gaffer get to grips with modern technology!)

Bray is excited about his new role: “Once I finish playing my ambition is to coach and manage in non league for many years to come. I am fortunate that I have worked with the gaffer 11 years ago at Garforth where we won the cup double. I hope to have similar success working with him and the good squad we have at Pontefract. My job this season will be to simply support the gaffer where needed from the sideline or whilst I am  on the pitch. With my professional coaching background – allied to many years experience on the pitch – I will also be looking to develop the existing players as well as introduce new talent to the club from academy to the first team level.”

Both Handley and Bray are becoming increasingly involved in the development of the club, building links with juniors teams, schools, colleges and academies. To the delight of all involved, both offered their services as referees for the early part of the club’s gala weekend. The kids loved being reffed by senior first team players.

The University of Football

Colls Chairman Guy Nottingham puts a slightly different take on the appointments.

“Part of this club’s vision,” Nottingham explained, “is to become a University of Football for the area. What this means is that we aim to provide support, education and development to ensure that people make the most of their abilities, and this does not stop at players. It includes helping people to develop their coaching abilities and - if they have the talent and the drive - to support them in achieving their managerial ambitions. Dunc and Nicky are both immensely talented guys, with the,, integrity and determination to become great managers in the future.”

With Ian Burchnall also helping with the coaching of the side as and when required, and Lee Kelsey undertaking the role of goalkeeping coach, Ormsby has surrounded himself with a hand-picked team who will, he hopes, drive the club towards the success he craves.

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