Published: Thursday, 18th February, 2010 10:21am

Gareth becomes youngest boss ever in UniBond League

Gareth McClelland (right) has taken over the reins at Unibond League One North club Woodley Sports.

Maguiresbridge man Gareth McClelland recently became the youngest manager ever in the Unibond League when he took over the reigns at Stockport based club, Woodley Sports FC.

McClelland will only turn 28 next month but already the former Lisnaskea Rovers player has built up an impressive portfolio with stints in charge at Winslow Albion FC, Cheadle Town FC, New Mills FC and Maine Road FC, while he also works as a scout for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.

He moved to Woodley Sports in January last year in a coaching capacity before taking over as manager in November and having taken the club away from the foot of the table he has his sights set on a mid-table finish to the campaign.

McClelland got his first taste of coaching during a three month stint in America.

"That really whet my appetite for it. I spent a summer in America where I was coaching with US Major League side San Jose Earthquakes although I really got into the coaching first through Manchester Metropolitan University," said Gareth.

Gareth's profession as a teacher took him to Winslow where he linked up with the local club while he also took charge of Stockport Boys.

"I was over Stockport Boys which is the pick of the best boys from 15 schools in the Stockport area and in my last season they went on to win the North West Cup for the first time in their history," he added.

The Fermanagh man admits that he has a real passion for coaching and management and that would seem to have rubbed off on his players since taking over at Woodley Sports last November as they have climbed up the Unibond League North table as well as making progress in the Cheshire Cup. And this was achieved on a shoestring budget.

"When I took over were were sitting second from the bottom with only one win but were now up to 15th and have won eight out of 12 games in all competitions. We have made it through to the final of the Cheshire Cup for the first time in six years where we will play Northwich Victoria in the final so we looking forward to that," he said.

And the young manager is not afraid to give youth a chance is the side.

"Our wage budget would be the lowest in the league so we have to look to young players and we appeal to young players because we are able to give them an opportunity to play at this level. The average age of our side is 19.5 years and one of the biggest buzzes you can get from the job is to see young players progress and move on," commented McClelland.

Gareth also has ambitions of doing well in the game as a manager and climbing up the rungs of the ladder although his only goal at present is with Woodley Sports.

"The first target is to insure safety in the league and hopefully we have that achieved and we will want to push on for a mid-table position and of course to win the Cheshire Cup. Ultimately though my goal would be to manage in full time football. I realise I'm still on a learning curve and I'm only young but I'm in the process of completing my A badges and I would like to do well in the game," he added.