1 week Ago By [email protected] (James Bedford)
Manager Jimmy Dean wants his Spalding United side to be right in the mix in the battle for honours next season after narrowly missing out on the play-off places. The Tulips finished just three points adrift of a sought-after top five finish in the Southern League Premier Division Central. They ended the campaign strongly as one of the form teams in the division after losing just one of their last 10 games.
That was in stark contrast to the start of the term when they lost six of the opening seven matches with Dean taking over from Elliot Sandy at the end of August. Dean said: "The support from everyone at the club when it was difficult meant a lot. "I've been in scenarios where you get booed but there was none of that and the fans have been behind us all the way.
"The crowds have increased quite a bit and ultimately we'll be looking to do that again. "The chairman has got some big plans going into next year and I just want everyone to keep sticking with us and we'll get to the right end of the table. "We have taken the first step and we now need to take the next one.
"We need to get right in the mix of it and that's no secret because it's what we will be trying to do. "I have every faith that we will be and hopefully it will be an exciting season." Spalding eventually finished in seventh spot after ending the campaign on a high.
They thrashed relegated Barwell 7-1 on the final day of the season after the Easter Monday mauling of derby rivals Stamford. The scoring sprees came after back-to-back goalless draws against AFC Sudbury and Alvechurch which ultimately cost them a play-off place. Dean added: "We've scored 12 goals in the last two games and if a couple of those had gone in in the matches before it then it would have looked different.
"It was how close we were and I was pleased with the final day's performance. "We probably wanted a little bit more from the season considering where we were at Christmas but there's lots to be positive about. "Everyone, from the fans to the community, has been on board with us.
They can see what we're trying to do and where we want to go with it. "There is lots for this football club to look forward to and we're going to be looking to do a bit better than seventh next season." The seventh place was Spalding's highest-ever standing in the non-league pyramid in their maiden season at step three after winning promotion last term.
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