Greenwood hails players for remarkable achievement

Few believed Borough would be in the comfort zone and it would be visitors Barrow desperate to land three points.

That situation could change if Weymouth fail to beat York tonight, which would mean Barrow are safe from the drop.

What will not change is the fact Borough have had a wonderful debut campaign in the top-flight of non-league.

They go into the final game on Sunday in the top half of the table, with 60 points in the bag, just three less than big-spending Wrexham and more than a number of supposed big-hitters including Mansfield and York.

Not bad for one of the few part-time clubs in this league and one which was playing County League football just nine years ago.

Coach Nick Greenwood, who together with manager Garry Wilson has masterminded the biggest success story in Sussex football this season, admitted Borough went into the campaign with the sole aim of staying up.

He said: “We were going into the unknown and we all felt if we could achieve the same status for next season it would be a massive achievement.

“We didn’t realise we would achieve that with a few games to go. We thought it would go to the end of the season and we would be one of those clubs scrapping for points on the final game of the season.

“We didn’t envisage how it has gone so we are pleasantly surprised.

“You have got to give a lot of credit to the players. They have made adjustments to their lifestyles.

“When we were struggling in November and December, some of these players had been written off, like Marc Pullan and Darren Baker. People said they have come a season too far. They are an example of how the season has changed dramatically.”

Decisions need to made on out-of-contract players in the next few weeks while Borough will also look at the position of on-loan striker Jack Jeffery, who has been told he will not be offered a new contract by West Ham.

Greenwood said: “We are in the process of making those decisions. That process has been on-going for the last two or three weeks when we knew results meant we would be playing in this division next year.

“We haven’t made any decision with Jack. He is on loan until the end of the season. He will be another one we will sit down with but it is also to do with what Jack wants to do. He is a full-time player with a Premier League club and he may want to stay full-time.”

There is plenty to look forward to next season, notably the visit of relegated Luton Town which has already generated plenty of interest in terms of sponsorship, and Greenwood is hoping some of the club’s promising youngsters can be a part of it.

Midfielder Simon Johnson, who has scored for the first team this season, was man-of-the-match when English Schools under-18s beat Scotland last Friday and is in the squad again tonight when they complete their Centenary Shield campaign away to Republic of Ireland.

Greenwood said: “Simon played very well and we are very proud.

“We have some good young players coming through. Our priority is to have a winning first team. If we can achieve that with local players even better. Simon Johnson is an example of one player who is looking very promising. The more the better.

“We have got a number of good young players who might be part of the first team squad next season.”

Andy Atkin, who is making slow progress in his recovery from a groin injury, is the only doubt ahead of Sunday's game when Borough will look to finish on a high against a side they have failed to beat in three previous meetings this season.

Greenwood added: “We want to finish off what has been a remarkable season with a win in front of our fans. We want to finish on a positive note.”

Borough: Hook, Austin, Baker, Pullan, Jenkins, Lovett, Brown, Armstrong, M.Crabb, Tait, Jeffery, N.Crabb, Wormull, Smart, Harding, Miningle, Atkin.

Barrow: Deasy, Spender, Jelleyman, Jones, McNulty, McGill, Bond, Boyd, Walker, Rogan, Logan, McEvilly, Hunt, Martin, Kerr, Brown.

Follow Borough LIVE against Barrow on Sunday at theargus.co.uk/livereports