The Derby Men’s 1sts manager has outlined preparations and provided a view on what next season could resemble for his side.
Derby only needed a point at home to Oxford Brookes 1sts to secure promotion to the Aldi Men’s Midlands Tier One last season. The team collected 19 points from 10 fixtures to finish as runners-up to Loughborough 4ths.
The side’s promotion provides the tantalising prospect of subsequently progressing to the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) top division if they can repeat the same feat next time around.
Unsurprisingly, the opportunity is the fixation of manager Liam Sutcliffe.
He has taken significant steps to ensure professional standards and experiences throughout his squad.
Equally he is level-headed. Sutcliffe made little secret of the strategic preparation and reinforcement of personnel that his side must undertake first.
“We’ve been promoted, we’ll be in tier one next season. We are hoping to be competitive and challenge, which will then take us up to the top division,” he explained.
“I think for the players individually and as a group, they’ll face some tough challenges next season. But with the new additions, the structure we’ve been able to build off the pitch in terms of medical, psychology and analysis support, we’re really functioning like a good professional club within an academical environment.
“We are recruiting. We’ve brought in three players with high potential to add to the current group.
“We’ll probably bring in a further eight players whose backgrounds are from professional football clubs,” Sutcliffe added.
“Do I know where the players are and who they are? Yes. I think those players are going to come in and make a difference.”
With a “holy grail” recruitment process, Derby conduct due diligence on all prospective arrivals before they are signed. This enables squad bolstering while persevering and enhancing the team atmosphere.
“If we’re going to get this right and recruit well, first and foremost they’ve got to be good characters and good people. They won’t fit into our dynamic or family atmosphere,” Sutcliffe said.
“Then from there, we will look at the standards they have individually and the expectations of themselves. Somewhere way down the line, we’ll get to look at what we can achieve collectively to enable that player to be better.
“At that point, we’ll bring in the players.”
Such provisions are the same as professional procedures, which the former Chesterfield coach has stuck to since taking over in October 2023 following the inaugural University of Derby’s men’s football club’s partnership with ProChance that summer.
Sutcliffe is the head coach of ProChance, a programme which provides pathways for released academy players to return to the professional game.
The collaboration has welcomed a number of former academy prospects throughout the UK to the University of Derby as part of the ProChance project.
This will now accommodate a variety of exciting pre-season fixtures for the team ahead of next campaign.
“I’m very much looking forward to it, but I’m really looking forward to the whole,” Sutcliffe said of the 2024/25 season.
“It’s going to be challenging, and there will be challenges as we go forward, but I think it’s going to be pretty amazing.
“I’m looking forward to playing as many professional clubs as we can, playing in Scotland, Ireland and Spain. I don’t think there’s many programmes of this kind that would go and play a top-flight (LaLiga) club in Spain or a Premier League club.
“It would be for the right reasons,” he continued.
“We’re going there to showcase who we are.
“The players that we have and the whole package is pretty impressive and something to look forward to.”
Thomas Gibson
Supporter Thomas Gibson is equally upbeat about what the future holds for Derby.
Gibson watched the team most weeks as they romped to promotion.
Naturally, he is also impressed by the preparation that Sutcliffe has directed ahead of next season.
Gibson said: “(These are) huge experiences for the players, ideal for them to get in the shop window which Liam always speaks about.
“He wants the best for his team and provides several opportunities for individuals to represent themselves. Liam is a fantastic manager with tonnes of experience. He can take these players to the next level.”
Gibson acknowledges the natural step-up in quality and the challenges that Derby will face with a squad upheaval.
However, he remains positive about the team’s chances in the 2024/25 season. Gibson believes that the ProChance scheme is a significant benefit for Derby.
“It’s definitely exciting,” he said.
“No player wants to be released by a club. But what ProChance offers is no different to academy football.
“ProChance is something so unique that it definitely attracts players to Derby.
“It is absolutely huge, especially for those wanting to get back in the game. He understands the game and knows how to give information to those with potential.
“I’m sure that (promotion to the BUCS top division) will be the priority for Liam going forward. His team are definitely capable with the talent in the squad no matter who comes in or moves on.”
