It’s good to sit down with our manager James Scott to find out a bit more about him and his
previous experience.
(Q) So, James what attracted you to apply for the role?
I did a bit of research among my football friends, and they all said that it was a club that had
‘passion’ and ambition to succeed and with the chance of returning to their Home borough an exciting opportunity not to miss. I want to be part of developing not just a team but a club.
(Q) What was the interview process like?
Very thorough, I had two interviews in fact – it was conducted in a very open and friendly way
by the committee members present and I was able to speak freely on how I wanted to develop the club.
(Q) James, just give us a ‘potted history’ of your football career to date.
I started at AFC Wimbledon as an analyst for their first team and coached their Academy for 4
years and then I moved on to the Crystal Palace Academy and whilst there I took on a
management role at Balham. We won two promotions and the London Senior Cup and Trophy
– then I went to work at Tonbridge Angels (worked with Athan Smith-Josephs brother) at Step
3, this was a great experience especially coaching players at a higher level, we got promoted
and I spent 3 years there in the National League South. At the start of the 2022 season, I joined Margate in the Isthmian Premier League, but I found the travelling too much and left there and have been helping a few clubs since.
(Q) What about playing days?
Next question! Joking aside I did play for my University team which was a very good standard.
(Q) What are your first steps now you are our manager and what are your thoughts on pre-season?
I want to assemble a squad that is happy and settled but most of all energetic and wants to play for this great football club. I along with my fitness coach will be developing a programme that will ensure that we can compete with all the teams in the division and most importantly a style of play that I think we can achieve and everyone ‘buys into’.
(Q) What’s the biggest lesson you can tell a young player?
Work hard, if you do that, then trust it will happen do not go chasing things that you are not
ready for yet. I have seen so many young players go searching for that big move when they
simply are not ready for it and then they fail. It is a harsh lesson to learn but I have seen it so
many times – sometimes it is best to ‘stick with what you know’ and develop there and then
when the time is right, move on.
(Q) When you are not coaching or managing Epsom and Ewell FC, what do you like to do?
I like to watch football either live or on TV, I also watch a bit of cricket and support Kent. Also, I like being around my family and especially my wife.
(Q) Anything you would like the fans not to know about you?
I am particularly into heavy Metal music and especially Metallica