Former Shaw Lane AFC hero Lee Morris is hoping to put 'smiles on faces and points on the board' after being appointed Worsbrough Bridge manager.
Worsbrough, who had lost four matches in a row including a 7-0 thrashing at Hallam four days earlier, won for the first time in six games with a 4-2 league success at Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday under caretaker Rhys Meynell who took over after Josh Wright resigned. Morris – who has previously managed Goole and Frickley – was appointed on Monday and was in the dugout for Wednesday's Sheffield Senior Cup home win over Phoenix, but his new assistant Meynell picked the team.
Morris will select the side for tomorrow's match against Shirebrook Town and the 37-year-old from Cortonwood is hoping it will be the start of rise away from trouble for the Briggers who are currently fourth-bottom, outside the relegation zone on goal difference with 11 points from 13 matches.
Morris said: "I am really pleased. I have been looking to get back into management for a while and I needed it to be a club close to where I live because I have a young family. It ticks all the right boxes for me. The club's aim is to stay up this season and that is what I am focusing on.
"If and when we get enough points to stay up, we will then look to push on further. I don't see why we can't survive this season and look towards mid-table. At the moment, I am only looking at the short-term because, if I don't keep them up this season, I will only be there in the short-term. Ideally I would have a long spell at Worsbrough.
"The whole club just needs stability. I just want to put smiles on faces and points on the board. There will be a few new players coming in but everyone has a chance to prove themselves to me in the next couple of weeks."
Morris was a star striker and assistant manager at Shaw Lane for several years during their rise through the divisions, before leaving to become Goole manager then moving on to Frickley where he was sacked last season. He then played one game for Worsbrough and scored in a 3-0 success over Teversal that kept them clear of relegation, which they have been fighting against regularly in recent years while also battling problems off the pitch.
Their previous chairman took them away from their traditional Park Road home to play at Maltby then Grimethorpe and, although they returned last year, they have come close to folding before finding more stability recently. Morris, who has watched several Briggers games this season, is hoping to increase attendances after crowds of just 30 and 32 turned up to their first two home league matches of the season.
"It would be good to get the crowd numbers up a bit. If we can get some good results and play some exciting football then hopefully the fans will come back. It's been a difficult time but the club is a lot more settled now with some really committed volunteers.
"Barnsley has had a lot of non-league success recently with Shaw Lane, Athersley Rec and Penistone Church and I want the local people to have a fourth team to watch who are winning at a high level in Worsbrough Bridge."
Penistone, Athersley and holders Shaw Lane are yet to enter the Sheffield Senior Cup, as Worsbrough were Barnsley's first entrants in the cup. Chris Walton put the Briggers ahead on seven minutes then, after the visitors levelled, Josh McKeegan made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time. Bridge missed a penalty in the second half but held on to win after a Phoenix player then Worsbrough's Ben Grech-Brooksbank were both sent off.
On Saturday, Armthorpe were 1-0 up at half-time after a Kieran Thompson own goal but Grech-Brooksbank levelled two minutes into the second half then Ryan Pleasants made it 2-1 soon after. Grech-Brooksbank got another and, although the hosts replied within a minute, McKeegan secured the win in injury-time.
