Village failure won't be tolerated, says Goater
North Village coach Shaun Goater is on a mission to right the wrongs of last season and return some silverware to the club's trophy cabinet.
For the first time in recent memory the Premier Division powerhouse finished a season empty handed and Goater admits that kind of failure will not be tolerated again.
He watched his team breeze to 6-0 victory over First Division outfit Young Men's Social Club in a pre-season friendly at Bermuda College on Thursday night and is confident his team can mount a title challenge this time around.
"I'm more motivated to put things right this year," said Goater. "It's a fact we didn't win anything last season and Village are a club that have always won things. We're never happy just to reach semi-finals, or finish second."
Village finished strongly last season under Goater who took over the reins form Elliott Jennings after eight matches, and the former Manchester City striker believes they will be all the better for having a full pre-season under his stewardship.
"It's pre-season and you need to play games to get your timing, ball control and positioning – all important things," said Goater. "It doesn't make a difference who we play against, it's all vital for players. It was a good exercise and they (Social Club) gave us a good challenge.
"I came in mid-season after eight league games and it's good for me to have the boys for a full pre-season so they understand what I'm about and what my expectations are."
The transfer merry-go-round has seen Village lose influential players Keishen Bean to top-flight new-boys Somerset Eagles and Jared Peniston to Dandy Town, although the Bernard Park-based side have been boosted by the return to fitness of Keith Jennings who missed the majority of the Hogges season due to an achilles injury.
"It's good to see Keith back training again," Goater said. "He's an important player for us and he's been getting a few pre-season matches under his belt.
"We've lost Jared Peniston to Hornets, he'll be a miss. But the only real Village player that's left us is Keishen Bean who has gone to Eagles. Kenny Thompson (Eagles' coach) is Keishen's uncle, so I think that's behind the move and we wish him well."
Goater, who made his first Village appearance for almost 20 years last season, will be registering himself as a player although he doesn't expect, nor desire, much match action.
"I'll be registering myself as a player but hopefully I won't be involved," Goater said. "If things go well I won't need to be involved and I would only be able to play small sections of matches these days anyway."