Longford Town FC manager Stephen Henderson is firmly focused on a serious push for promotion

Longford Town begin their 2024 First Division league campaign when they host Finn Harps at Bishopsgate this Saturday, February 17th, with the game kicking-off at 7.30pm. 

It is a special season for the club in their centenary year, celebrating one hundred years in existence, and promotion back to the top flight would be very fitting indeed.

The man at the helm of the squad and hoping to guide Longford Town FC  back to the promised land is Stephen Henderson who was appointed as manager just before the start of last season. 

Henderson had little time to assemble a squad back then and although a run of just two defeats in ten matches had propelled the club  to the verge of the play-off positions, the team ran out of steam and the 2023 season fizzled out.

Henderson has now put his stamp on the squad and moulded together a team that he believes can earn promotion in the club’s special centenary year.

“The squad is going really well. We have learned a lot in our pre-season friendlies but I was disappointed with our performance on the ball against Galway, although  the effort and the endeavour impressed me.

“We want to play a brand of football that creates chances. I was very deliberate in the planning for our last two matches, whereas against Galway, it would be a really physical battle and we would have to dig in and then against Shelbourne, the opposition would play a lot of possession football. 

“So tactically, I wanted to see how we would be able to deal with both types of opposition in diverse types of games. 

“We were very good against Drogheda, Dundalk,  Shamrock Rovers and Athlone Town but we were poor against Galway and Shelbourne.  

“The home game against Galway was the first time we played on a normal grass pitch so far this year and that was an immense help to us. 

“Although you would not think so against Galway, we are really good going forward and we will get that right against Finn Harps at Bishopsgate in our opening league match.

“As I said, we will try and play a good brand of football but there are certain teams that will not allow you to do that, like Galway.  

“So those two matches were deliberately planned so that we could experience different styles of football, learn from them and adapt to both types of opposition. You have to have different plans in play to adapt to during a match and those plans are in place,” stated Stephen.

Reflecting on his new signings, Henderson is happy with the additions to the squad which include Jamie Egan, whose father Sean was a much cherished defender with the club in the 1990’s.

“Jamie is a really talented player,  you can see that. Dean O’Shea, Oisin Hand is back, Jordan Tallon is there too, so we have really good defensive options. We have Luke Wade-Slater in midfield and Karl Chambers is also back with the club.  

“Up front we have Dean George and Chris Lyons and we have kept most of the key players from last season, so I am happy with the balance of players retained along with the new signings,” said the optimistic Henderson who will target at least a place in the promotion play-offs.