'More to achieve' - Hurren eyes further success after celebrating a year in charge at Hednesford
Gavin Hurren has set his sights on "more to achieve" with Hednesford Town after marking a year in charge of the club.
After his appointment in late-November last year, Hurren guided Hednesford on a remarkable run to the play-offs, securing promotion to the Northern Premier League, where they now sit four points clear at the top.
Keys Park has become a fortress, with the Pitmen winning eight of their ten league matches on home turf so far. And ahead of tomorrow's clash against fourth-placed Warrington Rylands, Hurren expressed his pride at what the team has accomplished so far.
"It's been a very enjoyable year, a very tough one as well," he said. "We knew when we came into the building that there was a lot of work to be done on the football front.
"Off the field it was very important for us to start building strong relationships, bridging gaps with fans and communities, and working together.
"It has been a really enjoyable 12 months that I am immensely proud of what we have achieved. But, there is still a lot more to achieve.
"Working with the owners, board and everybody at the club, it has been a really happy time. To build the squad we have from when we inherited it to where it is now, I think it is only going one way and that's the right direction."
The Pitmen will be looking for their seventh consecutive league win tomorrow, as well as their fourth straight clean sheet.
However, Hurren is cautious not to rest on their laurels, adding: "This is where people also have to remember how far the club is coming. We are always moving in the right direction.
"It is not always going to be easy sailing or constantly winning, there will be dips and highs. But, we have just got to keep level heads.
"We can't be too high with the highs and too low with the lows. It's about keeping the balance and that is what we try and install in the team, club, the fans. Everyone wants to win, but it's not always that way.
"But we're always working hard, we are trying to build something special."
Warrington have suffered consecutive defeats, leaving them five points adrift of Hednesford. However, they remain the league's highest scorers, with 40 goals so far this season.
Hurren continued: "They have had a fantastic start, they are a really good team. But, I find myself saying this about every opposition, it is a really relentless league.
"We have to prepare, apply ourselves and have a game plan. We are going to take it to them, and win, lose or draw, we will wear the badge with pride."
Elsewhere, league rivals Rushall Olympic visit second place Lancaster City. Rushall sit 18th in the standings, two points clear of danger, and without a win in their last four league outings.
In the Southern Central Premier, play-off chasing Halesowen Town host Kettering Town looking to extend their unbeaten run to five league games while strugglers Stourbridge entertain AFC Sudbury.
In the National League North, Kidderminster Harriers visit high-flyers South Shields buoyed by the return of forward Ashley Hemmings.
Hemmings netted 94 goals in 246 appearances across more than five years for Kidderminster, including 34 goals in all competitions last season, before joining Dagenham and Redbridge.
He has now re-joined Harriers on an initial loan until the end of January.
