What is old is new again in 2022 for South Wagga Warriors FC
The Club is pleased to announce its Senior Men’s Head Coach (re)appointment. Leading the Warriors charge in the Men’s First Grade Pascoe Cup – Andy Heller, in the role he has held since 2020. Southies Media & Marketing interviewed the Sotoninan, lifting up his baseball cap (which he is dangerously close to being too old to wear) and having a peek inside Wagga’s sharpest upcoming footballing brains.
This will be the third year for Souths in the Andy Heller Project in the Men’s Pascoe Cup, looking to continue the upward trajectory he has engineered since taking over in 2020. To assist Heller is Kieren Sargent, Pat Flynn and newcomer Damien Green; bringing years of coaching experience in the Central Coast & Riverina to support the South’s Men’s 1st & 2nd Grade set up. Marketing & Media recently questioned Heller about his hopes & dreams in 2022
Heller grew up in Southampton, England spending time in the Southampton Academy alongside the likes of Theo Walcott. Nearly a decade ago he relocated to Sydney for love – then to Wagga Wagga for affordable housing, where he first found himself at Tolland Wolves and then Henwood Park. Eventually, he saw the light, when in late 2019 Burnsy cherry picked to be the mastermind of the Clubs Senior Men rebuild.
Marketing & Media: What are your hopes & expectations for the upcoming season?
Andy Heller: When I took on the role I had in my mind that it would take three seasons for us to become regular contenders for finals. Judging on how we developed last season, and the players we should have at our disposal we can bring that expectation forward a year. So my minimum expectations this season’s is a finals place, we should be disappointed with anything less.
M&M: What from last season do you want to see in 2022? What don’t you want to see from 2021?
AH: Last season I was really happy with the atmosphere around the club. Everyone got around each other and it was just a fun place to be. I felt like there was a mixed bag of expectations though from the playing squad, and I’d like to see us all realising our potential and putting more pressure on ourselves to increase our levels both at training and come game day.
M&M: You are into your third year as South’s Pascoe Head Coach. Outside of the other Englishmen Andy Gamble and his assistant role at Hanwood FC – Congratulations Andy, you are the long serving coach in the Pascoe Cup. Was there any doubts going around again or anxiety you would not get the gig?
AH: Hah! I didn’t know that! Not to sound arrogant but no not really! I’m confident in my own abilities, and although I’m disappointed in my win ratio as a coach when I look at my time here in proud of what I’ve helped the club achieve.
M&M: How would you define your football philosophy?
AH: I like to play free flowing, high pressure attacking football with a solid hard to beat base. We managed to implement a lot of this in our Pascoe, Gardiner and Blake sides last season which was great to see. The comments I received off the pitch suggested we were both good to watch and hard to play against too which is very important to me, winning games playing boring football is definitely not my style.
M&M: Which match are you most looking forward to?
AH: I always enjoy the Hanwood game the most. They are the standard in the competition, both on the field and off it. However it’s an achievable level for us to get to and I relish the challenge.
M&M: Any youngsters/new signings the Southies family should get excited about?
AH: It’s too early to say regarding new signings really, and although new players will help us push on, I’m actually just as excited to see the same faces returning for another crack as I am seeing new players coming through the gates.