A name you may not be overly familiar with, but a face I’m sure you’ve seen around Stag Meadow over the last 18 months is Marc Bartholomew. Marc is part of Matt Angell’s management team, and has worked with Matt previously?
“Yes, I was part of the management team at Eversley with Matty & Webby before we joined WEFC. I got involved with them when football returned to normality after covid in November 2021. We had a couple of good seasons at Eversley before moving to WEFC.
I have known Webby for a long time, we went to the same primary and secondary school (albeit I am a few years older than him). However, we didn’t really become friends until he joined Sandhurst back in 2004/05, and we have been close friends since.
I only met Matt when I went down to Eversley. We recently realised that we played against each other in our youth at an Arsenal FC Invitation 11 a-side tournament circa 1998 when we were both teenagers. Although I remember the game I’d be lying if I said remembered or recognised Matty…probably because he had more hair back then. Matty and I are the same age, believe it or not!”
Do you have a specific role in the coaching team?
“Last season Matty asked me to take on the role of the strength & conditioning coach as there was a gap in our management team that we felt the squad could benefit from. However, with Casey coming onboard we soon realised he was far more knowledgeable than me in that subject (I’m a project manager by trade). This season Matt & Webby have given me the title of Assistant Manager, working more closely alongside them.”
What do you feel you contribute to the management team in addition to Matt & Webby?
“To be honest, Matt & Webby both do a great job and they have different roles within the team.
Matt as a leader, providing tactical direction and guidance for the squad and Webby with the hands-on coaching and shaping of the players (with support from Ash, Hayche & Gav).
My role is kind of split between supporting them both. With Matty I try to assist him with the man-management of the players, providing one-on-one coaching and guidance where I can. And although there’s not much I can add to Webby’s excellent coaching, I do my best to help support the key messages, and the way he wants our players to approach the game.
All three of us are very much aligned on what we expect from any player who puts on a WEFC shirt, and at a simplistic level, I try to contribute by instilling our winning mentality into our player.
I always try my best to provide Matty and Webby a different opinion and viewpoint to what they both see. I think this helps by giving a more complete picture between us. There is no benefit in me pointing out something they already see. In terms of what I contribute to the players; I always try to encourage them the best I can and provide positive feedback. And where needed, I give them micro adjustments to help them maximise their potential.”
What are you looking out for during a match….do you get wrapped up in the game?
“When I’m watching a game, I naturally try to absorb what I am seeing in terms of the way we are performing and how the opposition are playing. I then do my best to provide that information to Matty and Webby to assist them with any changes we need to make.
Matty & Webby are great to work with and always take on what I am saying. Between the three of us we have a lot of experience and understanding of way the game should be played.
Anyone who comes to watch us play may noticed how involved and animated I get on the side line. I can’t help myself sometimes from getting too wrapped up in the game.
Matty is too nice to say anything, but he for sure gets annoyed at me yelling in his ear when I’m complaining at the ref. I love to win, but more importantly I hate to lose. One of our players once said I was like a Pitbull on the side line, but if we are being honest, I’m more like a Jack Russell”
What do you do outside of WEFC?
“WEFC takes up a lot of my time (which I provide gladly), but when I can, I like to go downhill mountain biking, and I like to hit the gym regularly. I also still play vets football when my body allows it. In addition, I have a wife and 3 little dogs that like to keep me busy.”
