Jackson-Norris: 'Good sides can win one trophy but a great side is able to win again'

Maidenhead United Women’s manager Ed Jackson-Norris. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Ed Jackson Norris told his Maidenhead United players before Sunday’s Berks & Bucks Cup final against Newport Pagnell Town that a good team can win a trophy once, but great sides are able to go on and do it again in the following seasons.

That’s exactly what this crop of Maidenhead United Women’s players have done under his stewardship - in consecutive seasons in fact.

Last season they managed to overcome Fulham on penalties at Burnham’s 1878 Stadium to lift the Combined Counties League Cup, and less than 12 months later they’ve won the county cup to similar triumphant scenes.

Jackson-Norris and his backroom team have changed so many things behind the scenes in the Maidenhead United Women’s set up, but one of the more subtle things they’ve done is given the players real belief.

They’ve turned them ‘from a team that makes up the numbers’ into winners.

They now know they can come into finals such as this one and perform to the best of their abilities, just as they did on Sunday.

The game at Holloways Park in Beaconsfield was a bit of a strange one, because the Magpies came into the game as slight favourites against their step six opponents - yet they had to manage that expectation and pressure - which they did perfectly.

Natalie Cowell swept home their first two goals before half-time to give them one hand on the trophy, however, it was loosened significantly when Newport Pagnell Town scored from a direct free kick shortly after half-time.

However, a third goal from Macey-Nikiah Walters in the 74th minute restored their two-goal buffer, and they managed the last 10 or 15 minutes well to get their hands on yet more silverware.

Reflecting on another triumphant and emotional day as Maidenhead’s manager, Jackson-Norris told Ian Waterhouse for FC Video: “You can probably tell from the beaming smile on my face. It’s really good.

“We’ve worked so hard in the three years that myself, and some of the coaches, have been here.

“We’ve worked so hard to make Maidenhead more than just a club that simply makes up the numbers, to one that represents a lot of the values in women’s football.

“We’re a team that’s pushing and growing. Some of the stuff we’ve been able to do off the field, in terms of improving the facilities that we’ve had access to.

“We now have a first team and a development team, giving the younger girls in the area a pathway to get into the first team and the National League. But to be able to add to it with the success of last year, and winning a trophy again this year, it’s so, so special.

“A good team can get lucky and win a competition once. A great team is able to go on and win again. This group have shown that they’re a great team. They’ve won again and we’ll see if we can kick on again and win next year.”

Despite their overall dominance, there were some uncertain moments for the Magpies, especially after half-time when Newport Pagnell gave themselves a lifeline and looked like they might be capable of turning the tide back in their direction.

Jackson-Norris knew the third goal in the game would be crucial and it went to their opponents. Yet his side scrapped hard to gain back their control before going on to see the job through in authoritative fashion.

“It felt like a proper cup tie,” he said. “First half, like you say, felt really controlled. We had a system and we’d done a lot of homework on them.

“We felt our system would exploit some of the weaknesses we’d identified. The energy that the girls brought was top drawer and that led to the advantage we had at the break.

“We should have been ahead by more goals. But as happens in cup finals, they’ve come out and managed to create a moment early doors and there’s a bit of panic.

“They (Newport Pagnell) are a good group, really organised and tactically it was interesting for us as coaches because they changed shape a couple of times in the game. Something that we had to adapt to. It made for an entertaining game of football.

“You can see how much it means (to the club and players). Not everyone gets to be involved in a cup final in their playing and coaching careers.

“But to be able to get your hands on the trophy and some silverware and be able to look at your medal. And know that everyone has contributed to it, is brilliant. You can see just from looking at them.”