Underwood: 'Some things in life are much bigger than football'

It's been a difficult couple of weeks for all connected with Slough Town, as the club comes to terms with the sudden death of u23s player Christian Rowe and the passing of Neil Baker’s father following a battle with cancer.

Not surprisingly, the club’s performances on the pitch have been secondary to the more important matters happening off it, while joint manager Jon Underwood admitted this week that results have likely been impacted by recent events.

On Tuesday last week Slough Town paid tribute to 19-year-old Christian – who was tragically killed in a road traffic accident – before they were held to a 1-1 draw by Billericay Town.

While on Saturday – less than 24 hours after the death of Neil’s father Keith – the Rebels were beaten 1-0 at St Albans City.

The game was an unremarkable spectacle played out on a difficult surface, however, there was a poignant moment in the 66th minute when play was stopped for a minute's applause for Keith Baker, the former Aldershot Town and Farnborough player.

“It’s hard to know how much impact there’s been,” said Underwood. “Certainly, the Christian one hit the whole club.

“We have players in the squad who were close to Christian and, although he didn’t feature for our first team, the timing was that he was about to.

“With Guy Hollis moving on we were bringing him in for training on the Thursday night, but then we got the news on Thursday. It was a horrific situation, and it did hit the club hard.

“The one with Neil’s dad has been an ongoing situation. He’s been unwell for a while and Neil has dipped in and out of being at football and quite rightly prioritised his dad.

“The past month we haven’t really seen him much. He’s been able to make it to a couple of games but not for training and things like that. Those situations do affect you and we’re not one to make excuses but perhaps we have dropped off a little in recent games.

“We haven’t been at our best and has it had something to do with that, maybe.

“In general terms it’s been tough and there have been lots of difficult, emotional, days.

“You try not to let it detract from the football, but these things do. Some things are much bigger than football and they do detract from the football.”

Saturday was a difficult and emotional afternoon for Neil, but the Rebels family rallied around him, and Underwood expects his joint manager will have more time in the coming weeks to focus on the football club.

Despite the off field challenges the players have faced in recent weeks, Slough remain just eight points off the play-offs with matches in hand on the sides around them.

On Saturday they host one of those rivals for a play-off spot, Berkshire rivals Hungerford Town in what's sure to be a well-contested game.

“I’ve asked myself it I’ve been different when Neil is not around,” he said. “Because we’re very much a double act.

“We bounce off each other. Have I been a bit subdued with him not around? Potentially. You don’t know.

“Saturday was very difficult for Neil,” Underwood added. “We had that really touching tribute during the game, which we weren’t expecting and they’re the ones that kind of knock you sideways when you’re not expecting them.

“Neil was a bit emotional on the side lines as you might expect.”