Barton ‘curse’ strikes Crosses!

There’s an in-house joke at Four Crosses FC that Mike Barton has brought a curse with him since joining the club, but the manager is not laughing after three straight defeats.

 

Barton joined the Spar Division Two side after quitting as manager of Guilsfield for a fresh challenge at Technogroup Welshpool; a challenge which ended after a month following a fall-out.

 

He has returned to playing and joined close friend Nick Popyk’s side which has lost three on the bounce with Barton between the sticks.

 

“It is my worst run as a manager,” said Popyk who enjoyed an incredible pre-Christmas unbeaten streak that elevated them to second. “It’s becoming a bit of a joke that ‘Barty’ is our curse but, joking apart, he has been great for us both on and off the field.”

 

Crosses were poor in defeat to Aberaeron, but Popyk believes the club were hard done by in defeats to Llanfair in the final stages and in extra time to Division One side Dyffryn Banw in the Central Wales Cup. It adds up to the young manager’s most challenging time to date.

 

“It is my worst ever run during my 3 1/2 years as a manager,” he said: “And that includes the early days when I was running both Saturday and Sunday teams.

“I would say we had a bit of luck when we were on our strong unbeaten run and that luck has deserted us this past few weeks but I’m sure it won’t be long before it changes.”
 
Off the field the club is moving. Ground improvement grant money is secured and work will start on the hardstanding around the pitch soon. Attendances are up and interest from parents in providing their children as mascots and ball boys/girls is increasing.

 

And, following a story on mywelshpool last month, the club has been inundated with interest in a reserve team and an appointment is imminent.

 

Frustratingly the club is without a fixture for two weeks but Popyk said the players will be kept bust with two friendly games. He is also looking to strengthen further by placing seven days on tough tackling Morda man Stuart Johnson and adding youngsters Harry Gunn and Jack Brayne to the squad.