Former Premier League manager drafted in to help Britain’s worst football team turn around their fortunes
BRITAIN’S “worst football team” has enlisted the help of a second former Premier League manager in a bid to turn their fortunes around.
Cym Albion FC play in the Swansea Senior League and have been around for 100 years.
Despite their history they have struggled for results, losing every single game last season with a goal difference of minus 191.
Their woes saw Specsavers step in, with the opticians first turning to Harry Redknapp for help.
The former Tottenham boss took a training session last December, with Cym subsequently winning for the first time in three years.
Following Redknapp’s impact, Cym have now turned to local hero Garry Monk.
The former defender, 45, played for Swansea for 10 years and went on to manage the club.
His impact is still felt among locals, with Cym defender Chris Pippins basing his game on Monk’s.
Prior to landing a new job as Cambridge boss last week, the former Leeds, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday boss took time out to visit Cym.
He said: “This is a great campaign by Specsavers because it offers exposure to what is the core of football in the UK and around the world – grassroots – in a unique and fun way.
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“That, coupled with the fact that the team are based in Swansea, where I have playing and coaching history, I just had to get involved and meet the only person in the world who has ever based their game on me!”
In addition to Pippins, Cym are full of characters that epitomise the beautiful game at its grassroots core.
Experienced midfielder John Rees is still going at 73 years young.
Winger Shane Prior even admits to having “legs like Bambi”.
Spare a thought for goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, however, as he is still looking for his first clean sheet ten years into his time with the club.
Monk, meanwhile, has returned to the dugout with Cambridge after four years out of the game.
He replaced Neil Harris, who jumped ship just 14 games into his tenure to return to Millwall.
Monk will have his first game in charge tomorrow when the U’s host Northampton in League One.