WISBECH Town boss Steve Appleby has praised the influence of his backroom staff as he prepares to celebrate his first year in charge of the club tomorrow.

The 43-year-old - who has won almost half of his 53 games as manager - has enjoyed a successful spell with the Fenmen since taking over from Gary Setchell.

Appleby took Wisbech to their first cup final in nine years last season and saw the club move to its new home in August. Supporters continue to flock to the Tom Wood’s Beer Fenland Stadium as the side push for a top-six finish in the Ridgeons Premier Division.

But Appleby, who spent three spells at the club during his playing career, admits tomorrow’s Wisbech Standard-sponsored match against Walsham-le-Willows should not be all about him.

He said: “I’m nothing without Chris Dear (assistant) and Chas Thompson (physio). We are a team and we work together.

“I have the final say on team selection but I’m certainly a much better manager for having Dearo beside me.

“We’re like a double act I suppose. We like to have a bit of banter, have a good crack and we both like a beer which is always a good sign. However, we’re very serious about our football.

“As players we’d run through brick walls because we both want to win so badly it hurts. We’re still the same now because we’ve got winning mentalities.

“His input is second-to-none, his contribution has been huge and we definitely sing from the same hymn sheet.”

Appleby has watched his side score more than 80 goals in nearly 5,000 minutes at the helm. And despite obvious improvements being made on and off the field at the club the Boston-based manager insists his work is only now beginning.

He said: “When we arrived we were mid-table and we knew we had to improve.

“We wanted to build a successful youth and reserve side and they are now very strong. We are a football club now rather than three separate teams.

“We’ve got a bit of a platform to continue but Wisbech is a place where everyone wants to be again. We’re on the verge of something massive, the board believes it, Chris believes it and results are starting to come.

“I can’t thank Barry Carter (chairman), Snips Parsons (vice-chairman) and the rest of the board enough. They’ve been fully supportive throughout my reign and they’re fully behind everything I do.

“Things are looking quite rosy but I won’t stop at that and there’s still a lot of hard work to be done.

“I’m always looking forward and you never stop learning. In my eyes the future is very bright for Wisbech Town.”

• Under-14s get free entry to tomorrow’s game with a paying adult.