"THIS CLUB HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART"

Sam Cox is back at The Vale. This time, it's for good. After his brief but memorable stint as interim manager in 2023, during which he guided the team to safety, Sam returns to lead the Stones into a new era on a 2 year contract.

We caught up with Sam to talk about his journey back to Ruislip, the call that changed everything and what fans can expect from a team built on identity, energy and hard graft.

First of all, Sam — welcome back. What does it mean to return to Wealdstone as manager?

Well, first of all, it's fantastic to be back. I think everybody knows it's a club, a place that has a special place in my heart and has done for a very long time now. From when I first signed here in 2015 to the long-lasting relationship that we've had, to my tenure as interim manager. This club will always hold a special place in my heart and to be back, it's absolutely fantastic. I'm over the moon. Can't wait to get started.

For those who may not know your background, can you tell us a bit about your journey so far in management and coaching?

So, season before last, I became interim manager here for the last five games of the season. We were in a position of relegation and, along with the fantastic staff that were here and the players, it was a combined effort. We managed to survive. What a fantastic day that was. Oldham away. I'll never forget that day. One of the best moments of my footballing career.

Unfortunately, I never got the job at season end. That was a decision the club made, which I've got total respect for. I had to move on. An opportunity came up at Oxford City. I took that, learned an awful lot in the six months I was there. Since then, I've been doing various things: assistant manager with my national team at Guyana, the Baller League venture, which has been fantastic, and also back at Tottenham's academy. So yeah, the coaching, education and learning have continued. But to get this opportunity back here, at the club I call home; I couldn't be any happier.

How quickly did this return come about — and how did the conversation start?

It was really out the blue, to be honest. I just want to say congratulations to Gibbo (Neil Gibson) for the job that he did at the back end of last season and surviving. I know how much of a great feeling that is.

So first of all, congratulations to Gibbo, he leaves with the blessing of everyone and all the best to him in his future endeavours. But yeah, it was a real quick turnaround. I was living my life, doing what I'm doing, had a bit of structure to my life after the managerial chaos, going back into work life and working in the academy, doing my own stuff. Then I got the phone call from Rory. I thought, this is unusual, I haven't spoken to Rory for a while.

He told me that Gibbo was moving on and the opportunity came up, and he said, would I be interested in the job? And you know, it's almost like the girl that you never turned down. Wealdstone's got a special place in my heart. And straight away, I said, "I'm interested".

The prospect of working with the players that are going to be here next year, the prospect of reconnecting with the fan base, which I've got a special connection with. It was an easy answer, ultimately.

You probably didn't get the full chance to implement your style last time. How would you describe your coaching philosophy now?

I was able to kind of implement my style as such in those last six games. Of course, with Nobby (David Noble) at the time, I was doing a lot of the coaching, and I was helping assist with Neil (Banfield) at the time. So 'd like to think that my personality and my philosophy came out within those games.

I like my teams playing with a lot of freedom — especially in the final third — and progressive up the pitch, playing through the thirds and having a style. But I think there's always got to be a fabric and a foundation of hard work, physicality, giving the fans what they'd like to see.

I think fans pay their good money to turn up to watch any game of football and that's what they want to see when the boys cross the white line: passion, energy, enthusiasm, grit, determination. Go make things happen in the final third and go be creative.

And I'd like to think that I bring a philosophy and an identity that will provide those things.

You've been here before - as a player, a captain, part of the management team. What can you take from that experience into this fresh start?

It's a fresh season. It's a clean slate for everyone. It's been difficult for us as a football club and we've done fantastic to remain and keep our National League status.

We know where we are as a football club, and we know the challenges that come. But we're also a club that's made up of a fabric of hard-working people, hard-working fan base, hard-working players, hard-working staff and a hard-working chairman. And that's exactly what we're going to be.

We're going to try and encourage consistency, try and be consistent with performance, consistent with trying to keep players fit. I feel like with recruitment, if we get that right - which is heavily important these next coming weeks, months - if we get that right, we manage to keep players fit and keep them on the pitch, then with consistent performances, we can be competitive in this league. And that's exactly what I plan to do.

How exciting is it to come back and manage in front of the fans at The Vale?

I'm buzzing. I loved playing here, as a player and captain and when I was assisting Nobby and obviously taking over as a gaffer.

I love these fans, I love these people. And they were fully behind me in those last five games. My first real tenure as a gaffer, and they were fully behind me. They supported me, whether it be on social media, whether it be face to face. I loved interacting with them, and I want to make them proud.

My Dad was coming to games weekly here last season. Out of respect, I stayed away when the new manager was in charge, Matty Taylor and then Gibbo. But I was watching every game from the side, from home, watching the results, getting all the feedback from players. I've got good relationships with all the players and I maintained my relationships with Rory and the board.

So I think there's a lesson to be learned. I think despite disappointments and also rejection, I'm very grateful for the opportunity that this football club gave me at the time. And although I didn't get the job the first time around, God works in mysterious ways.

And to be back here, just over 12 months later, it's a real blessing.

Final message to the fans?

I'm looking forward to paying the favour back. I'm looking to bring my energy, enthusiasm and love for this club to the table, and hopefully, we can all be successful together.

One year on, Sam Cox is back in charge, with unfinished business, a clear identity, and the full backing of the Vale.