It’s impossible to overstate the importance of a captain to a football team. From Steven Gerrard at Liverpool to Scott Brown at Celtic, the captain acts as the focal point of the team, he is there to uphold the standards of the club and to ensure the team is united and motivated.
When the news broke last month that Matlock Town captain Ryan Qualter was to leave the club, fans were undoubtedly crushed. After leading the club to a top-four finish last season, fans and fellow players alike were devastated to see him go. However, these things happen in football. What’s important is that the club and the fans can use this as an opportunity to move forward. Let’s take a look at this in more detail and discuss whether there’s anything Matlock Town can learn from Premier League clubs.
Why is Ryan Qualter Leaving?
Qualter joined Matlock Town from Alfreton in the summer of 2020. He soon became a mainstay in the team, leading them as captain and serving as a consistent source of inspiration and motivation.
However, fans were upset to hear that Qualter has plans to leave Derbyshire club and move onto pastures new. The ever-reliable centre-back’s reasons for doing so are personal, rather than football-related. He cited a new job that would conflict with this training schedule, and a desire to spend more time with his family.
Matlock Town’s Season So Far
Matlock Town currently sit sixth in the league, with 49 points leaving them just one place shy of the playoff spots. They’ve played 31 games so far this season, recording 14 wins, seven draws, and 10 losses.
They have scored 43 goals and shipped 38. This is a decent return, but fans will be concerned that Qualter’s departure will disrupt the backline and see the team’s goal difference narrows.
What Next for the Club?
Matlock Town will no doubt have a promotion in mind for next season. They have consistently performed well over the past few seasons, so will be aiming to take things to the next level and secure a top spot on the table.
What can be Learned from Premier League Teams?
Any team, from the Premier League all the way down to the lower divisions, can be unsettled and thrown off by the departure of a trusted and influential captain. However, it’s how the club and the players respond that counts, it should be used as an opportunity to grow and further develop the squad.
Manchester City are a footballing titan, consistently hoovering up major domestic silverware, with fans buying up Man City tickets in their thousands. When Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany left the club after 11 years, fans and critics were expecting performances to dip and the team to suffer. However, after appointing David Silva as his replacement, the club continued doing as they do, winning the EFL Cup, and the Fa Community Shield, coming second in the Premier League and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League the very next season.
Conclusion
Matlock Town should look to Manchester City to learn that a captain leaving doesn’t need to be a disaster, as long as they can appoint a capable replacement.
