ANOTHER season is over and it has been a successful one, on the whole, for the majority of south Essex’s non-league teams. With East Thurrock United and Bowers & Pitsea winning promotion and Concord Rangers and Basildon United winning cup competitions, there has been plenty to cheer in the 2015/16 season.

The week LUKE LAMBERT rounds up all our teams’ seasons, with today’s focus on Great Wakering Rovers’ campaign in the Ryman Premier League. Here is what manager Gary Ansell had to say.

A week after the season has finished, how do you view what you have achieved this year?

From the club’s perspective we have stayed in the league and we did that with games to spare so that was a success. From a personal point of view I wanted to finish around mid-table and that didn’t happen. We didn’t have consistency and we need to address that for next season.

What is your biggest satisfaction about the season?

It’s hard to finish where we did and be satisfied but it was to keep the league status and give the backroom staff and players a chance to kick on for next year.

What is your biggest disappointment about the season?

Knowing the boys have the ability to perform against the best sides in the league but turning up at certain games with the wrong mentality or believing they cannot compete. They have to be confident.

A cup run is also important for a club like us and that has been poor from our point of view. I want to put that together as you can see the galvanizing effect it has on teams.

Which player(s) has impressed you the most this season?

Jay Nash has been very good in terms of his hold up play without getting as many goals as the previous season. He has a lot of attributes to his game but if he does start scoring we may not keep hold of him for much longer. James Pugsley has been the most consistent and Nicky Hilder has come in and done very well. He has steel and determination and we need that.

What was your favourite game? And why?

Beating Tilbury 6-1 towards the end of the season was important. The boys got a talking to at Romford the weekend before as we slipped up and they responded very well. To beat a side which was flying proved we had it in us all along. It was good to score the goals.

What are your targets for next season?

I have five or six players in mind and if I am successful in bringing them in then we will be looking at a top 10 finish. If we can’t get them I wouldn’t want anything less than mid table.

What have you learned about yourself as a manager this season?

When Dan Trenkel was playing I was basically the manager on match days. What I didn’t realise was how much effort Dan put in behind the scenes. There is so much to do in building for next season. It is a lot of work and working out budgets and contacting players. It has been hectic so that has been new.

Can you give Great Wakering a score out of 10 for this season? And explain why?

I would give us a six. Financially we are not equipped to compete at the top end of the league so staying in the league was a big plus. The boys have shown a lot of commitment and are always working hard and you can’t go further than ask for that commitment.

Ryman One North: 17th

FA Cup: Preliminary Round

FA Trophy: Preliminary Round

Ryman League Cup: Third Round

Essex Senior Cup: Third Round