New boss for Heys

Peter Freakes (left) and assistant Andy Whiteman

PRESTWICH Heys Football Club have appointed Peter Freakes as the new first team manager as the Sandgate Road club look to continue to drive forward with their ambitious plans, both on and off the pitch.

Freakes’ first game in charge will be this Saturday’s home league fixture against Leigh Athletic - which also marks the club’s 70th anniversary - although he was present on the sidelines to witness Heys dramatic comeback at Walshaw Sports last weekend.

Previous Manager, Jason Dormer, stepped down from his position last Friday and Heys moved quickly to appoint his replacement.

Freakes, 50, boasts a whole clutch of managerial honours from around the local non-league circuit and brings with him recently retired police officer Andy Whiteman as his assistant manager.

Seeing a playing career cut short by injury at 27, Freakes went on to coach and manage Greater Manchester Fire Service for 16 years - culminating in an English Cup success in 2006 at Rotherham’s Milmoor stadium.

While with the Fire Service, Freakes also held a number of coaching and managerial roles with the like of ICI, Salford City and Casleton Gabriels.

He enjoyed championship runners-up placings in the North West Counties with Chadderton and Oldham Town before stepping up in to the UniBond League with Chorley and Trafford. 

A fully qualified FA coach and a member of the FA coaching association, Freakes also set up Manchester Youth in 2002 who have seen great success over recent years.

Winning the Manchester County Cup and the prestigious Yorkshire International Cup in 2006, Freakes then took his side to Barcelona, representing England in the Copa Catalunya. Beating teams from Italy, Holland, Norway, France and Greek side Olympiakos, Freakes brought the cup back to England for the first time at U17 level.

Now at Sandgate Road, Freakes looks to not only build on the achievements of recent years, but make sure Heys challenge for a forth successive title doesn’t fizzle out.

“Our short term plan is to get the lads playing an attractive brand of passing football and try to get as many points as possible this season,” said Freakes.

“The Championship is still held by Heys and we won’t give that up easily.

“Any team that thinks they can come to Prestwich and just take away the points will have to think again. We’re still in the battle to see where the trophy goes this May.”

Chairman John Hunter is understandably excited with the new management team at Heys.

“The club is very much in the transitional phase of its development, both on and off the field, and the committee viewed Pete’s appointment as a major step forward in striving to secure our goals of North West Counties status over the coming seasons.

“Having experienced Pete’s first half time team talk personally last Saturday and the subsequent fantastic response of the players, I am more than ever convinced that we have secured a management team that will help our club achieve success over the coming weeks and months,” said Hunter.

And in Freakes, Heys have a manager who shares Adie Moran’s vision of a successful semi-professional club in Prestwich.

“Our main goal has got to be promotion into the North West Counties and the staff and the committee at Heys will do everything to make sure that happens.

“From there, we can build long term and establish the Club back into the pyramid of Non League football where it truly belongs to be.”