Sport / ‘It just feels right’ – Fenwick ‘proud’ to have managed Shetland as he steps down
DEPARTING Neil Fenwick said he is “really proud to have been the football manager of Shetland” as his successful five-year stint ends.
The coach, who took over from Kevin Main in March 2020, has overseen five inter-county wins from six during his tenure, and lead the team out at two Island Games.
He will be forever remembered as the man at the helm during Shetland’s record-breaking 8-0 rout over Orkney in Kirkwall, which was followed by a similarly emphatic 6-1 win in Shetland the year after.
Fenwick said there were “a lot of different reasons” for his exit, but added at the same time he did not “really want to stop doing it”.
“I think I’m just lacking a bit of energy for the role,” he told Shetland News.
“When I started I was organising trips away to Edinburgh, I had lots of enthusiasm, but I haven’t felt that same way.
“I don’t feel it’s fair to the boys, so I think it’s time to get someone fresh to come in.”
The Shetland manager hinted at his exit before July’s inter-county match, a 2-0 win over Orkney at Gilbertson Park, which would turn out to be his final fixture in charge.
Saying then that he would take some time to “sit back and reflect” after the game, Fenwick now says that leaving the role had “been on my mind for a wee while”.
“I took a wee bit of time off after the Island Games and the county, and I think it was probably just the right time,” he said.
“It’s a big commitment, you need lots of time and energy.
“It just feels right. I want to let someone else come in and have a crack at it.”
Fenwick was asked whether he considered staying on to try bring Shetland forward, possibly in mainland competition, on the soon-to-be opened 3G pitch.
“It wouldn’t have been the right reason if I did stay on for that,” he said.
He added that he hoped players would be on the pitch very shortly, saying it had taken a lot of time and hard work to get it to this point.
Fenwick took over in March 2020 and oversaw an unusual first inter-county win in October of that year, a Covid-affected game with little to no spectators.
Shetland won the match 1-0 however, setting the tone for their Milne Cup dominance during his tenure.
Looking back on his time in charge, Fenwick said the 8-0 win in 2022 “will live with a lot of people for a long time” – slyly adding: “From both Shetland and Orkney”.
But the performance a year later in Lerwick was of greater magnitude to him, when Shetland again blew away their great rivals.
“The 6-1 win at the Gibby [Gilbertson Park], when we were 5-0 up at half-time, was really the pinnacle and peak of the team,” he said.
“They looked exactly how we wanted them to, and played exactly how we wanted to play.
“We were just phenomenal in the first half.”
Fenwick said the whole summer of 2023 was a highlight, with the 6-1 mauling coming on the back of the Guernsey Island Games.
There Shetland won three out of their four games, losing only to eventual silver medallists Ynys Môn, as they finished in seventh place.
He said that placing “feels a bit harsh” when they looked at their performances.
“But we won against island groups with three or four the populations of Shetland, and with facilities that we could only dream of,” Fenwick said.
“It’s a big ask for anyone in Shetland to go up against them.”
The Island Games in Orkney this summer brought a sixth place finish, after two group stage draws and a defeat to their county rivals in the placing play-off.
Fenwick said they “knew what we had to do” in Orkney, but “just fell a little bit short” in the end.
“I still feel like we could have done more with the team that we had,” he said.
“But I don’t look at it with any sort of regrets.
“It wasn’t for a lack of effort, or any lack of trying – that’s the only thing that would have given me regrets.”
He now plans to take a step away from the game, but said he will “still be around football” – just not standing pitchside watching games every night anymore.
“I think it’s probably time to take a little bit of a breather,” he said.
“I think I’ll help out with some of the younger teams, maybe come back into coaching at some point.
“I’ve really loved nearly every minute of it, even in the difficult parts I have really enjoyed it.
“I’m really proud to have been the football manager of Shetland.”
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