Slough's Double Act Are Ready To Try For Their Big 500 Again!

You think of it, they’ve probably heard it. You’ll get in each other’s way. What if you fall out? One of you has to have the deciding say!

It’s a good job Slough Town’s Neil Baker and Jon Underwood didn’t listen to any of it.

This weekend the managerial double act - one of a few left in the game - take charge of their 500th game together.

Well, they almost did last week. The game at Havant & Waterlooville abandoned in the second half with the rain just too much.

But Slough’s partners-in-crime this weekend can officially say two heads are better than one at Chippenham.

“Unders has been busy looking at the stats,” said Neil Baker, one half of the Rebels dream team told sponsors Vanarama. “He must have too much time on his hands!

“We have won 244, drawn 98 and lost 157 of our 499 games. That’s a win per centage of 49. I’m very happy with that. Sir Alex Ferguson only had 53!

“It actually would be higher but for our first season at Godalming, the circumstances were difficult. Their manager Chuck Martini left and took a fair number of players with him when we got the job. That was our worst year.

“But it didn’t put us off. We haven’t been out of work since we were given the job in 2011 and that’s nice.

“The secret to the partnership is that we are best friends. We go out together after football and we get on - we know each other inside out.

“It works because we have similar views. If we have different opinions on things we talk it through.

“We are both willing to compromise and that gets you far.”

But has there ever been a moment where Baker and Underwood have clashed heads?

“Once!” he said, smiling. “Away to Faversham eight years ago. We were debating a sub - people think that’s the hardest part of having two equal managers, but it actually isn’t. Except this time!

“We exchanged views and we couldn’t agree and just as the moment was about to arrive where one of us had to decide, the player got injured!

“Since then, we have hardly has a crossed word.”

They would love promotion this year and, sitting third, have every chance after a great last two months.

“To be sitting where we are having won seven of our last eight matches is absolutely fantastic,” he adds.

“I can’t speak highly enough of our players, they have been absolutely outstanding. They put their bodies on the line, especially last weekend in the second half against Chelmsford City.

“I’m our last 26 games in the league over the two seasons we have picked up 52 points. You can’t not be delighted by that.

“What makes it extra special is that so many of the players who took the club into the National League South a few years ago are still here with us.

“They are where they are on merit and we’re happy nobody is really talking about the club - these are the situations we enjoy and Saturday is the type of game we thrive on.”

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