Town being eclipsed by FA Cup heroes Eastwood

A spectacular landslide victory that crowned John Ramshaw's team the best in the county.

And one that left Eastwood squirming with embarrassment – especially as their manager, one Bryan Chambers, was also sent off.

Now the wheel of fortune has turned full circle.

For as sorry Hucknall slumped to a big defeat of their own last Saturday, six miles down the road, Eastwood were making headlines in the national news.

The Yellows, now managed by Chambers, were thrashed 5-0 by AFC Telford United to stay rock-bottom of the Blue Square North.

But Eastwood, whose assistant boss is now Ramshaw, were celebrating a memorable 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Coca-Cola League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers to reach the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

It earned The Badgers the possibility of a date at Meadow Lane with Notts County where Ramshaw was once a coach and Eastwood's manager, Paul Cox, was a player.

To add to Hucknall's angst, Unibond League high-fliers Eastwood are also chasing promotion to the Blue Square North under the financial clout of millionaire chairman Robert Yong, who hails from Bulwell.

And their squad is home to no fewer than four other ex-Yellows, as well as Ramshaw – Russell Cooke, Alistair Asher, Andy Todd and the scorer of the second goal against Wycombe, Pete Knox. The scorer of their other goal, Lindon Meikle, is the older brother of Hucknall midfielder Dion Meikle.

By stark contrast, Hucknall's squad currently has no fewer than six players deemed not good enough for Eastwood, including Dion Meikle, and The Yellows are Blue Square North relegation favourites, while also operating a limited budget.

They have only two wins from 18 Blue Square North games and not only are they out of the FA Cup, they are still waiting to make their first-ever appearance past the non-league stages.

It is an astonishing reversal of roles that must have ardent Hucknall fans reaching for the anti-depressants.

And it is a graphic example of how the footballing fates can change so suddenly and dramatically.

Ramshaw firmly believes the tide is turning for the two clubs and that The Badgers will soon overtake Hucknall in the pecking order.

Before he became Hucknall manager in 1995, Eastwood were the top dogs in non-league football in Nottinghamshire.

Ramshaw slowly began to redress the balance, which resulted in that amazing Senior Cup slaughter.

Now he says: "Things are changing again and I can see Eastwood becoming the top club in the area and taking over from Hucknall in the next few years.

"We have a very ambitious chairman in Robert Yong and the players we have brought in, including the ones from Hucknall, recognised that ambition and realised this club are going places.

"I believe the key ingredient is stability.While Hucknall have had eight managers since I left, Eastwood have had Bryan Chambers and then replaced him with his assistant Paul Cox.

"Hucknall have not had that stability. Clubs will always find it difficult without stability."

Yong's current input at Coronation Park reflects that of Yellows chairman Brian Holmes when he took over in the summer of 2001.

Despite the high turnover of managers, Holmes guided Hucknall through the most successful period in their history in which they won the Unibond League championship and reached the FA Trophy Final.

And he revealed this week how Hucknall helped turn struggling Eastwood around in 2003 and inadvertently put them on the path to where they are now.

Holmes said: "It seems a lifetime ago when Bryan Chambers, the then manager at Eastwood, gave me a call to say that the club were struggling, having fallen into the Northern Counties League, and asked if Hucknall could help in any way.

"My good friend and vice-chairman at Hucknall was Keith Smith and he was persuaded to take on the Eastwood chairman's position.

"We also provided a number of players, including Chris Shaw, and it proved the catalyst to get the club moving. I hope Keith's efforts are recognised by all as the glory continues."

Ramshaw agreed: "Keith laid the foundations and put the stepping stones in place. Robert has now taken over the reins and he is the first to acknowledge the work done by Keith."

Chambers, who had 14 years in charge at Eastwood between 1991 and 2005, echoed the comments of Holmes and Ramshaw.

He said: "Eastwood are where they are now because of Keith. He did a fantastic job there.

"The club were going nowhere before Keith came in. They had no money and the ground needed to be brought up to standard, so he built new stands and changing rooms.

"He transformed the club – so much so that when Robert Yong came in in 2007, all he had to spend his money on was players. They are able to chuck money at players now because Keith sorted all the other stuff out before he died.

"But also fair play to Cox and Ramshaw. They might have the money but they still have to spend it properly, which they are doing, and good luck to them.

"However football is all about peaks and troughs and I am sure the glory days will return to Hucknall. We just have to keep working hard." While Hucknall have had eight managers since I left, Eastwood have had Bryan Chambers and then replaced him with his assistant Paul Cox.

“Hucknall have not had that stability. Clubs will always find it difficult without stability.”

Yong’s current input at Coronation Park reflects that of Yellows chairman Brian Holmes when he took over in the summer of 2001.

Despite the high turnover of managers, Holmes guided Hucknall through the most successful period in their history in which they won the Unibond League championship and reached the FA Trophy Final.

And he revelaed this week how Hucknall helped turn struggling Eastwood around in 2003 and inadvertently put them on the path to where they are now.

Holmes said: “It seems a lifetime ago when Bryan Chambers, the then manager at Eastwood, gave me a call to say that the club were struggling, having fallen into the Northern Counties League, and asked if Hucknall could help in any way.

“My good friend and vice-chairman at Hucknall was Keith Smith and he was persuaded to take on the Eastwood chairman’s position.

“We also provided a number of players, including Chris Shaw, and it proved the catalyst to get the club moving. I hope Keith’s efforts are recognised by all as the glory continues.“

Ramshaw agreed: “Keith laid the foundations and put the stepping stones in place. Robert has now taken over the reins and he is the first to acknowledge the work done by Keith.”

Chambers, who had 14 years in charge at Eastwood between 1991 and 2005, echoed the comments of Holmes and Ramshaw.

He said: “Eastwood are where they are now because of Keith. He did a fantastic job there.

“The club were going nowhere before Keith came in. They had no money and the ground needed to be brought up to standard, so he built new stands and changing rooms.

“He transformed the club – so much so that when Robert Yong came in in 2007, all he had to spend his money on was players. They are able to chuck money at players now because Keith sorted all the other stuff out before he died.

“But also fair play to Cox and Ramshaw. They might have the money but they still have to spend it properly, which they are doing, and good luck to them.

“However football is all about peaks and troughs and I am sure the glory days will return to Hucknall. We just have to keep working hard.”