Hebburn Town FC won't get carried away by positive start to National League North season - Joe Oliver

Defender Joe Oliver believes the motivation provided by proving people wrong has inspired Hebburn Town FC’s impressive start to life in the National League North.

The Hornets had already surpassed all expectations to secure a first ever season in the second tier of the non-league game after claiming the Northern Premier League Premier Division title last season after seeing off the challenges of FC United of Manchester and Hednesford Town.

The momentum caused by defying the odds to land a historic title win has spilled into the new campaign and Daniel Moore’s side head into Saturday’s home clash with King’s Lynn Town looking to build on an impressive return of three wins and a draw in their first four games of the season.

Oliver admitted he and his team-mates are revelling in the role of underdogs as they continue to face high calibre opposition - and stressed they take added motivation from being written off by outsiders.

He told The Gazette: “We are massively proud because a lot of people were writing us off ahead of the season - but that is a common occurrence for us. A lot of people did the same last season even when we were getting closer to last season so it’s something we are used to now.

“We just want to keep proving people wrong and that is what we are doing this season so far. It’s a motivation, we use it quite a lot at the start of the season. We used it last season, we were 100/1 to go and win the league and we did it. I think it suits us being the underdogs, it suits us really well and we are take motivation from that role.”

‘Nobody is getting carried away’

The home clash with the Linnets forms part of a challenging period for Hebburn as they prepare to visit former Northern Premier League rivals Macclesfield on Monday before focusing their attention on next weekend’s home clash with a Chester side that have the only perfect record in the division ahead of this weekend.

Yet there is a feeling that the positive start to the season has increased confidence and belief within the Hornets camp and there are fully prepared to rise to the challenges they will face throughout the remainder of the season. Former Newcastle United academy defender Oliver believes the ‘good spirit and togetherness’ within Moore’s squad means they can continue to build on the momentum they have built up since securing promotion last season.

He said: “Nobody is getting carried away, nothing has been achieved yet, it’s still the first month of the season and we know there is a long way to go. We know we have so many challenges to overcome but we have a good spirit and togetherness here and we will keep pushing forwards to do everything we can to carry on the sort of results we have got over the first few weeks of the season.”

The busy Bank Holiday weekend schedule means Moore could manage the minutes of a number of players within his squad to cope with the demand of playing two games inside 48 hours.

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