by David Harrison
Corinthian-Casuals are very sorry to announce that manager, James Bracken is leaving after seven seasons in charge – certainly the most successful period the club has enjoyed since the two founding fathers, the Corinthians and the Casuals came together in 1939.
In his seven seasons James Bracken has taken the club, from languishing in the lower levels of the Isthmian League, through play-offs, up a division to the Isthmian Premier in Step 3 where in the season just ended Casuals finished a comfortable 14th.
“The Club is greatly saddened by the departure of Manager James,” writes Chairman Brian Vandervilt. “However he leaves with our heartfelt appreciation of his success with us. He is a man of integrity ,enormous work ethic and man management. He has all the attributes that makes us certain he will succeed at a much higher level. We extend to him our greatest respect”
James came to the club in season 2015/16 after multiple highly successful seasons with Sutton Utd steering their reserves to three consecutive Suburban Premier League titles. He picked up no less seven trophies in 2015 with Sutton as well as winning the Ryman Youth ‘Champion of Champions’ in 2016.
During those years James was named by the Non League Paper as one of the best young managers in the country. At Corinthian-Casuals James’ younger brother Danny has been a major ally. Danny had already been at the club for three season when James joined. As first team goalkeeper and club captain he has made over 500 appearances.
James is now 38, Danny seven years younger. Danny recalls how James was a gifted player, “better than me”. As youngsters both had been on the books of West Ham, James from the age of 10 for three years as a promising right winger. He went on to Wycombe Wanderers for five years as a sweeper then played right wing back at Woking.
But James injured his back working for his father’s building firm and started coaching at Sutton United, then in the Conference South, and then went on to Corinthian-Casuals.
Danny assessed his brother’s managerial qualities. “His knowledge of the game is outstanding, what each individual and the collective team should do. He’d talk to his assistant Dan Pringle all day on a Friday about the team make-up and tactics. Dedication is the word.”
In September 2017 James was named Mitre Manager of the Month for an unbeaten four week run while Danny was awarded the Bostik League South Safe Hands Award after Corinthian-Casuals conceded only a single goal in four league fixtures. That is the measure of their joint contribution.
Micky Stewart knows Corinthian-Casuals better than most. He was a First Team player, won an amateur international cap, turned professional with Charlton Athletic, was First Team Manager for 5 seasons in the 70s and is now Hon Club President. All that alongside his professional cricket career, Captain of Surrey for 15 seasons, Test match player and Manager of both Surrey and England.
“James Bracken put Corinthian-Casuals F.C on the map,” says Stewart, “through sheer hard work and hundreds of hours of graft to take them into the Isthmian Premier. He created an atmosphere of enjoyment in training and in matches that many players have shared – and so stay with the club. He has done this while always aware that when achieving success as an amateur club he’s going to lose key players. What he and his staff have done over these seven years is remarkable”
James wrote his own farewell message on the club website: “Corinthian-Casuals is a special club. You learn that very quickly when you’re there and understand what it represents. It’s unique and very much a collective. For that reason, I say thank you to Corinthian-Casuals. For the opportunity. For the support. For the experience. For everything”
Corinthian-Casuals are very sorry to announce that manager, James Bracken is leaving after seven seasons in charge – certainly the most successful period the club has enjoyed since the two founding fathers, the Corinthians and the Casuals came together in 1939.
In his seven seasons James Bracken has taken the club, from languishing in the lower levels of the Isthmian League, through play-offs, up a division to the Isthmian Premier in Step 3 where in the season just ended Casuals finished a comfortable 14th.
“The Club is greatly saddened by the departure of Manager James,” writes Chairman Brian Vandervilt. “However he leaves with our heartfelt appreciation of his success with us. He is a man of integrity ,enormous work ethic and man management. He has all the attributes that makes us certain he will succeed at a much higher level. We extend to him our greatest respect”
James came to the club in season 2015/16 after multiple highly successful seasons with Sutton Utd steering their reserves to three consecutive Suburban Premier League titles. He picked up no less seven trophies in 2015 with Sutton as well as winning the Ryman Youth ‘Champion of Champions’ in 2016.
During those years James was named by the Non League Paper as one of the best young managers in the country. At Corinthian-Casuals James’ younger brother Danny has been a major ally. Danny had already been at the club for three season when James joined. As first team goalkeeper and club captain he has made over 500 appearances.
James is now 38, Danny seven years younger. Danny recalls how James was a gifted player, “better than me”. As youngsters both had been on the books of West Ham, James from the age of 10 for three years as a promising right winger. He went on to Wycombe Wanderers for five years as a sweeper then played right wing back at Woking.
But James injured his back working for his father’s building firm and started coaching at Sutton United, then in the Conference South, and then went on to Corinthian-Casuals.
Danny assessed his brother’s managerial qualities. “His knowledge of the game is outstanding, what each individual and the collective team should do. He’d talk to his assistant Dan Pringle all day on a Friday about the team make-up and tactics. Dedication is the word.”
In September 2017 James was named Mitre Manager of the Month for an unbeaten four week run while Danny was awarded the Bostik League South Safe Hands Award after Corinthian-Casuals conceded only a single goal in four league fixtures. That is the measure of their joint contribution.
Micky Stewart knows Corinthian-Casuals better than most. He was a First Team player, won an amateur international cap, turned professional with Charlton Athletic, was First Team Manager for 5 seasons in the 70s and is now Hon Club President. All that alongside his professional cricket career, Captain of Surrey for 15 seasons, Test match player and Manager of both Surrey and England.
“James Bracken put Corinthian-Casuals F.C on the map,” says Stewart, “through sheer hard work and hundreds of hours of graft to take them into the Isthmian Premier. He created an atmosphere of enjoyment in training and in matches that many players have shared – and so stay with the club. He has done this while always aware that when achieving success as an amateur club he’s going to lose key players. What he and his staff have done over these seven years is remarkable”
James wrote his own farewell message on the club website: “Corinthian-Casuals is a special club. You learn that very quickly when you’re there and understand what it represents. It’s unique and very much a collective. For that reason, I say thank you to Corinthian-Casuals. For the opportunity. For the support. For the experience. For everything”