Cup win a ‘fairytale’ for departing Downham boss

Downham Town’s Norfolk Senior Cup win has been described as the ‘fairytale’ ending by departing joint manager Craid Dickson.The club’s incredible 4-2 victory over Gorleston at Carrow Road was celebrated by players, staff and fans alike as Dickson left his role as joint boss after five-and-a-half years in the dugout.There was unrivalled emotion after the final and Dickson said: “Yeah, it’s the fairytale. It would be nice if we could have done the cup double, but that’s probably asking a little bit much.”But if I had to pick one or the other, this is the one I wanted to win. So yeah, it’s like it’s the highest of highs to do it in your final match and have the boys do it for you in the final.”Dickson added: “I’ve been at the club since I was six years old pretty much. I’ve played all my youth football here played all my adult football here.”The only time I haven’t been involved with the club was for six months the last time they got to Carrow Road when I finally stopped playing.”This club means everything to me and I’ve never had a high like that in football. I don’t think I’m going to sleep tonight but luckily I’ve got a baby that’s going to keep me awake anyway.” Although Dickson has announced he is walking away to spend more time with his young family, Stokes will remain as manager at the Memorial Field.“This is why you do it, isn’t it?” said Stokes as he soaked up the club’s accomplishment after the final whistle. “That’s why I started as a manager, first and foremost it was to try and get the club into a better position both on and off the pitch. And obviously, we’ve done that over a period of time.“I think we’ve had some bad luck the years before we did get promoted with Covid and whatever else, but this is something that you look at at the start of the season every year and you think ‘can we get to Carrow Road?’ “I sat at work this morning thinking to myself, ‘we’ve got there’.”I’m pleased with the fact we’ve got there’ and it’s something that you almost think, ‘well, just being here is enough’, however, you obviously want to win it and the fact is we’ve gone and done that and I think deservedly so.“I’m proud of everyone in the club, people like John Fysh, who has been there for years and years. He was in tears at the end which was great to see.”Don’t miss Friday’s Lynn News for four pages of pictures and reactions from Tuesday night’s final.