Interview with Dean Beckwith

By Paul McNamara

As a footballer who was an essential cog in the Hereford United team which, within the space of three years between 2005 and 2008, leapt from the Conference Premier into League One, Dean Beckwith is well versed with what is required to achieve promotion.

Conversely, during eleven months in an Eastleigh shirt when he has become extremely familiar with the winning feeling, the central-defender’s one major low in that time administered a stark reminder of how tough a challenge his side face in attempting to fight their way out of an acutely competitive Conference South league. 

Beckwith’s plugging of what was a porous Spitfires back-four contributed enormously to last term’s second-half resurgence that eventually earned Richard Hill’s team a season finishing play-off spot. When the promotion dream was ended in the semi-final tie at Dover, the man signed four months previously from Luton Town was one of two Eastleigh players to have their penalty saved in the deciding shoot-out.

As Beckwith readily confirmed, it was a markedly tough blow to absorb.

‘The day itself was devastating. Everything we’d achieved since January to get that far, then to miss out on penalties was shattering. It was especially difficult because there wasn’t another game coming up to get it out of your system. You had to wait until the start of pre-season to play again. 

‘Once you go away, you can’t get over it until you start again the season after. I did think about it during the summer, but not every day! As the days go on you begin to think about other things. The best thing to do is just get it out of your system and go again’.

There was certainly no blame ascribed to the 30 year-old defender, described by Hill as ’this club’s best ever signing’, by any of his supporters or colleagues. All are mighty grateful to have Beckwith’s assured and authoritative presence in their ranks.

The effort expended to lure the player to the Silverlake epitomises the collective spirit that exists at Eastleigh. The art of persuasion was particularly crucial in Beckwith’s case, being as a background check on his prospective new employers included watching the miserable away defeat at Bromley on January 5th that left the Spitfires 21st in the table. Three days on, and Beckwith instantly went about demonstrating exactly why his was such a sought after acquisition – making a goal-scoring debut in a 5-0 rout of Billericay Town.

‘I wanted to do a bit of research. I had a few other offers in the pipeline so it made sense to come down and have a look. Obviously, that game (at Bromley) we ended up losing 3-1. The position the club was in at the time wasn’t too good, but speaking to the gaffer he said that with the ideas he had, the players we had, and others who he wanted to bring in, the club was in a false position.

‘It was a tough decision and I was close to going another way. I had a few options to stay in the league above. But, having discussed things with the manager, I spoke to the chairman as well. That was a big plus for me – speaking to the top man at the club. He was saying how much he wanted me to come to Eastleigh. That was a major turning point for me really. I knew how much the gaffer wanted me here, but speaking to Stewart (Donald), he sealed the deal. It’s not often you get chairmen ringing players up – I’ve certainly never had it in my career – saying that they want you. Normally it stops with the manager.

‘I spoke to Macca (Craig McAllister) as well, and he said that it’s a bit of a sleeping giant down here. I’m pleased I made the decision now, because the way things went last season we were very unlucky not to make the play-off final. This year we’ve had a decent start, but we’ve got the potential to do so much more’. 

It is that potential that has led to spiralling expectations among Spitfires supporters, and consequently resulted in a few dissenting voices when the team fall below the high standards demanded of them. Beckwith insists the ability to deal with any grumbling on the terraces is simply a part of the job.

‘You just accept it. I came to Eastleigh from Luton Town where the fan base is intense and on top of you all the time, and if you weren’t performing you’d really get it. There were a few occasions on which we’d completely outplayed teams but come off at half-time 0-0 and been booed off.

‘Nearly everybody in our dressing room has played at a higher level so we’re all used to it. Criticism from fans goes on at all levels of football. Fans pay their money to come and watch us. Sometimes you disagree with what they’re saying, but as professional players you have to get on with it. 

‘Expectations are high because of the players we’ve brought in. If we’re not performing the fans let us know, but we all know when we could be doing better anyway. We all want to be playing to a consistently high standard, and if we’re not then we feel that keenly ourselves’.

There is, though, a genuine appreciation of the supporter loyalty that is a feature of the club, and acknowledgement of the effect that a positive backing has on the men on the pitch.

‘It helps tremendously. Once you’ve got the fans behind you and you’re doing well, the players are together and everyone is pushing in the same direction. There’s no negativity around the place. It makes such a difference on a Saturday because once the fans get going, especially the fans here, they really do get going. They’re loud, they travel in numbers. It’s 100% better when you’ve got the fans behind you’.

The frenzy of excitement and anticipation among the Spitfires faithful was hoisted several notches by the summer arrival of a sprinkling of renowned lower league talents including; Stuart Fleetwood, Jamie Collins, and Yemi Odubade. The men already on the playing staff were no less thrilled to be joined by such high class individuals.

‘100%. Definitely. It just goes back to what the gaffer said to me in January. If you can attract players like that, the club is clearly going in the right direction. It gives me confidence that I made the right decision to sign here. When players like that are coming in that have played at higher levels it is a major boost’.

Even among his esteemed team-mates, Beckwith has arguably been Eastleigh’s standout performer over this season to date. That claim is backed up by the side’s goals against column, which stands at a meagre nine in 13 games played.

Not that the man himself agrees with the widespread opinion regarding his excellent form.

‘I believe I need to get to a higher level. I don’t think I’m playing as well as I can at the minute. I don’t know why really, but I’ll keep plugging away, keep trying hard, and as the season goes on I’ll reach a level that I’m happy and comfortable with.

‘A few mistakes have crept in lately, that six or seven months ago I wasn’t making. I’ll keep working to put that right. I thought I did alright last season at Eastleigh, but I don’t think I’ve reached that standard yet this time out’. 

Beckwith’s exacting personal standards are plainly evident in his off-field approach to preparation. When we talk it is half-an-hour since another training session has been completed with the same intensity and drive that the former Gillingham player takes into match day combat. He has eschewed, as always, the players’ lunch fare on offer in favour of his protein and vitamin filled meal replacement shake.

Asked if his footballing development can be partially attributed to any of the coaches or managers he has encountered throughout his decade as a professional, Beckwith name checks Graham Turner and John Trewick, both of whom he worked under at Hereford. The erstwhile Northampton Town duo, Stuart Gray – ‘a very good coach’ – and Ian Sampson also warrant a mention. Typically, however, it is to the very height of the game that Beckwith looks for inspiration.

‘Personally, I look at Premier League players because they’re at the top of their game. I take bits from them. 

‘The most important thing in this league is concentration. You never get an easy game, especially this year with us being at the top of the table. You find that teams raise their game against you. You’ve got to be prepared to battle for 60 or 70 minutes then hopefully, as has been the case a few times, our quality and experience has shown through towards the end of games’.

Discussing what lies ahead for Eastleigh, Beckwith’s own experience radiates from every word.

‘If you’re in the play-offs it’s a lottery. We found that out to our cost last year, so the main target is to win the league. We’ll worry about next season when it happens. At the minute, though, we can’t think too far ahead. It’s so tight. There’s a long, long way to go.

‘It’s an old cliché, but it’s true, the next game is the most important. This weekend it’s the F.A. Trophy at Maidstone and that’s going to be a tough game. They’re top of their league. We’ve been working this week with only Maidstone in mind then, when Monday comes round ,if we’ve had a definitive result on Saturday, we start looking to Tonbridge on Saturday.

‘You can’t afford to look three of four months down the line, because that’s when you take your eye off the ball. That is how players work. You just have to win the next game. If, in the new year, we can be up at the top and we’ve got a good momentum going then we’ll be in with a real shout’.

He has run this course before and, for now, Dean Beckwith is content to keep chalking up the clean sheets and leave any shouting to others.