Berry-Hargreaves confident Crusaders can challenge ahead of coming campaign
Matt Berry-Hargreaves, one of Hungerford's standout players last season, says he's confident the Crusaders can return to the National League South at the first time of asking.
Athletic, comfortable on the ball and with a shrewd footballing brain, the centre-half has all the ingredients to play at a higher level – and he hopes to take Hungerford with him.
The 24-year-old, who played 43 games last season, signed an 18 month contract extension a third of the way into the previous campaign, which will take him through to the end of next term.
Having come through the ranks as a teenager, he earned a move to Football League club Oxford United before returning to Bulpit Lane in 2019 and has since played 87 times.
Comfortable with the ball at his feet but also unafraid to be pragmatic in possession, Berry-Hargreaves admits his love for the club and a desire to help them return to the National League South were big factors in affirming his commitment to the Crusaders, despite interest from teams further up the footballing pyramid.
"I'd never experienced a relegation before in my playing career," he said
"It was very difficult.
"For me personally, it's made me want to push on this season.
"We all got a lot of things wrong so now we need to put them right.
"I spoke to the gaffer and he told me how much he wanted me to stay.
"He knew that there were clubs sniffing around interested in signing me.
"I met with the gaffer and we had a chat.
"It put it into perspective and it made me realise how much I wanted to stay at Hungerford, it's a club that I love.
"It's a fresh start in a different league and I look forward to seeing how far we can go."
Boss Danny Robinson, who has helped Berry-Hargreaves develop into the fine footballer he is today, looks to have recruited well so far, identifying the problems that plagued the Crusaders last season.
With Berry-Hargreaves at the heart of the defence, Hungerford were solid at the back and, despite taking a handful of drubbings in the last couple of months of the campaign, had one of the best defences in the bottom half.
However, following the summer departure of record-breaking marksman Ryan Seager, the Crusaders were without a goalscorer for much of the campaign.
With the recent arrivals of Conor McDonagh, who has been prolific at Southern Premier League level with Swindon Supermarine, and David Bremang, who scored five goals in five games at Bulpit Lane last term before sustaining a serious injury, Robinson looks to have a side that can keep it tight at the back and cause problems up top.
That's left Berry-Hargreaves full of belief that Hungerford – with a core of returning players like George Smith and Curtis Angell and some new faces like Louie Paget and Ryan Clarke – can compete towards the top end of the league next term.
He said: "I think we've got a strong base of the squad with an experienced goalkeeper and the midfielders that have re-signed.
"Then we've signed some talented strikers and I believe that's a really strong core that we can build around.
"With a few additions, I can see no reason we can't be challenging towards the top end next season."
Following relegation, Robinson said he wanted to build his squad around local lads, who will live and breathe Hungerford Town like the loyal supporters, who were forced to endure a fairly miserable season following a number of excellent years at the highest level the club has ever been.
And Berry-Hargreaves, who was voted players’ player of the season last term, fits that mould better than most, having spent much of his adult life at Bulpit Lane.
"I've fallen in love with the club," he said.
"When I got released by Oxford United, the club and the fans welcomed me in and it's all I've known since.
"I feel like I've built a really strong relationship with the supporters, the staff and the people around the club.
"That was a big part of what made me want to stay.
"We've been through one of the toughest times at the club but I think we can go on and create one of the best times next season."
Hungerford have seven pre-season friendlies scheduled, beginning with a trip to Isthmian League outfit Badshot Lea on July 8 and ending in a game with fellow West Berkshire side Thatcham Town, while a visit to former chairman Patrick Chambers' new charges, Gloucester City, is set to take place on July 11.
Berry-Hargreaves admits he's not too excited about swapping the beach for the bleep test but is prepared to put himself through the paces so he's raring to go come the big kick-off at the beginning of August.
He said: "Pre-season is not my favourite time of the season.
"I take it as it comes and when it does come around I really get stuck in and try and take it all on board.
"I want to be in the best possible shape so that when the season does come around, I'm 100 per cent ready to go."
The Crusaders have added almost two decades of footballing experience in the form of Oxford United legend Ryan Clarke and Berry-Hargreaves, while 17 years younger than his new teammate, demonstrated last season that he is one of the leaders within the side.
The lionhearted defender stepped into the void left by veterans Keith Emmerson and James Rusby and admits he wants to continue to develop in the role.
"I want to keep growing into that leadership role and it's something I look forward to," he said.
"The gaffer's brought in some experienced players which I can learn from and see how they lead things.
"If there's young lads coming in then I'd love to help them out.
"I can't wait to start this challenge and see where it takes us."
