IT’S the end of an era for Little Oakley and, in particular, long-serving assistant manager Paul Sadler.

The popular former defender is stepping down at the end of the season after more than 25 years as part of the Memorial Ground furniture.

He has been involved in more than 750 matches, won the Essex and Suffolk Border League title both as a player and manager and been a pivotal figure in the club’s rise to step six football, in the Thurlow Nunn League.

“I’ve got so many wonderful memories, both from playing and the management side of things,” said Sadler.

“There have been some disappointments along the way, like losing in the Essex Premier Cup final (in 2016).

“But the highs massively outweigh the lows.

“I won the league both as a player and manager and it was absolutely fantastic to achieve a league and cup double last season.

“There are so many individual matches that stick in my mind, too.

“In my first season as manager I remember us going over to Gas (Recreation). They were riding high and we thought we were going to get a bit of a stuffing but we came away 7-2 winners.

“That’s a game that will always stay with me.

“There have been lots of others, including many matches against our local rivals Harwich and Parkeston. They were always a special occasions.”

Sadler will still be a regular face at the club, except standing among the supporters rather than in the dug-out.

“I’ll still be around and I’m going to enjoy everything that’s going on at the club, but from a completely different perspective,” said the 47-year-old, who lives just half a mile from the Memorial Ground.

“I’m looking forward to coming up here and watching games, being in the stand and cheering the boys on.

“Hopefully there are more memories to come, except from a watching perspective rather than a playing and management one.

“It’ll be strange at first and I’ll probably miss it, but hopefully I can offer as much from the stands as I have the dug-out.”

Saturday was a big day for Oakley, who had a pre-match presentation to officially unveil their new ground improvements.

The work has been part of a two-year project made possible by a maximum £72,962 grant from the Premier League, through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

It has helped the club purchase floodlights, perimeter fencing, hard standing and two spectator stands and, after the presentation, Oakley won 2-1 at home to March Town United.

Ryan Smart’s cool finish – connecting with a through ball, lifting it over the keeper and steering the ball into the empty net – gave them a half-time lead.

March equalised after the break but substitute Shaun Kioussis’ great free-kick, just after coming on, wrapped up the points for Oakley.

“It was nice to bow out with a win (at home),” said Sadler.

“It was a hard-earned victory and given that it was our last home game, had we not won, it would have been one of the most disappointing results of the season.

“It was a close game that could have gone either way, but maybe we slightly edged it.

“In the second half they came at us and gave us a few scares but credit to our boys for holding firm and then getting a winner towards the end.”

Oakley are away to Framlingham Town tomorrow and then finish their campaign with a rearranged match at Norwich United on May 7.