JERMAINE McGlashan helped Southend United seal a memorable victory at Oldham Athletic back in 2016.

But, as the Shrimpers bid for more of the same at Boundary Park again this weekend, McGlashan will be aiming to mastermind a victory of his own elsewhere.

The former Blues winger now combines assisting Gillingham under 18s side with managing Croydon Athletic.

And the 36-year-old is looking forward to taking his team into Saturday’s FA Trophy clash with Beaconsfield Town.

“It’s the next best thing to playing,” said McGlashan.

“As a manager when you get the three points it’s a feeling I can’t describe but the down side is you can’t switch off as much.

“When I was player a bad game would upset for me a bit but then I could reset but as a manager you go home, you look at the footage and see how you could affect it.

“You’re having your dinner and you’re still thinking about it so you can’t switch off as much.”

But McGlashan does all he can to remain level headed.

“I was quite up and down with my moods as a player but you can’t be like that as manager,” said McGlashan.

“I’ve got to affect it and the boys can’t see me all over the place and neither can the owner.

“I’m still learning and I’m still in transition a little bit but you’re never too high and never too low.

“I’m still learning to keep that balance but it’s the FA Trophy this weekend and we’re looking forward to it.

“Unfortunately we’re out the FA Cup to a last minute goal so this is next best one for us.

“It’s one we want to do well in and hopefully we can get a result this weekend.”

McGlashan picked up plenty of good results during his two year spell with the Shrimpers.

And he recalls his time at Roots Hall with real fondness.

“I always had a good time,” said McGlashan, who scored four goals in 70 appearances for Blues.

“We had guys who had played at a higher level and we had a really good changing room.

“You were surrounded by quality and we were pushed in training every day with the squad we had.

“We did alright as well, we weren’t far off getting in the play-offs and it was so close after we went on a good run.”

McGlashan helped that happen and still vividly recalls scoring his first goal for the Shrimpers in a 2-0 win against Oldham Athletic just days after the club’s Christmas party back in 2016.

“I’ve still got the photos of it,” said McGlashan.

“I came off the bench and I think I nicked it off the defender and ran though and scored at the second time of asking.

“I was going through a spell where I wasn’t really getting in the side and I remember it fondly because I got myself going again.

“I remember (Anthony) Wordsworth and Anton (Ferdinand) came straight over to me because they knew I had been going through it a bit.

“It was a great moment for me and a good result at a tough place to go.

“It was just after we’d been out too and I remember a photo from that Christmas party had done the rounds a bit.

“It was in a few papers so we celebrated the same way as the photo after the first goal.

“It was funny watching on from the bench but it was good to get on.

“It was a great journey home too.

“We went up on the train that day and there was a lot of banter on the way home.”

McGlashan left the Shrimpers in 2018, with a 3-0 win at Oldham Athletic proving to be his final appearance for the club.

The winger teamed up with former Blues boss Phil Brown at Swindon Town before heading out to Cyprus to play for Akritas Chlorakas.

“I always wanted to play abroad and I didn’t miss the cold Tuesday games,” laughed McGlashan.

“An opportunity came up in Cyprus and I enjoyed it.

“I had to slow my game down a bit because I felt I was burning myself out too quickly in the heat.

“It changed the way I played but the lifestyle was brilliant and I really enjoyed it.

“After that I played for Maidstone and Ebbsfleet and that was it.”

But it did not take long for McGlashan to head into coaching.

“As my playing days were coming to an end Hakan (Hayrettin) was the manager of Maidstone and I was having a lot of meetings in his office as an experienced player,” said McGlashan.

“He asked me to take a couple of sessions with the younger players and that’s when I started to get a real buzz for it.

“I did my badges and it all went from there.”

And that has ultimately led to McGlashan enjoying the two roles he currently occupies.

“I’m the first team manager at Croydon and assist with the under 18s at Gillingham so I’m still getting the best of both worlds,” explains McGlashan.

“I’m still learning and there are ups and downs.

“It’s different to being a player but I’m enjoying it.”

However, McGlashan also has a back up plan after completing a degree in sports journalism.

“When Covid hit I really dug into the PFA and looked at the courses that interested me,” said McGlashan.

“I managed to get a degree and it’s something I know is there.

“I’ve not got into any clubs to do any journalism but I enjoyed the course and I know it’s there.

“I’m enjoying management at the moment but I know if I’m out the game for a bit there might be an opportunity there to stay in and around the game.

“I know Phil Brown does a lot of that and he’s a manager I enjoyed playing for.

“He’s on the radio if he’s not managing and I probably underestimate how much I took from a lot of my managers.

“He’s one I see similarities with the way I do things so it’s interesting and I never thought I’d say that about an old school manager.”