Alan Dowson is leading from the front in a bid to get everyone at Hampton & Richmond Borough pulling together for the common good.

The Beavers were thumped 5-1 at home to Leatherhead on Tuesday to end a run of four Ryman Premier games without defeat.

Boss Dowson admitted his threadbare squad were due a spanking, and his long-term vision for the club remains unchanged.

The former Kingstonian boss wants to create a community atmosphere at the Beveree, where everyone from the tea lady to the chairman gets involved.

And Dowson is leading the way by taking part in the Walton-on-Thames half marathon on Sunday to raise funds for the Anthony Nolan bone marrow charity.

He said: “We have an awful lot of work to do here, and I’ve told Steve McPherson [chairman] it will be a case of months and not weeks before we get it right.

“Steve has given me carte blanche to do what I need to, and the Leatherhead result was a wake-up call.

“Going forward, we seem to be in a good place, but defensively there is a lot of work to do.”

He added: “But more than anything, I want everyone at the club to get involved, I want them to feel they are part of Hampton & Richmond Borough.

“If we can all pull together, I know we can get this sleeping giant moving again.”

Dowson is sweating on the fitness of Charlie Moone, Ben Harris and Luke Wanadio ahead of this weekend’s trip to Tonbridge Angels.

To sponsor Dowson go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlanDowson