North Leigh Announce New Management Set-up

New Millers manager appointed.

Pitching In Southern Football League Division One Central club North Leigh have announced several changes to their first team management set-up ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Eddie Odhiambo has been named manager as plans for the new campaign begin to take shape.

The 35-year-old defender or midfielder joined the Millers as player-coach in June 2020.

He had returned to Southern Premier Division Central side Banbury United in the summer of 2018 for a second spell, also in a player-coach role.

He began his career with Oxford United prior to joining Southampton in 2003.

He signed as a professional for the Saints but didn’t manage to break into their first team and returned to then-National League side Oxford United in the summer of 2006.

He moved to Stevenage Borough ahead of the 2008/09 campaign and was part of their FA Trophy winning side that season and of their side that won promotion to the Football League the following season.

He then played for Newport County and Gateshead before joining Brackley Town in the summer of 2012.

After four seasons at St James`s Park, he had short stints with Oxford City and Kidlington before moving to Banbury for the first time in October 2016.

He joined Kidlington in a player-coach role in the summer of 2017.

Michael Alexis steps up to assistant manager and continues to work alongside long-time friend, while Aaron Woodley will step into a player-coach role and will work closely with Odhiambo and Alexis, whilst continuing to be a key player in the first team itself.

Former manager Craig Dore is to take a sideways step into a director of football role for the club and will use his experience to continue development of the first team, the youth set-up and newly formed academy.

Dore joined the Millers at the start of the 2018/19 season having coached various youth teams at Oxford City.

In his inaugural season, he guided North Leigh to Southern League survival on the final day of the season with the 'great escape'. Last season he guided the Millers to a vastly more comfortable mid-table position, pushing towards the play-offs before the season was curtailed.

Odhiambo told the club`s website: “I am delighted to have taken on the role of manager. I believe I can impart my enthusiasm, work ethic and demand for high standards to help the players.”

The new management trio will be further assisted along the way by some well-known and trusted backroom staff.

John McDonough remains first team physio and will no doubt be hoping not to be too busy after the long break, while working with the keepers will again be Jon Parrot, whose great experience in this role has already proven to be an invaluable asset to the club.

Finally, and a promising new addition is Connor Walton, who joins as a performance analyst and will no doubt be an important part of match day preparations.

North Leigh FC

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