The Managers – Division One Central

Who are the men in the dug-out?

AFC Dunstable

Steve Heath

Steve Heath had the very difficult task of taking over the AFC first team from the most successful pair in the club`s history in Alex Butler and Dermot Butler.

They decided to step down after nine years at the helm halfway through the 2013/14 season.

This left the team in disarray as many stalwarts of the team decided to leave.

The club decided to appoint Heath and he embarked on a re-building exercise, but he came to the club with a wealth of managerial experience within the Hertfordshire and South Bedfordshire area.

He started his playing career at Watford at the age of 14 before moving onto Leyton Orient.

He went on to play for Berkhamsted Town, Milton Keynes City and Leverstock Green.

He moved into management with Kings Langley then took the manager`s job at Leverstock Green in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division before leaving in 2012.

Aylesbury United

Ben Williams

Was appointed as manager on a permanent basis in January 2018.

He initially joined the club as assistant manager before taking over following a short spell as caretaker manager that saw the Board of Directors suitably impressed by the team's improving performances to give him the opportunity.

Well respected in local footballing circles, Williams is a UEFA A licensed coach and on a day-to-day basis manages The Bucks Sports Academies' 16-19s years football and education programme, based mainly at Mandeville School in Aylesbury, which includes coaching the under-19 team in regional leagues and national cup competitions.

Williams` claim to fame is winning the FA National Sunday Cup whilst playing for Gossoms End in Berkhamsted with the final played at Anfield.

The now 44-year-old`s playing days also saw him represent Risborough Rangers, Tring Athletic and Haywood United, Berkhamsted, Fleet Town and Thame United amongst others.

Barton Rovers

Tony Fontenelle

Now into his fourth season as manager at Sharpenhoe Road having stepped up from the assistant manager`s role in 2017/18 after a highly successful spell at Dunstable Town.

He has vast experience from a long career as a player in non-League football.

The now 43-year-old had spells as a right back or right sided midfielder wit the likes of Hemel Hempstead Town, Brackley Town, Boreham Wood, Hitchin Town, Kempston Rovers, Dunstable Town, Hitchin Town, Biggleswade Town, Arlesey Town, Chesham United, Harrow Borough and several spells with Barton Rovers.

Bedford Town

Gary Setchell

One of the newest managers in the division, having been appointed in September 2020.

The 45-year old had enjoyed a successful career in non-League football both as a player and a manager.

He started out at King`s Lynn before going to Fakenham Town then returning to Lynn.

He then went onto Kettering Town for whom he played in the 2000 FA Trophy Final at Wembley against Kingstonian.

He then gained a wealth of experience after playing in the Football League with Rushden & Diamonds, helping them to reach the 2002 Division Three play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

He moved to Tamworth before returning to King`s Lynn in December 2003 and was their captain in season 2004/05.

He played through the 2005/06 season but was not re-signed by the new manager for the 2006/07 season.

He went on to gain promotion as a player with Sudbury Town, Fakenham Town, Swaffham Town and Wisbech Town.

After hanging up his boots, he became manager of Wisbech in 2009, before moving to the hot seat at the `new` King`s Lynn Town in 2010.

During seven successful years with the Linnets, he guided them to promotion from Step 5 in the United Counties League and again promotion from Step 4.

Several good runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy also were part of his time at The Walks.

He holds the proud record of having managed over 500 games across Step 5, 4 and 3.

BEDWORTH UNITED

Stuart Storer

Storer took over the managers’ role at the Oval in early December 2013.

The club was looking doomed at the foot of the Northern Premier League Division One South table. Fortunately, with the staff and players he brought to the club all rallied around to fight off relegation before being switched to the Southern League the following season.

The Greenbacks managerial post wasn`t Storer`s first as he took over the hot seat at Hinckley United – a club he played over 300 games for in a nine-year spell.

At the age of 40, Storer was a member of Hinckley team that achieved their highest ever league position of fourth in the Conference North, qualifying for the play-offs, then reaching the play-off final, only to lose 4–3 on penalties to Farsley Celtic.

At the end of the 2009/10 season, Storer became part of the Knitters coaching staff.

Beginning as first team coach, and then for the 2010/11 season became assistant manager to Dean Thomas.

Storer reverted to first team coach in July 2011 and in May 2013 Carl Heggs, who had replaced Thomas, resigned as manager and Storer was offered the chance to take over, although his time in charge was brief as Hinckley were wound-up in the High Court in October 2013.

Before joining Hinckley as a player, he started his career with Mansfield Town and played just once in the Stags first team before leaving for Birmingham City in 1984.

He went on to make over 450 League appearances for City, Bolton Wanderers, Exeter City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

He first played non-League football with Atherstone United and also had spells with Kettering Town and Chesham United before signing for Hinckley in 2001.

BERKHAMSTED

Chris Devane

Another to have been appointed this year, being handed the post as the new manager of Berko towards the end of June 2020.

Devane had a tough task on his hands as the previous boss, Lee Bircham, had led the club to the top of the table before the original lockdown in March 2020 and was then offered the opportunity to step up two divisions to manage Hemel Hempstead Town in the Vanarama National League South in the summer.

Devane moved to Broadwater after a season with Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side Biggleswade United, who were in a good position to win promotion before the season was declared null and void.

The 30-year-old, who is a respected coach, had previously been in charge at Biggleswade United`s league rivals Crawley Green.

BIGGLESWADE FC

Dave Northfield & Mark Inskip

It`s been a rapid rise for Biggleswade FC under Northfield and Inskip.

It was only in the summer of 2016 that they were admitted into the Spartan South Midlands League.

They were formed from the all-conquering Biggleswade Town under-18 side managed by Northfield and Inskip, who preferred to try and take the boys into senior football rather than go down the under-21 route.

Biggleswade groundshare at Town’s Carlsberg Stadium although they are very much their own club, with its own committee and finances.

Before starting off in the SSML, Northfield and Inskip`s side won the Thurlow Nunn League champions final and was made up of many teenagers who had been released from professional sides.

They included Keinan Davies who had been released from Stevenage and his performances for Biggleswade saw him switch to Aston Villa where he has become a first team squad regular.

Northfield and Inskip`s side won the SSML Division One at the first attempt, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

In 2018/19 they led them to the Premier Division and Premier Division Cup `double` and promotion to the Southern League.

COLESHILL TOWN

Cameron Stuart

Stuart took over as the Colemen`s manager in May 2017.

He started out as a player at York City before moving to Aston Villa for £50,000 as a 17-year old.

An injury cut short his professional career and after a brief stint at Atherstone Town, the talented left-back joined Coalville Town.

He went on to score 80 times in 259 appearances for the Ravens and was club captain in 2012.

Stuart signed for Belper Town in early December 2013 but the lure of a player-coach role back at Coalville in January 2014 was an offer he couldn’t turn down.

But he left the Ravens again to sign for Chasetown as a player in February 2015.

He later became assistant manager to Dave Stringer at The Scholars before leaving to take over as manager of Coleshill.

CORBY TOWN

Gary Mills

The Steelmen appointed one of the most experienced managers in the league in August 2020.

Mills, who is assisted at Steel Park by his long-time number two, Darron Gee, had been out of the managerial game since leaving York City in 2017.

The now 59-year-old, a former Nottingham Forest European Cup Final winner who also played over 200 times for Leicester City, has had a lot of experience managing at Vanarama National League level with the likes of Wrexham, Alfreton Town, Gateshead and York, where he had two spells in charge.

He started his managerial career as player-manager with Grantham Town in 1996.

He left the Gingerbreads after leading them to the Southern League Midland Division title in his second season.

He then served as player-manager at Southern Premier Division King's Lynn from 1998 to 2000 and was appointed player-manager of Lynn`s rivals Tamworth in 2001.

He also managed in the Football League with Notts County and in 2014 he was named the non-League manager of the year for guiding Gateshead to the Conference play-offs.

DAVENTRY TOWN

Arron Parkinson

A former player with Daventry, Parkinson was a cultured centre-back during a long career in non-League football and made over 200 appearances for the Purples before taking over as manager in June 2018.

He has already won two United Counties League titles and two cups during his time in charge.

He took sole charge in 2018 when Ian King stepped down as joint manager.

Parkinson had previously been boss alongside Andy Marks when they were crowned UCL Division One champions in 2016/17 before working alongside King in the club’s first season back in the UCL Premier Division.

Apart from Daventry, as a player Parkinson also turned out for Leamington, Wellingborough Town, Woodford United, Banbury United, Brackley Town, Easington Sports and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

In December 2019, Parkinson actually quit as manager citing concerns over the club’s finances and ability to compete in the Southern League Division One Central. But he was back at the helm within two weeks after reconsidering his decision.

DIDCOT TOWN

Jamie Heapy

A club `legend` at Didcot, he returned to the Railwaymen in May 2019 as manager following the resignation of Andy Ballard the previous month.

Heapy amassed no less than 848 appearances for the club as a player before stepping up to the role of joint manager with fellow club `legend` Ian Concannon in 2013 and the pair guided the club to its first FA Cup First Round appearance in November 2015.

The pair resigned shortly after due to work commitments with Heapy working as a player-coach at Banbury United.

Apart from Banbury and Didcot, Heapy also played for Oxford City.

HALESOWEN TOWN

Paul Smith

Halesowen appointed Smith as their manager in April 2019.

He left Redditch United to take charge at The Grove after the Yeltz had finished bottom-but-one in the table, winning just six matches in one of the most miserable campaigns in their history.

Smith replaced former West Brom striker Lee Hughes and Asa Charlton in the hot-seat, with the pair having finished the season in caretaker charge after the departure of Rob Smith and Larry Chambers who, in turn, had replaced long-serving boss John Hill in November 2018.

Smith began his managerial career at Alvechurch where he made more than 250 appearances as a player.

He then moved to Bromsgrove Sporting, leading the Rouslers to the Midland League title in 2017.

After leaving Bromsgrove in March 2018, Smith had a brief spell as joint manager of Midland Leaguers Highgate United and then took charge of Redditch in September 2018 and led the club to safety and a 15th-place finish.

KEMPSTON ROVERS

Tony Joyce

Joyce took over as manager at Kempston in November 2018 following the resignations of Jimmy Stoyles and Gary Flinn.

Joyce has been part of the Kempston coaching staff since 2016, joining after the club’s promotion to the Southern League.

His playing career saw him representing clubs such as Queens Park Rangers, Aldershot, Woking, Staines Town, Stevenage Borough, Boreham Wood, Wealdstone, Thame United and Buckingham Town.

Joyce began his managerial career as player-manager at Thame before a spell at Buckingham Town and then, in October 2009, Aylesbury United, where he earlier had three playing spells.

He eventually left Aylesbury some six years later in October 2015 and is the second longest-serving manager in the club`s history – with over 300 games in charge - and led them to promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League in 2013.

After stepping down from the Ducks` hot seat he joined Kempston`s backroom team.

KIDLINGTON

Ben Sadler

In January 2020, Kidlington announced that they had parted ways with manager Julian McCalmon due to personal circumstances.

The club acted quickly to replace him and announced that Ben Sadler would be the new man in charge.

Sadler previously managed Old Woodstock Town and Carterton, where he was successful in guiding them to the Hellenic League Division One West.

He was also successful at Wantage Town, winning the Hellenic League Premier Division title in 2018/19 before being going to manage Southern League Premier Division side Banbury United`s development squad.

NORTH LEIGH

Craig Dore & Darren James

Dore was appointed as the Millers` joint manager with Darren James in May 2018 following the departure of current Cirencester Town boss John Brough.

Both had recently been part of the youth set-up at Vanarama National League South club Oxford City, managing their Allied Counties League team.

The appointment was made as the Millers wanted to focus on developing young local players.

Dore was a well-travelled player in his day as well, playing for the likes of Witney Town, Chipping Norton Town, Brackley Town and Oxford City.

ST NEOTS TOWN

Barry Corr

In January 2020 St Neots announced the appointment of Barry Corr as part of a new strategic collaboration between them and League Two neighbours Cambridge United.

Corr took the helm at the Premier Plus Stadium whilst also continuing in his position as development coach at Cambridge United, where he is responsible for managing the transition of the club’s young professionals from youth team to senior football.

The appointment, therefore, benefitted both parties, and enables young players progressing from the U`s academy to benefit from an additional pathway of gaining crucial experience of men's football.

Corr made over 300 appearances through his playing career as a forward which began in Ireland with St Anthony`s Kilcoole.

Leeds United brought him over to England in 2002 but his three years at Elland Road failed to yield any first team games, so he moved to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday where he earned 17 League appearances and also had loan spells with Bristol City and Swindon Town.

He made the permanent switch to Swindon in 2007 and added 28 games and 3 goals to his tally and 34 more followed after moving to Exeter City in 2009.

But it was after joining Southend United that Corr really found a home, making 155 appearances and scoring 50 goals.

He transferred to Cambridge in 2015 and played 48 times and netted 19 times before hanging up his boots in 2019 after a series of injuries.

He also holds a UEFA A Licence.

THAME UNITED

Mark West

Mark West was originally appointed as player-manager of Thame United after Andy Sinnott's resignation in the summer of 2003.

A former favourite and prolific marksman with neighbours Wycombe Wanderers, the then 37-year-old has been the assistant manager under Sinnott for two years.

West played under Martin O'Neill during his time at Wycombe.

He was a key player, scoring 171 goals in 381 appearances for the club including the winner in the 1991 FA Trophy Final against Kidderminster Harriers to give O'Neill his first trophy in management.

But West, who was also the Mail on Sunday's Non-League Player of the Year in 1991, started his playing career with West Ham United and was an England Schoolboy international.

He went on to win caps at England semi-professional international level (now England C) and joined Wycombe from Reading in 1984 and also turned out for Slough Town and Farnborough before joining Thame.

He re-joined Thame for his second spell as manager in January 2007.

West arrived at a time when the club sat at the bottom of the Hellenic League Premier Division, without a home in Thame and groundsharing at AFC Wallingford.

Whilst the team were too far adrift that season to avoid relegation, it is a credit to West that, despite relegation to Step 6 and a continued spell of groundsharing at AFC Wallingford, he stuck with the club in the knowledge that they were working hard off-the-field to deliver a new ground in Thame.

Prior to that return he duly won the Hellenic League Division One East title in 2009/10, before the start of the successful partnership with Stuart Blaik and the lifting of the Hellenic Premier Division title – and a return to Southern League football in 2016/17.

WANTAGE TOWN

Matt Biddle

Biddle took sole charge of the Alfredians in May 2020 following the departure of Tom Austin.

The pair had originally been appointed as joint bosses in June 2019.

Both were former Wantage players. Biddle is local, and has relatively recent experience of playing at the Southern League level.

As well as Wantage, Biddle also played as a central midfielder for Abingdon United, Willenhall Town and Market Drayton Town, but his playing career was unfortunately cut short due to a triple ACL injury.

He has coaching experience in America and assisted at Hellenic League side Milton United.

WELWYN GARDEN CITY

Nick Ironton

Nick was once rated as being the best midfielder outside the Football League during his playing career.

He joined the Citizens as manager in June 2019, making a comeback to management after a four-year break to take the reins at Herns Lane, in succession to Dean Barker.

Ironton managed Arlesey Town in two spells, winning three successive Isthmian League promotions and taking the Bedfordshire side to the First Round of the FA Cup and quarter finals of the FA Trophy.

He also developed the careers of Dave Kitson, Craig Mackail-Smith and Jack Midson at before they all went into the professional game.

Ironton spent two seasons at Ware, saving the club from near certain relegation from the Isthmian League and has also managed Conference South club Hemel Hempstead Town.

The former England semi-professional international (now England C) lives in Welwyn Garden City.

He had a glittering playing career winning two Conference titles and an FA Trophy with Enfield and a third Conference crown with Barnet, having begun as a professional at Queens Park Rangers.

YAXLEY

Andy Furnell

Furnell took over as the Cuckoos manager in 2017 and led the club to the United Counties League title and League Cup, won the Hinchingbrooke Cup and promotion to the Southern League.

As a player, he earned his first contract as a teenager with his local side Peterborough United and earned several England Youth international caps.

He made his debut for the Posh at the age of 16 in November 1993 against Bristol City, and scored his only goal for them in the reverse fixture at the end of the season.

His appearances were limited over the next few seasons, and he was released in May 1996.

The striker joined the sadly now defunct Rushden & Diamonds in August 1996 and made his debut as a second half substitute in their first Conference victory at Halifax Town on September 7th 1996.

Appearances in the starting eleven were rare, however, and he came off the bench for most of his games.

He went to the USA in the summer of 1997 and played a number of games for the Sacramento Knights in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, before returning to Diamonds in the Autumn.

He only played one further game bringing his total appearances to 12 before being released in 1998 to join Nuneaton Borough.

After periods with Grantham Town and Stamford, he joined Wisbech Town in 2000 where he spent some four years.

In 2004, he joined Soham Town Rangers before returning to Wisbech in July 2010.

In May 2011, he re-joined then-Southern League Division One Central side Soham Town Rangers as player-manager.

He parted company with Soham in March 2012 after a run of bad results and just ten days later, joined then-United Counties League Premier Division side Yaxley as a player.

He left the Cuckoos at the end of the 2011/12 season and joined rivals Peterborough Northern Star.

He returned to Yaxley in February 2013 and after a period as assistant manager to Ian Benjamin, took over the managerial role at the end of 2017 following the departure.