Hertford Town player-manager, Ben Herd, is revelling in the hands-on nature of working in non-League football.
The 38 year-old enjoyed a solid career in the professional game, which began as a youngster at Watford and included well over 150 appearances each for Shrewsbury Town and Aldershot Town.
He took over at the helm of the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central club in May 2019 and has overseen plenty of progress since then.
“I always felt that professional football restricted me,” Herd told The Non-League Show. “Throughout my career I’ve always had more to give, so being as hands-on as I am here in all aspects of the club is just what I was looking for.
“I love the challenge of trying to build a football club and everything that comes with it, be that bringing vibrant young players through or unblocking the toilets on match day.
“The whole club is coming together well, the junior section and women’s team are thriving and we all support each other.
“The fans have been extremely loyal and stuck with us and it’s pleasing to see the numbers growing.
“It’s been a positive start to the season; even when we weren’t getting the results, we were playing some good stuff and it was only a matter of time before things started to click into place.
“Over the last three or four games we’ve been able to tweak a few things and we’ve also added Joe Bennett who has brought experience into the heart of the side and also been a good role-model for the young players around him.
“We’re unbeaten in our last three games now and Saturday’s victory over North Leigh was particularly pleasing because they are a side who I expect to be right up there at the end of the season.
“I never look any further than the next game and now my focus is on going to Kempston Rovers at the weekend and getting a result.
“We know that we have to be bang at it in every game and training session. If we’re at our best, then we can be more than a match for anyone at this level.”
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