Ian Herring reaches century for Hungerford Town

Hungerford Town manager Ian Herring will reach a century of matches in charge at Bulpit Lane when Hampton & Richmond Borough visit on Saturday in the Vanarama National League South.

The former Swindon Town and Salisbury City midfielder was player/manager at the Crusaders when he first took over the reins alongside Jon Boardman in 2017.

Herring guided Hungerford, one of the smallest towns to host a National League side, to safety last season securing a fourth successive terms as a step 2 club.

The Crusaders boss’s first game as joint manager with Boardman was a on Saturday 26th August, a 3-2 defeat at home to Gloucester City and he was put in sole charge after a 2-0 defeat away to Havant & Waterlooville on 17th February 2018.

A run of three postponements held up that debut fixture but Herring eventually took charge on Saturday 10th March, a 1-1 draw at home to Chelmsford City followed by a 3-1 win over St Albans City.

Related: Hungerford Town’s Carl Reader on going cashless and bringing fans to Bulpit Lane

Speaking to Football in Berkshire, Herring highlighted player development as one of the highlights of his time in charge at the club.

He said: “The players the we’ve brought in, either loan or permanent who have progressed to a higher level has been a highlight. Alfie Kilgour [playing first team football at Bristol Rovers], Cam Hargreaves [Rovers], Michael Luymbala [Birmingham City], Marvel Ekpiteta who was the first ever Hungerford player to be sold [to Newport County in the summer] and Alfy Whittingham [Aldershot Town].”

Herring added the successful escape from last season was something special as well. The Crusaders lost just two of their final 10 games of the season, a run that included a 1-0 win at champions Torquay United and a final day point at East Thurrock United.