Having alluded to it in a series of Tweets with Football in Berkshire a few weeks ago, Ian Herring is DEFINITELY lacing up his boots again.
It’s been reported the former Hungerford Town boss has signed on with Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division Fairford Town having originally hung up his boots in early 2019 to concentrate on managing the Crusaders in the Vanarama National League South full time.
Speaking to our friends at Severn Sport, Fairford manager Jody Bevan confirmed 36-year-old Herring had signed solely as a player and expressed his delight at capturing a player with significant experience at the top end of non-league football: “When he left Hungerford I called him on the off chance that he might want to play again as he’s only 36 and fit as a butcher’s dog. I was chuffed to get him to our first training session. From there he has loved the training, the atmosphere at the club and the group we have.
“When he agreed to sign yesterday I was over the moon. It’s a huge signing for the club and massive for the younger players at our club. He’s signing purely as a player and I can’t wait to see him in a Fairford kit.”
Fairford had improved consistently in the Premier Division having won promotion from Division One West at the end of the 2016/17 season and were third behind Binfield and Westfields at the curtailment of the 2019/20 season.
The Gloucestershire side had previously had 36 unbroken seasons in the Premier before relegation and five seasons at step 6 from 2012/13.
Herring had been in charge of Hungerford for two seasons at National League South level, leading the Crusaders to a ‘great escape’ in 2018/19 that included a vital win away to champions Torquay United in the penultimate league fixture.
During the lockdown period, Ian spoke to Rob and Tom on the Berkshire Football Stories podcast. You can listen to it here.
