Canterbury City coach Will Graham: I absolutely loved my position in the prison service but I really wanted to get myself back into football

COACH Will Graham says he’s delighted to be back involved in football with Canterbury City.

The 33-year-old was appointed head coach at the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club by manager Ben Smith after being out of the game due to working commitments.

“I’ve been out of the local scene for two years since leaving Hythe Town to pursue a career in the prison service,” said Ramsgate based Graham.

“I really missed not coaching. I’ve been doing this since I was 14 years old and to completely stop has been really tough.

“I absolutely loved my position in the prison service but I really wanted to get myself back into football as soon as possible.

“I was offered a fantastic chance to go and work in New Jersey in America as director of coaching for Princeton SC with some of the States’ top youth players.

“I had spent a few months there, however, due to Visa restrictions, I needed to return home.

“Once home, I immediately started talking with some close friends within the game to see if there would be something for me but the two offers I had, I just couldn’t agree terms.

“Over the last two months things have really heated up in the management game as lots of good managers and coaches are out of the game and quite a few jobs have come up and it was nice to be asked if I would be apart of their management team but all parties not managed to get the jobs, which was disappointing.

“I started to think that was going to take a miracle to get back involved this season but when an old friend Ben Smith phoned and asked if I’d like to join his management team.

“I have been involved for the last week and have loved every minute of it. I have lots of familiar faces there so settling in has been easy.

“Ben understands that I am going to be open about my future as I do want to return to the Bostik League or higher at some stage but until a decent offer arrives I will put 100% in to Canterbury City and push them up the table and potentially continue the great FA Vase run.”

Canterbury City are currently in tenth-place in the table with 30 points from 19 games and they play Newport Pagnell Town in the last 32 of The Buildbase FA Vase at Faversham Town’s Salters Lane ground next Sunday, 6 January 2019 (14:00).

Visit Canterbury City’s website:  www.canterburycityfc.net