Glebe appoint Ben Young: I believe he is the best up and coming manager on the circuit and have total confidence in his ability to lead us into the SCEFL Premier

GLEBE have appointed former Sutton Athletic manager Ben Young as their new manager.

The Chislehurst based club celebrated winning the Southern Counties East Football League First Division title in Adam Woodward’s only season in charge of the club.

However, the former Phoenix Sports goalkeeper and coach, dropped a bombshell when he quit the club to take over Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Erith Town, taking Timmy Warden with him as his number two.

Three players have left Glebe this summer.  Player-coach Sam Long has signed for Ashford United, who have been promoted to the Isthmian League Division One South, while striker Aaron Jeffery and defender Scott Whibley are expected to sign for Sheppey United and Tunbridge Wells.

Young, who spent 16 years at Sutton Athletic, has enjoyed success over the past three seasons as their manager, guiding the Hextable-based club to a third-place finish in the First Division last season with 74 points from their 36 league games.

Glebe were promoted on 92 points, followed by Rusthall on 80, as both club’s are preparing to play at their highest level of football in their histories next season.

A Sutton Athletic statement said: “Everyone at Sutton would like to wish Ben Young all the best in his new role at Glebe.  A man that has been at Sutton for 16 years.”

Glebe chairman Rocky McMillan, meanwhile, is delighted to snap up Young, who becomes the club’s third manager in three seasons, following Simon Copley and Woodward at the helm.

“I am over the moon that Ben Young has joined Glebe as first team manager,” said the Glebe founder and owner.

“Ben joins us after a long career at Sutton Athletic.  I believe he is the best up and coming manager on the circuit and have total confidence in his ability to lead us into the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

“No doubt Ben will be very busy getting the squad together for next season, as well as finalising his backroom staff.”

Mr McMillan said he is pinching himself as the club are playing at their highest level of football when the new season kicks-off with their FA Cup debut in the Extra Preliminary Round on 5 August 2017.

He said: “Glebe Football Club will be playing their first season in the SCEFL Premier.  Plenty of these clubs have over 100 years of history, so you have to pinch yourself that we have only been a senior club for four years.

“In that short time we have won three major senior trophies as well as finalists in this year’s London Senior Trophy.

“Ben has seen what has been achieved at the club in a very short time and also the exciting plans for the future.

“Next season we are in the same League as some of the biggest towns in the county, Deal, Whitstable, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks as well as Sheppey and Crowborough.  That list doesn’t include the likes of Cray Valley and Beckenham – all big clubs!

“These clubs have natural fan bases which they can feed from.   Glebe is settling into Chislehurst and we now have a number of loyal fans.  However, we need to build on this.

“In the meantime, we fully respect the history and quality of next years’ opponents.

“We are not here simply to make up numbers in the League. We shall compete for every minute in every match.

“In April 2018 we will look back and see what we have achieved.  Ben and I have spoken about targets but I prefer not to get caught up with this. Quite simply, Ben will put a squad together to enable us to compete. We’ll look at every match and prepare meticulously.  Little steps and let’s see what happens over a marathon season.”

Mr McMillan declined to answer the question as to why Woodward left the club after fulfilling his sole objective – winning promotion at his first attempt.

But he said: “Last season is fish and chip paper. We won the League by 12 points, a pretty huge margin, but it now counts for nothing!

“Next season will be a great time at the football club, under Ben’s management team, I can’t wait for it to begin.”