After six seasons at Newhaven Football Club, and three league titles to his name, Under-18 and Under-21 manager Kieran Ridley is to leave the club to take on the first team management role at Division One side AFC Varndeanians.
25-year-old Ridley joined Newhaven as Under-18 manager in 2011 and later went on to combine the role with Reserve team manager, and then Under-21 manager following the switch from Reserves in 2015.
During the 2014/15 season Ridley successfully guided the Under-18s to the Youth League East Division title by going the entire league campaign unbeaten.
And he followed this with back-to-back Under-21 East Division league titles in 2016 and 2017, as well as a first ever County Cup final appearance for the Under-18s in April.
On Ridley’s departure, chairman Martin Garry said: “We would like to put on record our heartfelt thanks for Kieran’s efforts over recent years, and the contribution he has made to the development of the youth and the club in his time at Fort Road.”
Joint first team manager Sean Breach was equally thankful and added: “I would like to thank Kieran for his huge input over the past three years.
“Not only was he our Under-18 and Under-21 manager, he was a big part of the set up around the first team. But more importantly he has become a very good friend and he will be really missed by us all at Newhaven FC.
“However, I am over the moon for him that his hard work and dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed outside of the football club and this is a great opportunity for him and one I’m sure he will do well in.
“You won’t meet someone who puts more time and effort in to a job than him and his record at finding and producing young talent is nothing like I have seen at this level. We have four players in the first team squad now that have all been progressed through our Under-18s and Under-21s, and that is mainly down to Kieran.”
And fellow joint-manager Andy Cook echoed Breach’s thoughts.
“Congratulations to Kieran on getting his first senior management role,” said Cook. “He thoroughly deserves this opportunity and we are sure he will be successful and we wish him all the best. He has been fantastic for Newhaven FC during his time with the club.
“It all started six years ago when he first stepped in at short notice and took the Under-18s on a couple of weeks before the season was due to start and he formed a team which was competitive.
“From here on things just got better and better and he built a youth set up at the club which is admired by many. Full of hard work, enthusiasm and excellent coaching abilities he has put together some formidable teams at both Under-18 and Under-21 level and has been rewarded with success and titles at both age groups.
“And most importantly he has brought through many youth players who have been good enough and very successful at senior first team level, which I know pleases Kieran the most.”
The club would like to thank Kieran for his time at the club and wish him all the best for the future.