Foxwell is new boss (From Gazette Series)

Foxwell is new boss

DOUG Foxwell has been unveiled as the new manager of Slimbridge AFC.

The highly experienced new boss was introduced by chairman John Mack to a packed Wisloe Road gathering of players and supporters at the end of season presentation evening on Friday.

Mack said: "Doug is very clear that he wanted the challenge of taking an ambitious club forward and this matched up with our own ideas for the future.

"Having finished in fourth place in the Hellenic Premier Division in the two successive seasons since winning the Division One West Championship in 2002-03, the club is looking to kick on."

Very well known and respected in local footballing circles, Foxwell was twice a playing member in Hellenic Championship winning sides, with Shortwood United and Sharpness in the 1980s. He acquired a big reputation playing in Southern League football, a couple of times turning down offers to go full-time with Football League clubs.

As a manager, he had two spells in charge at fellow Hellenic Premier side Tuffley Rovers, either side of a highly successful stint at the now defunct Gloucester United.

Having achieved a promotion-winning position at the end of 2001-02, he was denied the chance of managing in the Southern League after promotion was spurned by off-field problems as the side basically broke up.

Foxwell's first appearance in the Slimbridge dug-out is likely to be at Wisloe Road on Saturday, July 23, when pre-season kicks off with a visit from Midland Alliance side Stourbridge.

Meanwhile, chairman Mack proceeded to make the annual awards last week, with a special award for previous manager Doug Gray, who resigned last February, noting his tremendous record in his four years at the helm between 2001 and 2005. In his absence the award was collected by his father-in-law.

Defender Leon Sterling captured a hat-trick of awards after an impressive season, picking up the Manager's Player, Players' Player and Supporters' Player of the Season accolades.

For the third season in a row Julian Freeman picked up the leading goalscorer award, but there is unlikely to be a fourth for the popular striker as he is intending to set up home in Newcastle from July.

Others awards were: Chairman's Trophy, Doug Reeves; Clubman of the Year, John Ashplant; Second team manager's player, Gianni Diurno; Second team players' player, Tom Cole; Third team manager's player, Ashley Fowles; Third team players' player, Nathan Freeman; Young Player of the Year, Aaron Booth.