Tucker resigns after 20 years at Coney Hall (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Chris Tucker admitted leaving Combined Counties League club Coney Hall after 20 years was a “hard decision to make,” writes Stephen McCartney.

The 28-year-old Croydon resident has, during his five years as manager, taken the Tiepigs Lane outfit up the footballing ladder and were on the brink of Ryman League football, which was Tucker’s main ambition.


He will, however, leave the division one club on Monday, 20^th February, once they find a replacement secretary, but his assistant, Colin Coldspring has been appointed manager until the end of the season – a role he’s had previously.

”After 20 years of being at Coney Hall Football Club and five of those as a manager it’s obviously been a hard decision to make,” Tucker said.

”But following recent events when I was sent off from my dug-out I don’t think I’ve had the full backing of certain committee members.
 
”I felt let down in a certain way and I’ve decided to resign from my posts – I don’t think I’ve been supported enough.”

Tucker, however, insists he will only go to another club if they match his “ambition and drive.”

”The last five years has been a full-time job,” he said.  “I’ll just sit back and see what happens until the end of the season.

”If the right club come along and they had ambition and drive, obviously I would think about it but at the minute that’s not in my thought.”

Supporters have one final chance to see “the special one” inside the technical area at Tiepigs Lane when Shottermill visit on Saturday (2pm) and he takes charge of the side for the very last time at Crescent Rovers on 18^th February.

He added: “I would like to think over five years I’ve brought success and some trophies to the club.

”In three years we’ve gone up three steps of the football ladder and won the Combined Counties League.  If it wasn’t for an act of parliament we would be playing Combined Counties Premier League football and trying to get where I said – playing Ryman League football.

”But things change and obviously this is a massive disappointment for myself and the players.

”I would personally like to thank the players who have played for me over the past five seasons, many of which could have been at bigger clubs but they chose to play for Coney Hall and were part of a remarkable five years.
 
”Some of the achievements gained in those five years were pretty remarkable for such a small club.”

TUCKER’S RECORD AT CONEY HALL:
Played 180
Won 127
Drawn 33
Lost 20
Goals scored 489
Goals conceded 219

Honours:
Surrey Cup Winners 2001-02
Surrey Combination Division One Runners-up 2002-03
Senior League Cup Winners 2002-03

Promoted to Combined Counties League for season 2003-04
Finished fifth in league 2003-04

Biggest crowd: 2,465 (vs AFC Wimbledon at Hayes Lane, Bromley in Combined Counties League Premier Cup Semi-Final, which was abandoned at 2-2) season 2003-04

Beat three Premier division sides all away from home to reach the Challenge Cup final in 2003-04

Combined Counties League Division One champions 2004-05 (losing just once)

Statistically the best football team in England 2004-05