Injured boss to carry on

FOOTBALL: SMITH To Manage VIa PHone FoLLoWIng aCCIDenT aT WoRK

Liam Smith is managing by phone after an accident at work.

The 29-year-old boss of Southern Counties East League Division 1 Lydd Town, and Ashford Sunday League side Market Hotel, is recovering at home after falling three metres from a ladder, leaving him with a broken femur in seven places and a dislocated hip.

The incident happened last month when Smith, a fibre engineer with BT Openreach was on a job in Scotland. He was in hospital for two weeks, before being allowed home.

He is undergoing physio twice a week, with a full recovery expected to take four months.

Smith and his wife Adel, who live in Ashford, had been due to be on holiday in Jamaica to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

He admitted he had considered quitting both his football jobs, saying: “We spoke about it, and she said it would be better if I carried on, because it would give me something to think about.

“Coaches Ross Ketley and Mickey Doyle, who has joined us from Willesborough Athletic, will be working with the boys, and I will keeping in touch with them and the players.”

Smith took over at the start of last season at Lydd, following dad Dave’s retirement, guiding the side to a Left, Mickey Doyle. Right, Jordan Miller ninth-place finish. He described his maiden season in charge as a big learning curve.

He said: “Availability was a problem especially around Christmas time, with players away, and a busy schedule.

“I was unable to field the same team, meaning there was no consistency in our play.”

Striker Gary Lockyer has returned to the club, following a spell at Hollands & Blair, while former Deal man Jordan Miller is another new face after recovering from a back injury.

Baz Ahmetaj has followed Doyle from Willesborough, while Ben Charlesworth, and last season’s top scorer Tim Sims have both moved from Rolvenden.

Meanwhile, Lydd are waiting to find out whether they have been accepted into the Buildbase FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history.

Secretary Bruce Marshall confirmed they have applied, with the draws for the early rounds of this season’s competition due to be released tomorrow (Friday).

‘She said it would be better if I carried on’