I HAVE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
Belford is back in business at Town
IT may have taken a few months and a global pandemic but Dale Belford has his mojo back.
The goalkeeper turned manager split from Nuneaton Borough at the start of the year where he was assistant to Jimmy Ginnelly.
His parting gift – a lengthy message to the players he was leaving behind and, in typical Belford fashion, he pulled no punches.
That message ended up on social media but Belford is typically unrepentant and ready to put his time at Liberty Way behind him.
“That message was posted on a private WhatsApp group and was then leaked,” he explained. “Things went on at Nuneaton which weren’t right and the full story will be told one day. The experience I had there meant I needed to reinvent myself a bit and go out and enjoy my football again.”
That opportunity came at fellow Southern Premier Central side Stratford Town where he was drafted in to work alongside head coach Paul Davis.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. It was difficult last season because of the circumstances of it being a relegation battle – which I suppose I’m used to – but it has been a breath of fresh air.
Enthusiastic
“I’m 53 now and have been around the game a long time either playing, coaching or managing but I needed to put the Nuneaton experience behind me.
“Coming here to Stratford has been really good for me as a person. I’m on the sidelines with a smile on my face and I love the game again.
“I’ve been helping Paul, giving him advice where I can. I love football, it’s been my life. It’s been good for me and hopefully I’ve been good for football. I feel as though I’m putting something back in at the moment because my role at Stratford is something a little bit different.
“And I’m back to being myself – I’m enthusiastic about the game again.”
Being at Stratford has also teamed him up with another of the Belford goalkeeping dynasty – son Ty.
“He was with me at Nuneaton,” Belford explained. “Out of loyalty to the club he stayed with them until the end of the season. But he wanted to play and with Tony Breeden there he realised that wasn’t going to happen much so when the opportunity arose to come to Stratford he took it for the chance to play.”
It was as a keeper that Dale made headlines – the only player to turn out for Tamworth in four different decades, helping them to an historic FA Vase victory along the way.
And his three sons are now continuing in his footsteps with former Bury, Wrexham and Stranraer keeper Cameron, now at Radcliffe Borough, while Courtney has now stepped into management at Midland Football League side Hinckley AFC.
As for who is the best between the sticks, Belford Snr is typically honest: “Cameron played around 350 league games and has dropped into Non-League these last couple of years. Then you have Ty who has been at some top clubs and I’d say that Courtney was better than me as well – so I’ll take fourth best!”
And with five grandkids – four of them boys – it looks like the dynasty might well continue for some time.