Champion is new player-coach

6 Jun 2016 By David Watters

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Spennymoor Town have appointed Alan White as their new player coach after unveiling a new kit for the next two seasons.

The Moors, celebrating a new two year kit deal with Motif 8 and Errea, announced over the weekend that the left-back was joining manager Jason Ainsley's management team only days Tommy Miller's appointment as his new assistant manager.

White made over 400 appearances in the Football League, going on to play for Luton, Colchester United, Leyton Orient, Boston United, Notts County and Peterborough after kicking off his career at Middlesbrough.

The 41-year-old, who turned out in Non-League for Stalybridge Celtic, Gateshead, Blyth-Spartans and Harrogate Town, returned to Darlington for a third spell in 2014, helping the Quakers win last season's EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division title and promotion to National League North.

After guiding the Moors to the top flight as EVO-STIK NPL First Division North runners-up and play-off winners, Ainsley is looking forward to White making his experience count at The Brewery Field when the new campaign kicks off in August.

Ainsley said: “We are delighted to appoint Alan White as player-coach for the coming season. When my new assistant Tommy Miller and I met Alan it was evident that he was very enthusiastic and keen to join the club and work alongside us both.

“Alan will be heavily involved with Tommy during pre-season utilising his strengths in conditioning and working on players` fitness levels. I feel that Alan will compliment both myself and Tommy and be a fantastic addition to the management team.”

Darlington-born White said: “I'm delighted to be joining Spennymoor as player-coach. After speaking with Jason and Tommy it was obvious to see they're a club with ambition and a professionalism that would rival any league side.

"Plus, they're bringing in established experienced players to add to and improve a squad that has already achieved great success last season by gaining promotion. Competition for places within the team is essential when endeavouring to move to the next level."

He added: "It's a club which is hopefully going places and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of that.”

Image courtesy of darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk

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Where next?

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