Local man Herbert appointed to sort out early-season mess at Folland Sports

The Planemakers’ former reserve team boss and first-team coach has taken over the reins at Follands Park, becoming the Sydenhams Premier club’s third manager in the space of four turbulent months.

Herbert, who hails from nearby Netley, has brought a local feel back to Kings Avenue after the brief reigns of Dorset-based pair Jay Keating and, latterly, Kevin Jackson failed to work out.

With Herbert at the helm, Follands got their first point on the board with a 1-1 draw at Verwood last night – but even that wasn’t plain sailing.

Keeper Jarid Hixon was injured in the warm-up, so outfielder Pat Williams went in goal. And, with just five minutes gone, the Planemakers were reduced to ten men when, as last man, winger Matt Camfield was red carded for denying Verwood a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Despite that handicap, ten-man Follands went 1-0 up through Lewis Fear in the 78th-minute only to concede a Joe Wood leveller four minutes later. But there was still time for Jamie Blackburn to clip the Verwood bar.

Herbert, 31, smiled: “Follands wanted a local boy to turn things round and it’s about time I got the job – I’d been (ex-boss) Danny Bowers’ understudy for long enough!

“I was first-team coach here under Danny with Dave Lewis and Darren Burdle and then went to Lymington Town to work with Stuart Doling. Lymington asked me to take over, but I couldn’t commit due to a four-week holiday and last year I was first-team coach at Hamble Club when they won the (Hampshire Premier) league.”

“It’s a shame I didn’t get the Follands job three weeks ago because there are players I could have brought in, but I’ve got my backroom staff coming in next week.

“It’s a shame the lad (Camfield) was sent off after five minutes at Verwood and that we lost Jarid in the warm-up. But Pat did really well in goal and plucked one out of the top corner late on.”

Follands, up to 19th, go in search of their first win at Fawley AFC tomorrow (Friday, 7.45).