Last month saw the return of Andy Burgess to the club, as player-coach. Andy kindly took some time out from his busy pre-season preparations to talk to www.corbytownfc.co.uk about why he has returned to the club, just six months after departing for Blue Square Bet Premier side Woking. 

He explained: “The call from Graham came a bit out of the blue and although he didn't realise it, it was perfect timing for me. The travelling to Woking was something I'd got used to but it was challenging and I was looking for a club nearer to home.

“The chance to return to Corby as a player is ideal because I have a lot of family there, which attracted me in the first place however the chance to take on a role on the coaching side was something that really grabbed my interest. I'd decided some time ago that was where I wanted to progress to, coaching men's football, so the offer from Graham to come on board as a coach as well as a player really swung it for me."

This may be his first taste of coaching in the men’s game, however Burgess has plenty of coaching experience already. He was appointed Head Coach of Preston North End WFC in June 2010 after spells as assistant manager at Nottingham Forest LFC, manager at Sheffield Wednesday Womens and first team coach at Leeds United LFC, who finished the season fourth in the National Premier Division. 

“It is something I've been looking at for some time, I really enjoy working with the Ladies team at Preston – it's been five years now I've been working in the women's game but I want to take the next step."

Another huge factor for Burgess was the lure of working alongside assistant manager Paul Holden MBE, who also recently returned to the club for his second spell. 

“I am willing to listen and learn and the chance to work with Graham and Paul Holden will be great for me. I don't know Paul personally but I know of him and he has a tremendous reputation and is highly regarded in the game so it will be very good to develop my own coaching skills and watch the pair of them first hand.

“I have spoken with the gaffer and he is looking to put together a younger squad than the one I played with previously and I think it's a good way to go. If we can work with these players at the right age, and as a group, then we can nurture their talents. It's much easier to do than that try and change the approach of a player who is stuck in their ways. 

“I think it's an exciting time to be involved with the club and I can't wait to get started. Working with a group of 18 to 24-year-olds and making sure they develop good habits is something I'm going to relish and having seen the new stadium the other day, I can't wait to get out there – the pitch looks fantastic.”