On Thursday 24th May, one of previous manager Frank Murphy's assistants, Dave Anderson, 39, was appointed manager. His first act was to offer Curtis Warmington, who had also been part of the management team, the job as assistant manager.

The popular Warmington has made over 170 appearances for the club in two spells was promoted to a coaching role in 1999. He had also applied for the manager's job and has promised to give Mr Anderson his answer within a few days.

Ulsterman Mr Anderson, a former goalkeeper who saw service with Glentoran, Wolves and Sheffield Utd (as apprentice), Bangor (Irish League) and Larne before injury curtailed his career at the age of only 22. He had been the youngest player ever to travel overseas for an European tie when he was at Glentoran.

His coaching experience in the south of England stretches back 12 years and comprises three spells at Harrow Borough, as well as stints at Aylesbury United, St Albans City, Enfield and Hendon as well as having had a short spell as manager of Southall some years ago. He has worked under three of the biggest names on the Ryman League management circuit, George Borg at Harrow and Enfield, Bob Dowie at Harrow, Aylesbury and St Albans and, of course, Frank Murphy at Hendon. Mr Anderson also had a spell coaching at a youth soccer academy in New York.

He said, "It's a big honour to become manager of Hendon FC. I am very proud to take over at the club, I have been here for two years. You always break your football club down to your playing staff, your staff room (coaches and managers), your boardroom and your bar where you get your supporters. I have always felt that in all of them I have been amongst friends and that has not been the case with some of the clubs I have been at.

"I don't there is a great deal of work that needs to be done at Hendon. I think the basis is there for a good side. Like any new manager I want to do a little bit of tinkering with the squad, but I stress it is just a little tinkering and I want to bring one or two people in. I have spent two years with Frank and Curtis building the squad, so I don't want to tear it up.

"Fingers crossed, the weather can't be as bad as it was last season. We could have put Wembley Stadium's pitch down last season and we would have still had games off. I hope we can get some continuity to our season, which we didn't get last year and I think we were a better side than where we finished. Or rather, we didn't finish last year (Hendon finished having played only 40 out of 42 league games). Nobody could have predicted the weather we had last season. It was so frustrating."