Herne Bay FC is thrilled to announce that experienced Coach Darren Beale has agreed to join Ben Smith's backroom team as Head coach ahead of the 2020/2021 Football season.

Darren spent the majority of the 19/20 season working at National League South Outfit Hemel Hempstead FC with former professional footballer Sammy Moore as manager. He helped the Tudors finish a respectable 11th before the season was cut short. As well as this Beale helped the Tudors reach the Hertfordshire FA County and Charity cup finals only for the Coronavirus outbreak to stop the finals from taking place. Before his time in Hertfordshire, he also worked at Essex based side Concord Rangers in the National League South's 18/19 season helping the Beach boys reach the playoffs only for ground issues to stop them competing in them. He also spent the 17/18 season at Surrey-based club Leatherhead where they finished just outside the playoffs due to goal difference. Darren boasts an impressive CV having also worked at Dover Athletic, Gillingham's academy as well as Hythe and Ramsgate he also spent some time last season coaching in Spain.

Darren had this to say on his arrival at the club: 'I'm looking forward to joining a club that has great ambition and was sold on the project and long term plans both the Chairman and manager have. I'm also excited to be working with a great management team and a strong squad. As well as working for a loyal fan base that Herne Bay has. I'm also excited to run the clubs post 16 academy in 2021 and helping to strengthen the connection between the Youth Teams and First Team as much as possible from the outset. I can't wait to get started!

First team manager Ben Smith had this to say on the latest addition to his backroom staff: 'I'm really pleased to welcome Darren to the club, he brings a wealth of experience with him and has developed a fantastic reputation with players at National League Level.
I've said for a while now that we need to make improvements both on and off the pitch if we are serious in our ambitions for the chairman to bring a Coach in from National League South level is a big step for us.
I'm looking forward to seeing Darren working with the talented players we will have at our club for the coming season.'

Stay tuned for later this week as HBFC-TV sit down with Darren for his 1st interview since joining the Bay.