Note that this page is from our archive during the time when the club was called Gresley FC. It may not be related to the old Gresley Rovers.
Norton Adds To Backroom Team
Former AFC Hinckley manager James Jepson having recently signed for the club has been invited to join the backroom team at Gresley FC for the remainder of the season.
The experienced midfielder will step up to help manager Gary Norton in a number of areas over the coming months and joins current assistant Carl Slater as well as coach John Williamson and player coach Jamie Barrett on Norton’s backroom teamExplaining the appointment the manager told GresleyFC.com, “James made it clear when he joined us recently he wanted to focus just on playing but the situation I am currently in here presented an opportunity to bring some more support in and having discussed things with Carl Slater and Jamie Barrett we decided to speak to James about it.
"As things have progressed this season Carl has really struggled to make a number of games and training for a variety of reasons and with Jamie’s current and well documented family situation away from football his main focus is, quite rightly, elsewhere for the foreseeable future.
"When you also add into the mix that John Williamson has recently started a University Degree in Bournemouth which often impacts his availability it’s obvious I needed to get some further support and help on the backroom team as I’ve found it very hard over the last couple of months " especially when taking into consideration the demands of my own day job.
"I even discussed the situation last week with my fellow board members and rather than wanting me to step down at this point they suggested I try to get some additional help in and so Jeppo was the obvious person to approach initially and I am delighted he has agreed to come and help Carl and I out”.
Norton added, “James comes on board with the title as player coach but that’s just a name. Effectively he will assist Carl and I in a number of areas where needed both on and off the pitch. He has great playing experience, energy and enthusiasm and a good network of player contacts that he’s developed in recent seasons and more recently when he was a manager himself which will come in useful over the coming weeks and months of the season.
"He is already starting to prove to be a good addition on the pitch with his talking and support to the younger players in the squad in the short time he has been back with the club and hopefully that continues. Like my other backroom staff I will get his input into team selection and tactics just like any other management colleague and welcome him on board”.
