POCKLINGTON Town have named Guernsey national team manager Kevin Graham as their new under-19 coach.

The Balk-based club are planning to run a junior team in next season’s Northern Alliance under Graham, who has acheived Channel Island acclaim after leading the green and whites to Muratti Cup glory over big rivals Jersey in front of 3,000-plus crowds for the last two years.

He will continue in that role while overseeing the progress of Pocklington’s young footballers and they had their first friendly, with York City’s youth team, last night. They play Rotherham United U18s on Tuesday, July 23 (7.30pm).

Graham was born in Darlington but grew up in Guernsey and captained the island’s representative side in addition to enjoying spells playing for Whitby Town, Guiseley and Goole.

He is now based in Holme-on-Spalding Moor working for Telecoms firm JT, and is looking forward to his new challenge, saying: “Coaching the under-19s suits me at the moment in terms of logisitics and the amount of time that I can dedicate.

“My work and family commitments mean I can’t take on a senior role but the midweek floodlit league is a good fit for me. I am attracted to the quality of sides we could be playing against like North Ferriby United and Gainsborough Trinity because most of them operate at a higher level than Pocklington’s first team in the Humber Premier League, so it will be a level of football the town’s players don’t normally experience.

“The club’s facilities are also excellent and the pitch is immaculate. We have two-and-a-half floodlit pitches, which I never had at any of the sides I played for.

“But that is important because it means you don’t have to travel around using schools and relying on favours from other clubs.”

Graham, who will be assisted in his new role by former Gainsborough and Pickering player Elliott Simpson in his new role, will also be placing a greater emphasis on player development than league standings next season.

He added: “Teams like Selby and Pickering will obviously be judged on their own merits but myself and Elliott are hoping to attract youngsters who haven’t been involved in the pro game before and improve them through coaching.

“If that means everybody expects us to finish third-bottom next season and we finish a couple of places higher, then we will be doing our jobs correctly.”

The under-19s have begun pre-season training on Monday nights from 7.30pm to 9pm, but anybody interested in joining the team can still phone Graham on 07911 798123.