Connect with us

Championship

Anton Ferdinand speaks on taking first coaching role with National League new boys

Former footballer Anton Ferdinand speaks on taking up his first coaching role with National League new boys Hornchurch.

He started his youth playing career in 1994 at West Ham, and then launched his senior career with them, staying at the Hammers until 2008.

Then Anton went on to play for Sunderland, QPR, Bursaspor, Antalyaspor, Reading, Southend and St Mirren, also being part of England’s under 18s, under 20s and under 21s teams.

A statement on the club website read: “Hornchurch Football Club are delighted to announce that Anton Ferdinand will be joining Daryl McMahon’s backroom staff as a First Team coach.

Daryl and Anton both came through the youth teams at West Ham United, as seen in the image below. Now they will be reuniting as we embark on our debut season in the Enterprise National League.

Speaking on the appointment, Daryl McMahon said:

“I’ve known Anton for a long time, probably since I was 12 or 13 years old. He’s gone on to have a fantastic career and top of that as well he’s a top, top person with great enthusiasm with a great knowledge of the game.

With him stepping into his first coaching role, we needed to make sure that me as the manager will appreciate the knowledge he can give to the players, but also helping him to get that knowledge out, as it is his first coaching role.

He is someone we think has huge potential as a coach and we’re delighted to have him on board. As I said he’s had a fantastic career but he’s also a fantastic person and we really believe he can add value to the club on the training pitch, around the training pitch and off it as well.

So we’re delighted to have Anton on board and we wish him the best of luck with his new career as a coach. I’m looking forward to helping him and supporting him and him doing the same for us.”

Welcome to the club Anton. It’s great to have you on board.

Interviewer: “So Anton, welcome to the club. You’re joining Daryl’s coaching staff. How much you pleased joining the Urchins?

Anton: “Yeah, I’m delighted to join the Urchins, you know, and to be a part of Daryl’s staff. I’ve known Daryl a long time ago, 11 or 12 years old.

“So yeah, it’s a long time, but delighted to be here, delighted to try and add value to what he’s already achieved here.

“You know, he’s had a remarkable run so far with him and the people that he’s got around him already and yeah, the fact that he’s wanted me to come in here and and try and have value to try and take us to the next level, it’s humbling, but something I’m really really excited about.

“You know, Daryl’s credentials in the game are second to none. Everyone speaks for him as a manager, as a coach. Such a great place for me to to come, you know, learn off of him, but also given my experience that I’ve had as a player over a 20 year career um that I can, you know, and I’m really really excited by it.”

Interviewer: “Brilliant. As you say, you’ve mentioned that your history with Daryl, how special is we go full circle to be about working together again after all those years back in West Ham youth team?”

Anton: “Yeah, it’s fantastic. I’m really really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to the excitement of a game day, waking up every day with a purpose to go and make people better, go and make players better. and really get the force of Hornchurch across to the players and help daryl continue the success that he’s had.

Interviewer: “Brilliant, also this is a historical season with the covers after a team promotion with Daryl looking forward to the challenge and what’s your ambitions for the season ahead?”

Anton: “Yeah, the challenge is something I love. If you look at my playing career, I was always in challenging moments, you know, and it’s just now from a different perspective.

“I’m no longer on the pitch. I’m day to day on the training pitch with them, but come game day, I’m on the sideline, you know, but it’s something that I want to thrive in, something what I want to be successful in, you know, and and let the change come.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Anton Ferdinand speaks on taking up his first coaching role with National League new boys Hornchurch…

@GarethHill1: Good luck Anton, you will be an asset to them ⚒️⚒️⚒️

@BaileyH04019330: Welcome to Hornchurch Anton, can’t wait for it all to begin! 🤝❤️💪⚽️

@ashcarter1971: This is brilliant, congrats Anton!

@beardedbassguy: Congrats Anton! Smash it! ⚒️⚒️⚒️

@AaronMc_92: Congrats Anton. All the best ⚒️

@WHUEastEndPride: Good luck in your new role. Expecting good things.

@debs1169: Well wow this is a super amazing appointment, go Anton 🙌🏼

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Championship