Stratford Town have been left delighted at signing retired former EFL player Chris Hussey, who has plenty of experience and knowledge.
The 34 year old plays as a left-back and has made 564 league and cup appearances in a 16-year career, scoring 20 goals.
Hussey spent his youth days at the likes of Brentford and Woking, before earning a pro contract with AFC Wimbledon in 2007.
He spent time on loan at Windsor & Eton and helped guide AFC Wimbledon from the Isthmian League Premier Division to the Conference Premier with two successive promotions.
He then signed by Championship club Coventry City in January 2010, becoming a regular starter for them, before rejoining the Wombles in January 2013, who had by then won promotion to the English Football League.
Hussey departed Wimbledon and signed with Burton Albion in June 2013, ending the 2013–14 season on loan at Bury and joined the club on a free transfer in May 2014. Hussey won promotion from League Two with Bury in 2014–15 and was sold on to League One rivals Sheffield United in June 2016, but struggled for game time in the 2016–17 title-winning season and spent the 2017–18 season in League Two on loan at Swindon Town.
He then joined Cheltenham Town on a free transfer in May 2018, helping the to reach the play-offs at the end of the 2019–20 season and won promotion the following season as League Two champions. He was named on the EFL League Two Team of the Season for the 2020–21 season.
He was sold to Port Vale in January 2022 and joined Stockport County nine months later, before signing with Walsall in June 2023, only to announce his retirement three months later.
Stratford Town Football Club welcomes Chris Hussey to the Arden Garages Stadium.
Full details on the Stratford Town website.https://t.co/mkIcffbC7u@ArdenGarages @UtilityStream1 @PinkConnect @daimonbarber pic.twitter.com/WOkQwBvYMH
— Stratford Town FC (@StratfordTownFC) September 22, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Stratford Town Football Club welcomes Chris Hussey to the Arden Garages Stadium.
Chris has recently retired from professional football at Walsall having previously played for sides such as Cheltenham Town, AFC Wimbledon, Burton Albion, Coventry City, Sheffield Utd and Swindon Town.
The 34-year-old made 564 league and cup appearances in his 16-year professional career and the Bards have fought off significant interest for the signature of the vastly experienced defender.
Chris is a great addition to the team and will bring a wealth of experience to the squad. His leadership qualities and ability to read the game are second to none and will be a great asset to the team as we aim to achieve our promotion ambitions this season.
Bards Boss Gav Hurren said, “It’s a massive signing! It shows where this club wants to go in attracting players and to recruit someone like Chris is a credit to this football club and a credit to what Jed’s building and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
He’s an ultimate professional, he’s come straight in and settled as you would expect and when you look at the levels he’s played and what he’s won – 8 promotions I think! It’s going to be fantastic for the dressing room.”
Gav continued, “He’s going to help with the coaching but he’s going to concentrate on playing – that’s what we’ve signed him for.
I think we can help each other out with what he brings with his experience and from the level he’s been playing at but hopefully, I’ll also be able to help him in the transition from full-time by helping to make his environment correct (and I’ve been there) it can be tough at times. And with speaking with him I can already see it’s going to be a real success story”
Chris Hussey said,” I’ve come here to enjoy my football and to help Jed give back to the community and if I can give something back I’ll be a happy man. I’m at the later stages of my career and I’ve done alright and we’ve got some good young players here that I can pass on my knowledge, I’m all about helping people and helping the club. On my football journey, I’ve learned a lot but I’m coming to a transition to the other side of the game and it’s a good opportunity to get my foot in the door with the coaching side and learn from Gav, Vaughny and Basher.”
This is how fans reacted with Stratford Town delighted at signing the retired former EFL player…
@StratTownISA: Massive signing 👏 Welcome to Stratford Chris
@mattyadders: Fair play, that’s a quality signing. Gets into most step 1 non league sides, let alone step 3.
@Mlabus5: Good catch for Stratford Town.
@pieman80: That’s unbelievable signing for you.
@Ali_Mac90: Our do fans love a conspiracy theory. He didn’t have job in June, signs a 1yr with us. PFA job became available, applies & gets it; Securing him more money over a longer period of time than he would’ve been with us. Joins a club at step 3 of non league, as it works with his job! 🤷🏻♂️
@zga_1997: Christ our fans are thick
@JC_WFC: God some of our fanbase are thick saying so much for retirement. Bloke only said he was retiring from full time football 😅
@pieman80: Unbelievable signing for them #stfc
@connor_ctfc: Great signing for that level
@sparkyCTFC: Great signing 👏
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