Hinckley AFC can confirm that Courtney Hunter-Belford has stepped down from his role as joint manager of the club and that Joe Conneely will lead the club as sole manager.
With his wife Annie expecting their first child shortly, Courtney has decided to take a break from football to focus on family time ahead of their new arrival.
Courtney joined Hinckley AFC for the start of the 2019/20 season when the club was at arguably our lowest point, and gradually turned the club around. His first two seasons were drastically affected by the Covid lockdowns, however he built the nucleus of a squad that would be a springboard for the club.
After Courtney was joined by Joe in 2020, the partnership flourished and we set new playing records for consecutive wins, margin of victory and clean sheets. After a brief hiatus at the start of the 2022/23 season due to work commitments, Courtney returned after a few months and the partnership flourished again. Despite a pair of play-off defeats, the Midland League Cup success provided the platform for the following season – third time lucky as the Belford/Conneely partnership guided the club to the Midland League Division One title.
Courtney spent 177 games with the club in total, with the club amassing 114 wins and scoring 523 goals under his leadership either solo or alongside Joe.
The Board are very grateful for all Courtney has done, and achieved, for the club, and he leaves with our best wishes for the future for both himself and Annie as the couple prepare to become parents.
Joe is in the process of appointing a new assistant manager to help take the club forward, and his appointment will be confirmed in due course.
