Former Aldershot FC chairman Colin Hancock this week explained his motivation for becoming involved with ambitious NCEL club Glapwell, and what he believes he can bring to the club.

Mr Hancock, 61, is director of the Denticare of Harley Street Group which has branches in Mansfield, Nottingham and Newark as well as in Wales, and was chairman of Aldershot when they were a League club.

And he explained: "There is no better training ground for running a professional club than with small clubs struggling to stay alive in the lower divisions.

"While I was with Aldershot we had some great experiences.We were promoted in the first year of the Play-offs, beating both Bolton and Wolves.

"It was Ian Greaves, when he was manager of Mansfield, who stressed the 'we' rather than the 'I' in football when it comes to lower division survival."

The Glapwell link comes because Mr Hancock is a native of the area.

He was born in Doe Lea and his parents still live in Bramley Vale.

"I was brought up in a sporting family which was well known for its boxing success, but I was channelled into football, cricket and athletics, which I enjoyed to a good standard," he continued.

He went on to play football at representative level with England U18s, British Universities, AFA and FA Colts, as well as with Chesterfield and Notts County, and while playing for London University he gained an FA coaching qualification.

"I also played cricket for Glapwell Colliery - and I can tell you that there were some really good players around the mining community in those days, playing some excellent wickets," he recalled.

"I am now back in the area, living in Nottingham, and I have learned a great deal and experienced some good times.

"Many of the lasting friendships I've made have come about because of the local support of people and their pride in the achievements of a local kid.

"If I can help Glapwell Football Club to progress and secure its future, so that the community can support its current crop of local talent, I shall feel that I have repaid a little of the support and encouragement that I felt as a youngster," he added.

"We have a good basis to go forward at Glapwell.

"The Caton family have achieved wonders to bring this little club to the point where they are able to look at progressing to the UniBond League.

"We have a good bunch of players and some individuals with potential as well as a management team with ability, experience and ambition."

He ended: "It is up to us as a board of directors, together with our management committee, to satisfy their appetite for success, and I hope the local people will give them the support that they need and deserve, and so help us to help them realise some success on the field.

"Then we can get on with the business of securing and stabilising the club.

"These are exciting times and I am honoured to have been asked to come on board Glapwell FC Ltd."