Stratford Town FC secure big name signing with Championship experience
“The man’s a winner – he’s a fantastic signing.”
Said Stratford Town chairman Jed McCrory who is full of praise for the club’s new signing – Chris Hussey – who brings player pedigree and more quality to The Bard’s squad both on and off the field.
Sheffield United, Coventry City, Stockport County, Port Vale and Walsall are just some of the 13 clubs Chris has played for during his 564 professional game career which started in 2005 and included, Wimbledon, Brentford and Woking in his youth.
The 34-year-old, 5-foot 11 left-back, who is also highly versatile in the back four, is a big talent for Stratford Town to capture and Jed McCrory is clearly excited and thrilled by the prospect of the winning mind set and experience Chris Hussey will give to The Bards.
Chris Hussey now believes his career has gone full circle and he’s ready to give something back.
“I was looking for a good family club and a good community club and Stratford Town is where I can play football and give something back to the youth, I’m willing to help out in any way I can. I’ve played at Wimbledon when I was 17, played in the Conference South and the Championship so I’ve got experience I can pass on. I remember times when people have helped me and I’ve taken bits and bobs from them so if I can make one person happy I’ve done a good job,” Chris said.
Like any player he’s tasted the highs and the lows during his career which included being involved in eight promotions but also the disappointment of missing out on promotion playing for Stockport County in the EFL League Two Play-Off Final when they lost 5-4 on penalties to Carlisle United in May. But that was then and this is all about now.
“I’m on it every single day. You’ve got to have enthusiasm because there’s always someone trying to get the better of you, you can’t take your foot off the gas. You can’t pick and choose when you want to play and you’ve got to be relentless everyday. A football side needs to pull together, work hard and remember it’s a team sport with no egos – they can be left at the gate. Your paid to do a job and you show respect to everyone from the chairman to the cleaner and remember football owes you nothing but always pays you back,” Chris Hussey told Herald Sport.
Jed McCrory added: “Chris brings an aura to the club and wants to give back to the game especially at grassroots and will pass on his knowledge and advice to the younger players and academy kids. He’s a set piece specialist but he’ll be helping out in many ways in terms of coaching and mentoring. Chris had lots of offers but he’s familiar with Stratford Town so when I asked him to come and play for us he said yes and signed over a can of coke and a contract,” Jed McCrory said.
The signing is also a clear message of ambitious intent by The Bards who have developed a significant bond with fans at Knights Lane and have set promotion as their number one target.
Jed McCrory outlined the game plan that would see fans, players and the club working together to take Stratford Town on to the next important phase of the club’s development.
“There is now a genuine bond with fans. The home crowd has increased sometimes to over a thousand and we take 200 to away games. We want promotion for this club and the supporters now have an identity with the players. Chris joins us at a time a time where we’ve seen steady growth over five years and we’d like to thank supporters and the whole business community for that. Chris could make his home debut in the Warwickshire El Classico against Nuneaton this Saturday. The man’s a winner – he’s a fantastic signing.”
