New Histon manager Chris Nunn looking forward to a bright future at Bridge Road

The Histon manager’s job was always one that Chris Nunn has coveted – and now that he has got it, he is determined to be successful.

While it is believed that the Stutes received widespread interest in the vacancy following the departure of Lance Key late last month, Nunn was someone that the club approached, rather than the other way around.

He was in charge of a struggling AFC Rushden & Diamonds side a level up in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division, but following some discussions, the timing felt right to make the switch to Bridge Road.

Nunn said: “I played for Histon many years ago and I remember scoring in a game against March.

“Even when I moved on to Mildenhall and then managed Newmarket, it was always one of those clubs you looked at and admired.

“I remember playing them in a FA Cup replay when I was Newmarket manager and Kendo (Neil Kennedy) scored a late winner against us – and I still made him usher at my wedding!

“I was in the same school year as Kendo and Colin Vowden and people like that. There has always been a lot of great people at the club.

“As a manager, there are normally two or three clubs you always think ‘I could see myself managing them’ and Histon has always been one of those for me. I didn’t think about applying but the club put in an approach to Rushden to speak to me. We sat down, the talks went well and it just felt right.

“Sometimes jobs come up and it doesn’t feel right, but this time the stars aligned. I’m delighted to be at a club I’ve got a lot of time for.”

It was tough debut in the dugout for Nunn at the weekend as Histon shipped five without reply at Daventry Town to drop to second from bottom in the Uhlsport United Counties Football League Premier Division South standings.

He will spend this week getting to know the players at his disposal, having only introduced himself to the squad prior to kick off at Daventry.

The most immediate challenge will be to get some smiles back on the faces of everyone connected to the club after what has been a tough start to the 2023/24 campaign.

And while that process is already under way, Nunn also has more than an eye on the long-term goals as he looks to replicate the success that he enjoyed at Biggleswade Town.

He added: “Like for so many people, football is my hobby and I want to go out on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy what I’m watching. We’ve got a lot of games left to play this season and we want to use those to build a culture and environment.

“When a new manager comes in it’s usually at a team in the top six who have seen their manager move higher or a team in the bottom six that haven’t started so well.

“We’re towards the bottom but you’ve got to start somewhere and that’s what we’ll do.

“We went in at Biggleswade bottom of Step 5 and the chairman had the target of being at Step 3 in 10 years. A lot of people giggled at that but we managed it in six or seven years.

“It will be hard work but we’re prepared – it’s a fresh start for everyone. This is day one of a project that we hope will be very successful over the next six, seven, eight years.

“It’s a club I’m fond of already and hopefully that will only grow over the seasons to come.”

Histon, who have signed defender Jake Kerins and striker Jim Burnside, head to March Town United on Saturday (October 21).