Chelsea legend lands first management job in eight years as he’s drafted in to save non-league minnows

A CHELSEA legend has made a romantic return to his first club after being appointed their new manager.

Banbury United have named ex-Blues and Northern Ireland striker Kevin Wilson as boss after axing Mark Jones last week.

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This ex-Northern Ireland striker is now boss at Banbury United[/caption]

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Former Chelsea striker Kevin Wilson has returned to his first club[/caption]

They are currently 16th in the National League North, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Wilson, 62, met the Puritans squad prior to last night’s 2-1 home win over Darlington and he will take charge of his first match at promotion hopefuls Chester on Saturday.

The former goalscorer originally signed for the club as a 17-year-old before Derby County paid £25,000 – still a Banbury club record sale -to bring him into the Football League in 1979.

Wilson then embarked on an impressive six-season spell at the Rams prior to two years at Ipswich Town.

He then joined Chelsea in 1987, scoring 42 goals in 152 appearances, as he enjoyed a five-year period at Stamford Bridge.

Wilson departed West London for Notts County in 1992 before, after a loan spell at Bradford, he signed for Walsall and then ended his playing days at Northampton Town.

That was where he began his career in management, winning promotion to Division Two in the 1999/2000 campaign.

His journey has since taken him to the likes of non-league clubs Bedford Town, Aylesbury United, Kettering Town and Ilkeston Town.

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Now he is delighted to have come full circle and go back to the club where it all began after eight years out of management.

Wilson, who scored six goals in 42 caps for Northern Ireland, told Banbury’s website: “I’m delighted to come back to my roots at Banbury United and manage the club at this point in its history. The time is right. I love this club.

“I have been asked to come in, with the short-term goal of ensuring that Banbury United stays in the Vanarama National League North.

“The club is entering a very exciting phase, with an impending ground move that requires significant funds to be raised – we simply must stay in this league.”

Wilson added: “I’ll have a different management style for sure, but I do not plan to make any rush decisions with the squad.

“Longer term, I’m keen that Banbury United improves the pathway to professional football for local youngsters.

“Banbury served me well as a teenager and I would like to give something back to the promising talent of the town.”

Puritans chairman Ronnie Johnson said: “I think I speak on behalf of Banbury past and present by expressing our pleasure at the appointment of Kevin Wilson as manager of Banbury United Football Club.

“Kevin’s homecoming is something of a fairy tale story for one of the club’s greatest ever players, and we see in him the right experience and character to work with our squad, ensuring we remain playing football at this level and putting in the groundwork for a competitive 2024/25 season.”

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