Courtney Hunter-Belford – Joint Manager

 

Born: 6th August 1990

Previous Clubs (management/coaching): Nuneaton Griff, Romulus, Atherstone Town

Date Joined: 3rd May 2019

Courtney is sponsored by The Hird Family

 

Courtney Belford became Hinckley AFC manager at the age of 28 when he was appointed as John Ramshaw’s successor at the end of the 2018/19 season.

The son of former Hinckley boss Dale, Belford has Midlands non-league football running through his veins and brings knowledge of the area and step six with him to the club.

Formerly the manager of Nuneaton Griff, he guided a side struggling when he took over away from the relegation zone and into comfortably safe territory with limited resources.

He left the club just over a year later in a much stronger position than when he took over, and took on a role on the coaching staff at Midland League Premier side Romulus, and then Nuneaton Borough in the National League North.

In a first two seasons as Hinckley boss, disrupted by postponements and ultimately curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, his side showed steady improvement. AFC had the seventh highest points per game in the division at the suspension of the 2019/20 campaign in what represented a creditable first season in charge, and then sat fourth and on a seven-match unbeaten run upon the premature end of 2020/21.

In between times, he appointed Joe Conneely as his assistant and the duo struck up a working relationship that then guided Hinckley to the United Counties Division One play-off final in 2021/22, ultimately falling short to Belper United by the odd goal in a one-off final.

Shortly after that, he was forced to step down due to work commitments but, after a brief spell helping out at Atherstone Town, a change in circumstance meant he was able to return to AFC and work alongside former partner Conneely again.