Richard Hancox
Encyclopedia
Richard Hancox is an English
former professional footballer, and is married to the daughter of former Torquay United chairman Mike Bateson
. He currently coaches at Plymouth Argyle
. He has held various roles at Torquay United in his career.
and first joined Torquay United in March 1993 from Stourport Swifts
. Hancox was released after several years with Torquay. Afterwards, he played local semi-pro football for Taunton Town.
He re-emerged at Plainmoor
helping out with the youth team. However, when the youth system was abandoned as a cost-cutting measure, Hancox, by now the chairman's son-in-law, was appointed to the newly created (as required to do so by the Football League) post of stadium manager/groundsman. Hancox was given a squad number, although this was supposed to be in case of emergencies. However, due to his ability the manager decided that he wanted Hancox to be in the squad.
Torquay manager Leroy Rosenior
included Hancox in the first team squad and even allowed him to come on as a substitute in a 4-1 defeat away to Rochdale in September 2005, replacing the injured Tony Bedeau, despite having four other outfield players on the substitutes bench. Although he was selected as substitute in future games, this was to be the last of his playing career at Torquay. He was later made assistant manager, this despite the club implying previously that they couldn't afford a non-playing assistant, he continued as groundsman/stadium maintenance. With Rosenior replaced, initially by John Cornforth
and then by Ian Atkins
, Hancox left after the appointment of Atkins in June 2006 and an announcement was made that he would leave the club's employment at the end of that month. Soon after, he took up a coaching position at Dawlish Town
, one of a number of local non-league football clubs he had played for while working for Torquay.
In early November 2006 he left to play for Bideford, but on the 27th of that month returned to Torquay on a part-time basis to assist new manager Luboš Kubík
. By this time his father-in-law was no longer chairman of the club, but his wife had been promoted to Chief Executive under new chairman Chris Roberts
. Torquay were relegated at the end of the 2006-07 season and Bateson sold the club to a local consortium. Hancox's wife was one of the first staff members to leave. Hancox himself departed on 14 June 2007, after he had helped restart the Youth Team. Hancox went on to coach various youth teams at Plymouth Argyle. Richard was last playing football for Stoke Gabriel and Denbury Athletic in the 2009-2010 season.
In January 2010 he opened Milber Sports Centre in Newton Abbot,an indoor 3g astro turf training centre. Many local teams train there. There are also 5 a side leagues. Richard now runs the Official Plymouth Argyle Development Centre from the venue and also Football clubs and courses for children.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer, and is married to the daughter of former Torquay United chairman Mike Bateson
Mike Bateson
Mike Bateson is an English businessman and former chairman of Torquay United Football Club.Bateson was brought up in Blackpool and after a spell in the Scots Guards made his fortune selling double glazing in the South-West of England...
. He currently coaches at Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He has held various roles at Torquay United in his career.
Career
Hancox was born in StourbridgeStourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
and first joined Torquay United in March 1993 from Stourport Swifts
Stourport Swifts F.C.
Stourport Swifts are a football team from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and one of the oldest non-league teams in the country. The Swifts gained promotion to the Southern League Division One West in 2001 from the Midland Alliance, and currently play at Walshes Meadow in the town.In the year...
. Hancox was released after several years with Torquay. Afterwards, he played local semi-pro football for Taunton Town.
He re-emerged at Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
helping out with the youth team. However, when the youth system was abandoned as a cost-cutting measure, Hancox, by now the chairman's son-in-law, was appointed to the newly created (as required to do so by the Football League) post of stadium manager/groundsman. Hancox was given a squad number, although this was supposed to be in case of emergencies. However, due to his ability the manager decided that he wanted Hancox to be in the squad.
Torquay manager Leroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior is a professional football coach and pundit. He is a former professional footballer whose clubs included Fulham, Queens Park Rangers , Bristol City and West Ham United.As one of the few black football managers in England, Rosenior has spoken openly about the racism...
included Hancox in the first team squad and even allowed him to come on as a substitute in a 4-1 defeat away to Rochdale in September 2005, replacing the injured Tony Bedeau, despite having four other outfield players on the substitutes bench. Although he was selected as substitute in future games, this was to be the last of his playing career at Torquay. He was later made assistant manager, this despite the club implying previously that they couldn't afford a non-playing assistant, he continued as groundsman/stadium maintenance. With Rosenior replaced, initially by John Cornforth
John Cornforth (footballer)
John Cornforth is a former Wales international football player and is now a coach, most recently Head Coach at English League Two side Torquay United F.C...
and then by Ian Atkins
Ian Atkins
Ian Leslie Atkins is a former English professional footballer who became a manager later in his career, and now works as a coach with Sunderland. During a 20-year playing career he had eight clubs, including two spells with Sunderland and Birmingham City and playing more than 200 games with his...
, Hancox left after the appointment of Atkins in June 2006 and an announcement was made that he would leave the club's employment at the end of that month. Soon after, he took up a coaching position at Dawlish Town
Dawlish Town F.C.
Dawlish Town A.F.C. was a football club based in Dawlish, Devon, England. The club played in the Western League Premier Division and in March 2008 the club entered into a partnership with Newton Abbot to share administrative resources, although the playing staff remained separate.In October 2003...
, one of a number of local non-league football clubs he had played for while working for Torquay.
In early November 2006 he left to play for Bideford, but on the 27th of that month returned to Torquay on a part-time basis to assist new manager Luboš Kubík
Luboš Kubík
Luboš Kubík is a Czech former professional footballer and former manager of Torquay United, who played sweeper for the Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic national teams, winning 56 caps in total, and a number of notable clubs...
. By this time his father-in-law was no longer chairman of the club, but his wife had been promoted to Chief Executive under new chairman Chris Roberts
Chris Roberts (chairman)
Chris Roberts is an English businessman, who served as chairman of Torquay United Football Club between October 2006 and February 2007.-Torquay United chairmanship:...
. Torquay were relegated at the end of the 2006-07 season and Bateson sold the club to a local consortium. Hancox's wife was one of the first staff members to leave. Hancox himself departed on 14 June 2007, after he had helped restart the Youth Team. Hancox went on to coach various youth teams at Plymouth Argyle. Richard was last playing football for Stoke Gabriel and Denbury Athletic in the 2009-2010 season.
In January 2010 he opened Milber Sports Centre in Newton Abbot,an indoor 3g astro turf training centre. Many local teams train there. There are also 5 a side leagues. Richard now runs the Official Plymouth Argyle Development Centre from the venue and also Football clubs and courses for children.