Hollands & Blair start their Southern Counties East Premier Division season at home to Phoenix Sports – Striker Ian Draycott to help out management team this season

Hollands & Blair have strengthened their backroom team ahead of a new season in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

Experienced former Folkestone Invicta striker Ian Draycott joined Blair in the closing months of last season and remains at Star Meadow for the 2025/26 campaign, now also assisting boss Darren Blackburn and No.2 Richard Styles.

Blair kick off their SCEFL season at home to Phoenix Sports this Saturday.

Blackburn and Styles were both absent last weekend for the goalless draw against Deal Town, as Draycott took charge, and the manager is delighted to have someone of his experience as part of their team.

The Blair boss said: “I think he had a few offers but having worked with us already, he wanted to be somewhere where he felt he could add value and where his views and opinions would be listened to.

“We’ll need to manage his footballing minutes this year because, unfortunately, like all of us he’s not getting any younger. But he knows that.

“In terms of the management and coaching side of it, his experience, contacts and knowledge of the game from his playing days, to go with my own and Stylesy, it looks like we’ve got a good little group there.”

Blair start their league campaign at home to a side who were relegated from the level above.

“Phoenix Sports is a tough one,” said the Blair boss.

“They will be keen to go straight back up, they have a good catchment area, a good management team, and it’s a really tough one to start with.

“I am sure they will be one that people will fancy to do well. I don’t know whether it’s good to get them out of the way in the beginning or not.”

Blackburn took over midway through last season with the task of keeping Blair clear of the SCEFL Premier Division relegation