Former Gillingham and Dartford goalkeeper Alan Julian has stepped into management.

Julian has taken over as first-team manager of National South side Hampton & Richmond.

He has moved into the role having just retired from playing, spending the past few seasons with Hampton & Richmond where he also stepped into a coaching position at the club.

The club said he beat “several outstanding candidates” to take over as manager from Mel Gwinnett.

Julian said: “I've had the privilege to be involved in some unbelievable successes in my career (including four promotions) which I never take for granted and I understand the level of hard work it takes to achieve that success.

“I'm determined to make sure this club and these fans get to create more memories and continue to win.”

The club’s managing director William King said: “Everyone who knows Alan knows what a model professional he is and the level of love that he has for the game.

“Playing to such a high standard throughout his career, and demanding only the very best from his teammates, we are excited to see him take these skills and his desire into management, especially during such an exciting time for the Beavers."

Julian, now 41, spent three years with the Gills between 2008-2011, making 80 appearances.

He was understudy to Simon Royce at Gillingham during their 2008/09 promotion from League 2 and an unused substitute at Wembley in the play-off final. Julian played four league games that season for the Gills.

He kept goal the following campaign as the Gills were relegated a year later from League 1. A season that ended in disappointment and without an away league win included some thrilling home victories against the likes of Southampton, Leeds and Huddersfield and an opening day 5-0 thrashing of Swindon Town.

Julian remained for another season and was the club’s regular goalkeeper as the Gills narrowly missed out on a League 2 play-off place in 2011 under Andy Hessenthaler.

He returned to former club Stevenage after leaving Gillingham and played a year at Newport County before two seasons at Dartford, where he was voted player-of-the-season in 2014 and followed that with a couple of years at Bromley. He moved onto Billericay and then Hampton & Richmond in 2020.

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