CHANGE AND A REST LIFTS ALAN

REFRESHED Alan Julian says he feels ten years younger thanks to the extended break from football – and is now raring to go in his new challenge at Hampton & Richmond Borough.

- David Richardson

The 37-year-old goalkeeper feels in top condition as he gets set to embark on his 21st season.

Julian, who has an FA Trophy winners’ medal with Stevenage and four promotions at Gillingham, Newport County, Bromley and Billericay Town, ended a successful three-year spell with Ricay to join National League South rivals Hampton.

“I’m close friends with a few players there outside of football,” he told The NLP. “Hampton asked the question if I was out of contract at Billericay. I said I was under contract and that shut the door on it really.

Impressed

“I thought about it and having been at home a lot more with the kids during lockdown I did want to be closer to home. I’d like to think I’ve been a good servant for Billericay, we’ve been very successful, I’ve dealt with a lot of chaos, which I think you know what I’m talking about, I asked to leave and to be fair they were good as gold.”