Southern Cheers! Jon's enjoying life as the new Manor Farm chairman

BRISTOL Manor Farm's new chairman Jon Line says he is relishing every moment of his unexpected Creek call-up - despite having never experienced anything like it before in football.

- Simon PARKINSON

The 71-year-old was handed the key position towards the end of last season with the club already in transition following the announcement Lee Lashenko would be concluding his largely successful 12-year stint as manager.

One of Line’s initial and most important undertakings was to hand Will Justin, who'd enjoyed successful managerial stints with Welton Rovers, Oldland Abbotoni-ans and, most recently, Bitton, the job of leading Manor Farm into a new era.

The 37-year-old former goalkeeper of the local semipro scene has overseen a mixed start, incorporating a 2-0 victory at Willand Rovers, a 1-1 home draw with Did-cot Town and 4-0 and 3-1 away defeats by Exmouth Town and Hartpury, respectively, from four Division One South games thus far, along with a 1-0 FA Cup replay defeat to Mangotsfield United.

Line and Co are now gearing up for tomorrow's FA Trophy first round qualifying test at home against high-flying league rivals Shaftesbury, who have won three of their first four games.

He said of his intriguing call to the Manor Farm chairmanship: “I have lived in Bristol for 50 years.

“It really started with my longtime friendship with Chris Swift, who is known to many for his excellent coverage of Bristol Rovers for the Bristol Evening Post over many years. Indeed, I'd go with Swifty to some of the games.

“We drank together in the Merchants Arms (Hotwells) and about three years ago he suggested we go to Manor Farm to try out some local football, and I've been a regular there since.