Trowbridge Town FC are delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Houkes as First Team Manager for the 2024-2025 season.

The news caps off a sensational week off the pitch for TTFC, following the fantastic news regarding the approval of planning permission for installation of floodlights at Woodmarsh.

Sam was a vital part of the title winning squad of 2023, joining in November 2022 to be Assistant Manager when Ryan Baggs took the reins. Sam continued in his role during the 2023/24 season playing a massive part in the club’s credible top 5 finish in the Wiltshire Senior League.

A former tough tackling, no nonsense midfielder on the pitch and straight talker off it, the former Westbury United Reserves Manager is well positioned to lead The Bees into an exciting new chapter for the club.

Sam has also confirmed his management team for the new season, retaining Matt Rusling as First Team Coach and Matt Little as Assistant Coach.

We are also delighted to announce that TTFC Captain and club legend Liam Milburn has been appointed as Sam’s new Player / Assistant Manager, with fellow club legend Steve Fox as Player / Coach.

Reflecting on the appointment Sam said:

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to be given the opportunity to lead my home town club into this exciting new chapter in Trowbridge Town history.

I’d like to place on record my thanks to Andy, Ant and Kathy for appointing me as manager, and I sincerely hope I can fulfil their expectations going forward. I’d also like to thank Ryan for everything he did at the club as Manager. Ultimately, I wouldn’t be in this position without him bringing me in as his assistant, and the success we had together. 

I’m thrilled to confirm that he will be staying with us in a playing capacity. We started this journey together and now we have the floodlight approval, hopefully we can achieve the success we have done previously in winning the league title again in the 2024-2025 season.

I’m also delighted that Matt Rusling and Matt Little will be staying with me. Both coaches are key figures in the management team and are vital to helping this team progress. Ruzzer has been my right hand man on the touch line since I’ve been here whilst Ryan was playing and I couldn’t be happier that he’s committed to us – like me, he is Trowbridge Town through and through.

I’ve also added Liam Milburn and Steve Fox to the team, who will both combine their management/coaching roles with playing – as well as being excellent players on the pitch, they are also strong vocal voices in the changing room, and bring a wealth of experience to our relatively young team. 

After speaking to the squad, I am also pleased to say that the majority of them are staying put for next season, as we look to benefit from continuity and stability heading into the new campaign.

We ended last season very strong, going on two long unbeaten runs, and this gives us a great platform to build on, being led by our skipper and newly appointed Assistant Manager Liam Milburn. 

We will also be looking to add quality and depth in a few areas. This is a huge opportunity for me, the management team, the players and the club, and I hope we can bring step 6 football back to the county town after 13 years away. 

I look forward to seeing you all under our new lights in the near future, and thank you for your continued support. Up the Bees!”

The club would like to also once again put on record its considerable thanks and appreciation to outgoing manager Ryan Baggs, who Sam will take over from.

The players are back for pre-season in late June, with details of friendlies to be released in due course.

Please join us in wishing ‘Houkesy’ and his new management team every success for the upcoming season!

#UTB