Familiar football face takes over manager's role at Broadbridge Heath

The 45 year-old is well known in the area, for as well as playing senior football for the club, Simmons also played for Loxwood and Billingshurst.

His first role in management was as assistant manager of Heath’s reserves.

Simmons went on to become first team manager at Billingshurst, had a short spell in charge at Loxwood before returning to Broadbridge Heath last season as under-23 coach.

This season, as well as running Heath’s under-23 coach, Simmons became assistant manager of the Southern Combination League Division 2 rep side where he supported manager Sorensen. Their partnership now continues but in a role reversal with Sorensen becoming assistant manager/coach supported by UEFA B coach Gary Newton and goalkeeping doach Christian Williams.

Heath vice-chairman Ian Flack said: “Chris is very ambitious and has impressed the interview panel who felt that he shared the club's ambitions. We hope his appointment heralds an exciting new era for the club."

Heath were 16th in the premier division when football was suspended becaise of the coronavirus pandemic.

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