Nicky Hunt in at Daisy Hill
Thu 4th September 2025 | Daisy Hill | By Martin Fallon
Daisy Hill FC have announced the appointment of Nicky Hunt as the new first team manager. He replaces Lee Hill, who left the club earlier this week.
In a playing career that spanned 20 years, Nicky is probably best remembered for his ten year spell at Bolton Wanderers, where he made 126 appearances, and also won ten England under 21 caps.
Once his playing career finished, he moved into coaching, and held roles at Ashton United and Warrington Rylands, before joining Atherton Collieries, where he was Assistant to Michael Clegg.
Speaking about his appointment, Nicky said:
"I've been coaching 3 or 4 years now at non-league level, in the Northern Premier League, and I've really enjoyed it, being Assistant Manager to Cleggy (Michael Clegg) who's now at Atherton Colls.
"But I just thought it was time for me to make that step up, and this opportunity came about really quickly.
"From the moment I met up with Aaron (Daisy Hill Chairman), I knew it was something that I wanted to do and wanted to be a part of, and hopefully we can crack on now for the remaining 28 league games this season.
"I grew up literally 5 minutes' walk down the road, and my parents still live in Daisy Hill, so for me, it's really close to home.
"I came here to watch the team as a kid, so I've got an affiliation with this football club. It was a family club back then, and it's even probably more of a family club now.
"The fans, the committee members and everyone involved at the club, they just love it to a point where it's become their lives, which is what I'm all about football-wise. I put everything into it, whenever I'm into the coaching or the playing side.
"The way the club is run now, with the new sponsorships they've got, I can only really see it going one way.
"I'll have at least one if not two of my new coaching team with me on Saturday, so I'll have a good team behind me, who know the level and they know what it takes to win games.
"This league is a tough league, but anyone could beat anyone on the day, and we're definitely not out of having a chance to get to the playoffs.
"We've had a slow start, but it's only six games in and 28 to go, so the message I'll be drilling into the lads is let's get firing on all cylinders as soon as we can".
Daisy Hill Chairman Aaron Hunt added: "Everyone at the club is really looking forward to working with Nicky.
"He's a local lad who had a brilliant playing career at the top level, he holds a UEFA A-Licence, and knows the local non-league scene too, so he's got great experience at all levels of the game.
"We believe that he is definitely the right man for Daisy Hill, and that there are going to be some exciting times ahead for everyone who follows the club, starting on Saturday when we host Nelson".
Photo shows Daisy Chairman Aaron Hunt with Nicky Hunt. Courtesey of Rafaella Macintosh.
Nicky Hunt in at Daisy Hill
Thu 4th September 2025 | Daisy Hill
By Martin Fallon
Daisy Hill FC have announced the appointment of Nicky Hunt as the new first team manager. He replaces Lee Hill, who left the club earlier this week.
In a playing career that spanned 20 years, Nicky is probably best remembered for his ten year spell at Bolton Wanderers, where he made 126 appearances, and also won ten England under 21 caps.
Once his playing career finished, he moved into coaching, and held roles at Ashton United and Warrington Rylands, before joining Atherton Collieries, where he was Assistant to Michael Clegg.
Speaking about his appointment, Nicky said:
"I've been coaching 3 or 4 years now at non-league level, in the Northern Premier League, and I've really enjoyed it, being Assistant Manager to Cleggy (Michael Clegg) who's now at Atherton Colls.
"But I just thought it was time for me to make that step up, and this opportunity came about really quickly.
"From the moment I met up with Aaron (Daisy Hill Chairman), I knew it was something that I wanted to do and wanted to be a part of, and hopefully we can crack on now for the remaining 28 league games this season.
"I grew up literally 5 minutes' walk down the road, and my parents still live in Daisy Hill, so for me, it's really close to home.
"I came here to watch the team as a kid, so I've got an affiliation with this football club. It was a family club back then, and it's even probably more of a family club now.
"The fans, the committee members and everyone involved at the club, they just love it to a point where it's become their lives, which is what I'm all about football-wise. I put everything into it, whenever I'm into the coaching or the playing side.
"The way the club is run now, with the new sponsorships they've got, I can only really see it going one way.
"I'll have at least one if not two of my new coaching team with me on Saturday, so I'll have a good team behind me, who know the level and they know what it takes to win games.
"This league is a tough league, but anyone could beat anyone on the day, and we're definitely not out of having a chance to get to the playoffs.
"We've had a slow start, but it's only six games in and 28 to go, so the message I'll be drilling into the lads is let's get firing on all cylinders as soon as we can".
Daisy Hill Chairman Aaron Hunt added: "Everyone at the club is really looking forward to working with Nicky.
"He's a local lad who had a brilliant playing career at the top level, he holds a UEFA A-Licence, and knows the local non-league scene too, so he's got great experience at all levels of the game.
"We believe that he is definitely the right man for Daisy Hill, and that there are going to be some exciting times ahead for everyone who follows the club, starting on Saturday when we host Nelson".
Photo shows Daisy Chairman Aaron Hunt with Nicky Hunt. Courtesey of Rafaella Macintosh.
