Richard Hancox

Richard Hancox (born October 4, 1968) is an English former professional footballer, and is married to the daughter of former Torquay United chairman Mike Bateson. He currently coaches at Plymouth Argyle. He has held various roles at Torquay United in his career.

Career

Hancox was born in Stourbridge and first joined Torquay United in March 1993 from Stourport Swifts. Hancox was released after several years with Torquay. Afterwards, he played local semi-pro football for Taunton Town.

He re-emerged at Plainmoor helping out with the youth team. However, when the youth system was abandoned as a cost-cutting measure, Hancox, by now the chairman's son-in-law, was appointed to the newly created (as required to do so by the Football League) post of stadium manager/groundsman. Hancox was given a squad number, although this was supposed to be in case of emergencies. However, due to his ability the manager decided that he wanted Hancox to be in the squad.

Torquay manager Leroy Rosenior included Hancox in the first team squad and even allowed him to come on as a substitute in a 4-1 defeat away to Rochdale in September 2005, replacing the injured Tony Bedeau, despite having four other outfield players on the substitutes bench. Although he was selected as substitute in future games, this was to be the last of his playing career at Torquay. He was later made assistant manager,^[1] this despite the club implying previously that they couldn't afford a non-playing assistant, he continued as groundsman/stadium maintenance. With Rosenior replaced, initially by John Cornforth and then by Ian Atkins, Hancox left after the appointment of Atkins in June 2006 and an announcement was made that he would leave the club's employment at the end of that month. Soon after, he took up a coaching position at Dawlish Town, one of a number of local non-league football clubs he had played for while working for Torquay.

In early November 2006 he left to play for Bideford, but on the 27th of that month returned to Torquay on a part-time basis to assist new manager Luboš Kubík. By this time his father-in-law was no longer chairman of the club, but his wife had been promoted to Chief Executive under new chairman Chris Roberts. Torquay were relegated at the end of the 2006-07 season and Bateson sold the club to a local consortium. Hancox's wife was one of the first staff members to leave. Hancox himself departed on 14 June 2007, after he had helped restart the Youth Team. Hancox went on to coach various youth teams at Plymouth Argyle. Richard was last playing football for Stoke Gabriel and Denbury Athletic in the 2009-2010 season. In January 2010 he opened Milber Sports Centre in Newton Abbot,an indoor 3g astro turf training centre. Many local teams train there. There are also 5 a side leagues. Richard now runs the Official Plymouth Argyle Development Centre from the venue and also Football clubs and courses for children.

References