Stamford AFC have turned to former Manchester City and Portsmouth player Anthony Fenton as the man tasked with leading the club into a new era following Graham Drury’s departure.
The Daniels moved quickly to appoint a successor after Drury ended his third spell at the Zeeco Stadium to take over at Matlock Town, bringing the curtain down on a decade of service across multiple stints with the club.
Fenton arrives in Lincolnshire following a spell with Sutton United, where he served as assistant head coach under Steve Morrison before leaving in the summer of 2025 to pursue other projects, including the development of a football academy.
The 46-year-old’s playing career began in the academies of both Manchester City and Portsmouth, while he also represented England at Under-16 and Under-17 level before later featuring for Farnborough.
His move into coaching has seen him steadily build experience behind the scenes, first at Hornchurch and later with Sutton, where he became part of Morrison’s backroom staff as the club competed in the National League.
Now, he takes on arguably the biggest role of his managerial career with Stamford preparing for another campaign in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
The Daniels only secured survival on the final day of the season, completing an impressive late escape under Drury, whose influence across his three spells at the club leaves enormous shoes to fill.
Fenton, however, believes the infrastructure and ambition already in place at Stamford made the opportunity impossible to ignore.
“I am absolutely delighted and incredibly proud to be joining a club with the history and heritage of Stamford AFC,” he said.
“From my first conversations with the directors, it was clear that the club’s vision and ambitious plans for the future perfectly align with my own.
“This is a massive opportunity. With the amazing facilities already in place and exciting new developments on the horizon, this club is only going to get stronger in the long term.
“My aim is simple: to build a squad that reflects the spirit and togetherness of this community, a team built on determination, high standards, and resilience that represents the whole club every time we step onto the pitch.
“The hard work starts straight away. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone at the club, sitting down with the players, and sharing our plans for the journey ahead.
“Together, we can build something that every supporter can be proud of.
“I can’t wait to get to work and get straight into the challenge.”
Director Guy Walton, who oversaw the recruitment process, suggested Stamford were looking beyond simply maintaining their status at step three and instead targeting long-term progress under the new boss.
“We’re excited to officially welcome Ant to The Daniels,” he said.
“As we prepare for the new season, Ant joins us with a clear mission: to build the foundations for long-term, sustainable success.
“His leadership, professionalism and energy will inspire our wonderful fans and motivate everyone across our incredible footballing community.”
The appointment signals the beginning of a fresh chapter for Stamford after the end of the Drury era.
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