Former Torquay United star making magnificent managerial mark on the Moors

After a proud playing career that began as a trainee at Plymouth Argyle and has included spells with Torquay United, Woking, Bath City and many more, Ben Gerring is now making waves in the coaching world.

Gerring, who lives and works in Torquay, took on the job at Bovey Tracey FC in the South West Peninsula League, and the impact has been nothing short of an incredible.

As we approach the halfway point in the season, Bovey are top of the East Division, having won 12 of their 13 league games, drawing the other one, and also still competing in three cup competitions (the FA Vase, Devon County Cup and League Cup).

The unbeaten record faces another big challenge this weekend, when Launceston visit in the League Cup, and Gerring is loving every minute of his new life in the dugout.

“Myself and the coaching team were having a bit of self-reflection the other day because it’s been such a whirlwind,” said Gerring. “We took a minute to look back and we just feel there is nothing more we can ask for.

“You can spend a lot of time on team selection but it’s always healthy when your squad falls into place. Everyone knows the situation and we know our strongest 11 at the moment, so those on the fringes know it’s going to find it difficult to break in.

“The lads in the team are desperate to keep the shirt and that makes for a super competitive game-day, and very little control is needed from us on the side. The players deserve a lot of credit for where they’ve put the club.

“There have been games where we’ve been taken very close and that’s the nature of football. Right the way down the South-West, everybody’s competing for the same pool of players, which makes it even more important to protect the group you’ve got.

“I don’t have to motivate or tell them what’s at stake. They all know the direction the football club wants to go, we just want high standards. The boys enjoy each other’s company and we are big on availability, which is difficult at this level.

“Our approach is to say that if you don’t train, you don’t play. We’re obviously not unreasonable with things like work but they all know that not training can put your place under threat.”

Like all managers and clubs, league success is the bread and butter, but Bovey are fighting on three cup fronts, the most exciting of which has to be the FA Vase and that ultimate dream of playing at Wembley.

“The cup games are not paid games but we still always have full squads, which speaks volumes of the players,” added Gerring. “We’re not prioritising any of these competitions because the end goal will always be promotion to Step 5.

“But why not win the League Cup, the Devon Bowl, the FA Vase, why not until we get beat? Nobody is trying to protect the unbeaten record, we’re playing on the front-foot and it will take some side to beat us.

“I’m very selfish and want to try and win them all.”

The dream of winning promotion requires both a team of talented players and a determined group of staff and volunteers all working toward the same goal.

If Bovey do achieve Western League football next season, they already have an outstanding infrastructure at the ground and the building blocks are being placed for the extra travel and expense that comes with promotion.

“Behind the scenes, the club has already been planning for the possibility of promotion with the ground regulations,” said Gerring. “I was lucky to come in at the right time because the club is ready to go.

“What they needed was a team to get them there because they are very much ready to go off the field. In terms of playing budgets and personnel, the people off the pitch are focussing on that and doing a great job with sponsorships and advertising.

“On the field, our recruitment has been a level above. Some of our players have Step 4 experience and everybody is aligned. There is no mad formula, just a club that is aligned and we have to keep it going now.”

As for the people of Bovey Tracey, it is a community getting right behind their local football club, and the atmosphere of the town was a major factor for Ben and his family to embark on this adventure.

“Bovey Tracey is a great place,” added Gerring. “We spent time here in the summer and where it’s located is a beautiful spot.

“We spend a lot of time out with the dog and we’ve got two young kids as well. My lad is massive on skate parks and BMX riding, and there are places to take dogs for a walk and enjoy the bike track.

“It ticks so many boxes and I said to my wife before I was thinking of being manager here that it could be me done as a player. It is perfect on game-days because the local facilities keep the kids occupied and then you have all the bands playing in the summer on fields next door.

“People are keeping an eye on Bovey Tracey Football Club now and hopefully we can get more through the door on a match-day and the local community can enjoy the success of their team.”