Saints legend Francis benali after leading Romsey youth for the past season will now take them a stage further.

Francis Benali turned his back on coaching in non league soccer in order that he might watch his son Luke play in kids tyro league football, with his background it was inevitable that he would get involved with coaching the side and he did just that.

Last season the side moved to under the banenrof Romsey Town and played in the Hampshire Youth League winning 11 and drawing 3 of their 14 games to remain unbeaten in the league.

With most of the side now inelegible for youth football, Benali has now agreed to take the side into the newly formed Wyvern Combination as Romsey's reserve side with a view to developing them into potential first team players in the Wessex league and beyond. In essence his role is to take them from kids football and make them ready for the tougher standards in the men's game. 

But Benali isnt the only Saints connection in his team, Lawrie McMenemy's Grandson Joe McMenemy is a striker in the team and given that the Ex Saints manager lives on the outskirts of Romsey, he is sure to turn up and watch a few games himself.

Luke Benali' is a defender like hsi father although he is a centre half rather than full back, its typical of Francis Benali to take on a job like this that will pay little more than a few small expenses if that and the supporters of Romsey Town FC will be hoping that he leads the team unchallenged to the league title as he did last season with Romsey Youth.          

Photo: Action Images via Reuters