James - Lenny - French has joined RCA as a goalkeeping coach. Carl Morris will continue with us, but because of family commitments - his daughter has started playing football - he cannot make every Saturday.
Lenny played Northern League football for most his career and worked with Martin Swales at Ryhope CW and Bishop Auckland. He's a great addition to our team.
Lenny started playing for Greatham in the Wearside League many moons ago. They then merged into Hartlepool Town and eventually made it into the Northern League Division 2, only to fold shortly afterwards due to financial problems. From there Lenny went to Chester-le-Street, the club he played for the longest. He then stopped playing - for all of three months. He returned to the game to play for Esh Winning when they we were promoted to the Northern League Division 1. Lenny then signed for Washington and subsequently for Ryton, gaining promotion to Division 1 with both clubs. After leaving Ryton he signed for Ryhope CW and moved into coaching. Lenny then followed Martin Swales to Bishop Auckland, finishing there last season.