The man in the Kidderminster Harriers dugout on Tuesday evening will need no introduction to Derby County supporters.
John Eustace is held in the highest esteem by the Rams faithful for his exploits as a no-nonsense holding midfielder, who brought a cool head, nous and much-needed experience to the club’s midfield department.
A crucial member within the dressing room, he played 39 times in total as Derby reached the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final in 2013/14 – a number that, without a doubt, would have been higher but for the form of George Thorne during his initial loan spell from West Bromwich Albion.
Eustace played a further 14 times over 2014/15 – his last campaign before he was forced to hang up his boots due to a knee injury.
Now, though, the 37-year-old is embarking on thrills and spills that come with life as a manager after taking up the role with Derby’s first pre-season opponents, Kidderminster, in April 2016.
“I loved playing and I was heartbroken really when I had to retire but this (management) is certainly the second-best thing,” Eustace told RamsTV in an exclusive interview at Lilleshall.
“Last season went really well and I enjoyed it.”
As he mentions himself there, Eustace’s first full year in the hot-seat – the 2016/17 season – nearly resulted in promotion.
Taking charge of a Kidderminster side deflated off the back of relegation from the Vanarama National League, the former midfielder took the job by the scruff of the neck, instilled his own way of playing and masterminded an immediate resurgence from the Harriers.
It took them to the brink of an immediate return to the top-flight of non-league football.
They finished second in the National League – North, but defeat to Chorley in the play-offs meant a positive and strong start to life as a manager ended with a sting of disappointment.
The aftereffects have been felt this summer too with a number of Eustace’s top players moving on to pastures new – four of which have moved on to clubs in the EFL.
It’s proving to be just another learning experience and fresh challenge for Eustace to face in the world of management.
“The reason I took the job was because it gave me an opportunity to coach and manage a full-time team,” he added.
“The level the club is at is obviously not where we want it to be, but it is a level where players can come in and develop and learn.
“There’s a really good atmosphere here – the players’ attitudes are fantastic; the chairman is 100 per cent committed to the club and it is a really good place to come and develop in a good football environment.
“Some of the football we played last year was breath-taking at times and I was so proud of the boys because I didn’t think they could play the style of football that I was after.
“They took to it straight away, and from it, we went on to finish second and it was a really exciting season, especially for the fans after the disappointment of being relegated the year before.
“We had a lot of young players in the group and they did a terrific job. Eight of them have now moved on – four into the league and the other four into the league above us. They deserve it after the seasons they had.”
Back for pre-season, Eustace is preparing his new-look Kidderminster side for the 2017/18 campaign.
Their game schedule begins on Tuesday night – against the midfielder’s former club, Derby – and it’s a challenge he is looking forward to.
He did have one request for Gary Rowett, though, ahead of the meeting.
Eustace said: “It will be a great night for the fans, especially Kidderminster’s.
“We came back for pre-season and we had seven contracted players, so we know it is going to be tough for us.
“There are going to be a lot of trialists so we will see how the game goes. We’re not going to rush into making any new signings.
“We have got another five weeks of hard work to do to find the right players. The budget is very tight and I can’t afford to just waste money and on that front, I am learning all of the time.
“The game will be a good test for our young group, though, and the trialists will get their chance to prove that they are worth a contract.
“I am just hoping that the Derby boys take it easy on us on the night!What You May Have Missed…
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