THE fortunes of a village football team is likely to dominate the dinner-table conversation in one Herefordshire home this winter.

Issues of team selection, formations and the quest for league points will be high on the agenda in the Bradley household.

Twenty-year-old Sam Bradley is taking his first steps on the managerial ladder with Hereford Times Herefordshire League Division 2 side Weobley.

Sam is the player-manager of the side which includes his father, Dave, who is the left-back.

“We were all chatting in the pub after a game at the end of last season and no-one was willing to become the new manager,” recalled Sam, a centre-back.

“My dad has been the manager before and he said he would help me if I wanted to do the job.

“I just stuck my hand up and then forgot all about it. A week after that, I was told that I was the new manager.”

Sam, who started to play for Weobley at under-13 level, has replaced former manager Lee Davies, who is the new club chairman.

“We finished mid-table in Division 2 last year but our aim this season is promotion - and I think that we can do it,” said Sam.

“My dad will be one of the oldest players this year, at 46, but we have a lot of young players around the age of 23 and 24. I am hoping that those players will come of age this season.”

Sam and his dad are also well-known is Herefordshire cricket circles - they both play for Weobley Cricket Club in the GB Liners Marches League.

Dave is also a former player at Garnons Cricket Club.