Hollands & Blair’s new assistant boss Richard Styles was thrilled to be back in the dugout last weekend.

Styles has joined as No.2 to Darren Blackburn at the Southern Counties East Premier Division team and was on the sidelines as they drew 1-1 with Snodland Town.

What Styles hadn’t banked on was seeing his new side fighting back from a goal down - scored by one of the Charlton academy players he’s coached - and having an outfield player taking over in goal during the latter stages after keeper Dan Ellis was sin-binned.

Styles said: “I’ve had so many messages since Saturday when one of my academy boys scored the opening goal against us, but it’s the beauty of the game.

“Going 1-0 down put us in a position where it was really tricky. At that point, you’re either going to fold or they’re going to actually battle and fight and claw themselves back into the game. We did that.

“I don't think we deserved to lose the game and like we said in the dressing room after, ‘if you can't win a game, don't lose it’ and that's a good habit to have.”

Blair had a few injury issues to deal with. Central defender Charlie Weston had to pull out in the morning due to illness and his place was taken by Chris Webber, who himself only lasted half an hour before going off injured.

Jordan Wells dropped into defence and would later find himself taking over in goal.

Stanley Oldfield had put Snodland ahead on 61 minutes but Blair had keeper Ellis sin-binned for 10 minutes with only 12 left. Despite the disadvantage, Murisiku Batla levelled from the penalty spot after Devonte West was fouled but it needed a couple of good saves from stand-in keeper Wells to keep hold of a point.

Styles said: “I’ve played with Wellsy and Wellsy's played for me at Lordswood, Tunbridge Wells and Whitstable. He’s a good pal of mine and someone I've known a long time but I've never seen him playing goal until Saturday.

“He was exceptional. He made two excellent saves and did brilliantly.

“It was one of those games, the pitch was horrendous. We had to change how we were going to set up and how we wanted to play by the pitch.

“Saturday really gave Darren another opportunity to look at the group, assess them and see what qualities they have, both mentally and physically.

“He's still learning himself with the group and finding where we are, where we potentially need to strengthen, what we can get out of it, as well as getting a few players up to speed in terms of fitness.”

Blair are at home to Glebe this Saturday, looking for more points as they attempt to haul themselves up from the lower reaches of the table. They start the weekend second bottom.

It’s a challenge for the management team but Styles is delighted to be a part of it after two years away from the level. He left his last management post as Whitstable manager in October 2022.

Football’s remained his life, however.

His day job is as an academy manager for Charlton Athletic in London and Kent, looking after over 200 players between the ages of 16-19

He’s also involved in coaching at grassroots level and has been scouting for National League side Aldershot.

But when Blackburn asked him to join the team at Blair, he jumped at it, once the family gave him the green light!

“Football's my life,” he said. “I love it so much and it’s probably why I'm involved in so many things with it.

“I love my day-to-day job and giving the youngsters pathways and pushing them on, wherever that may be, at whatever level but I did miss the changing room.

“I enjoyed Saturday, even though we didn't get the result we wanted. I’m very appreciative of Darren for bringing me in and to be able to work alongside him.

“He's someone I've respected and known for a long time. We used to play against each other many, many years ago and then also when I was at Tunbridge Wells and at Lordswood, I managed against him when he was managing Blair.

“We've always had a good relationship, we've always got on well. He'd give me information on teams, I'd give him information. We'd always sort of have each other's backs in that sense. The respect was always there.

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