Hendon boss Gary McCann celebrates his sixth anniversary in charge of the team this week, writes David Ballheimer.

The former goalkeeper, forced into premature retirement because of injury, took over from Gary Farrell following Hendon’s late-January 2005 exit from the London Senior Cup and with their plummet down the Ryman League Premier Division table looking unstoppable.

McCann turned things around immediately, with a 2-1 home victory over Cheshunt at Claremont Road in his first game in charge.

Over the last 16 games of the 2004–05 season, Hendon lost just three times and the team rose to mid-table security.

Overall, McCann’s teams have won 92 of 248 Ryman League Premier Division matches (amassing 330 points) and 40 out of 71 cup ties.

In 2010, he guided the Greens to the FA Cup first round proper for the first time since 1999.

“Is it really six years?” McCann asked this week. “The club has been through a lot in those years and it has been a real challenge, but I have enjoyed every minute of my time (well almost every minute) as Hendon manager.”