MAGPIES’ coach Dave Kiteley has expressed his delight at being back at the Avenue working under his old pal Graham Kemp.

Kiteley, who ran the reserves’ set- up at the club last term, was back on the bench with the first XI during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Hungerford, having been asked by the Magpies’ chief to return to the coaching staff.

“Basically, Graham and I go back a long time, I think it’s nearly 28 years in football,” the county town coach told Echosport.

“I packed in at the end of last season but when Graham got offered the job he asked if I would come back and work with him initially in the first team with Stuart (Heath).

“He spoke to me before he went for the interview at the club just to ask a few questions and when he got the job it was a no-brainer for me to help him.

“I said it was no problem at all because I have a lot of time for Graham, he has worked hard as a manager in the Wessex League and I think he deserves a crack at the job.

“We have played together and he played under me when he was a youngster, and we worked together at Christchurch and had a good run in the FA Vase. He trusts me and I trust him.”

Kiteley and Kemp were in attendance to watch the current Dorchester Reserves on Tuesday, in their 3-0 Wyvern Challenge Cup win over Bashley Reserves.

Goals from David Jerrard, Lewis Brown and Keiron Parrett were enough to see off the Hampshire outfit, a result that pleased joint-manager Neil Mackie.

He said: “Every one of our boys played exceptionally well and thoroughly deserved the win.”