Soccer Elite FA today pulled off a significant coup with the appointment of former Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler as a coach.

The Gillingham legend has agreed a deal with SEFA directors Lee Spiller and Tony Browne to work with both their scholars and academy players.

Hessenthaler began his playing career on the non league circuit, playing for sides including Kent’s Corinthian and Dartford before making the step up to Division One (now Sky Bet Championship) side Watford for a reported £65,000 fee in 1991.

However Andy of course is best known for his time at Gillingham, where he has been voted their greatest ever player. He signed for the Gills from Watford in 1996, and three years later played a key part as player-coach of the club as they won promotion to the second tier for the very first time.

He was then promoted to player-manager following the departure of Peter Taylor, and oversaw the best period in the Medway side’s history as they made successive mid table finishes in Division One, facing the likes of West Ham United, Sunderland and Leeds United in the process.

After stepping down from his managerial role, Andy returned to playing for the Gills, as well as Hull City and Barnet, before retiring from playing at the age of 40.

He then took over the managerial reigns at Dover Athletic, leading the Whites to successive promotions. Hess’s success at Dover unsurprisingly saw Gillingham soon come calling for a second time. He was appointed their manager once again in May 2010, a role he held for two years before becoming Director of Football at Priestfield, where he regularly worked with the club’s young players until he left the club this summer.

SEFA director Lee Spiller said of the deal: “This landmark appointment with one of Kent’s best known and well respected coaches proves that Soccer Elite FA continues to innovate and excel, offering unrivalled opportunities for our players to learn the game from the very best.”