The Fermanagh & Western’s longest-serving manager Rory Judge called time on his managerial career earlier this week after 16 years in charge of Enniskillen Town United.

He won an abundance of titles in his playing career for Town including two Irish Junior Cups, four Mercer League titles, and two Mulhern Cups, alongside two Kennedy Cups and also two Reihill Cups before going on to pick up more success on the sideline.

When asked about his decision to step down, Judge responded: “No particular reason. Just thought a change was needed I suppose, thought the team needed a change. I’d been at it long enough, it’s an opportunity for someone else with fresh ideas to do it.

"There was no real one isolated reason just a number of little reasons but that was the main one. I’ve done it long enough I suppose, it’s just an opportunity for someone else to come in and maybe take it forward, you know.”

Judge also revealed that it’s something he’d been thinking about for a while with it being difficult to keep up with the dedication it takes in management year in, year out.

“16 years,” he said. “Every year I'd be questioning whether or not to step down, to be honest, but this year was the right time. 

"It takes a lot of commitment, a lot of time away, it's going to put you over the cliff edge at some stage, I’ve lasted long enough,” Judge added that despite the list of trophies he’s collected as manager, he took greater pride in seeing players come through the ranks at the Enniskillen club.

“I suppose the easiest thing would be to say any time we won something but no I would have taken maybe greater satisfaction out of giving someone a debut, or seeing young players develop, seeing players improve,” he continued.

“That would have provided more satisfaction for me than actually winning stuff. Winning stuff is obviously great too but, I suppose, we won a couple of leagues at the start, a Mulhern Cup, they were all good too but I’d say it was great to see people who were maybe in the youth team and bring them through and then your with them too for nearly the whole journey.

"Great satisfaction to see someone like Frank Wallace playing reserve football and then coming in maybe at the start and then playing his whole career, things like that would be a highlight.”

Judge says he can't see himself going back into management in football any time soon but has taken up a role with the Enniskillen Gaels minor girls as his daughter plays out her final year for the side.

“I’m out with the Gaels minor girls at the minute for the summer and then after that, I’ll probably not be involved with any club or in any capacity, to be honest.

"I’d never say never, but certainly not at this stage, I’m just looking forward to a break and having free Saturdays, maybe getting over to a game in England or Scotland without worrying about whether we’ve got a match or there’s training on or something and it’ll be different but we’ll see where it takes me.”