Ten years on, the Hatters remain in Non-League, but are making big strides towards a return to their former glories.
Meanwhile, Rusk, also a Conference title winner with Boston United in 2002, has formed a fine reputation as one of the best upcoming coaches in the game.
The 39-year-old worked his way up through the academy setup at Brighton & Hove Albion, becoming their U23 manager and led them to the highest level of development football for the first time.
The departure of County legend and manager Jim Gannon was sudden and unexpected, and their appointment of rookie Rusk came equally as a surprise – but there is no doubting he knows what NonLeague is all about.
“I love the Conference,” Rusk, a former midfielder for the likes of Peterborough United, Cambridge City, Northwich Victoria, Rushden & Diamonds and York City, told The NLP. “I think it’s got a lot of clubs with really strong history and it’s a really tough division with teams striving to get back into the Football League.
“I’ve had a broad set of football experiences, humble roots and I like to think we had to do it the hard way and it’s still the same now around the lower leagues.
Denne historien er fra February 7, 2021-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra February 7, 2021-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.
