Fuchs

A day before turning out for Derbyshire village side, Fuchs had resigned from his role as head coach of Newport County.

While Fuchs’ first senior managerial role saw him win just nine of 31 matches in charge of the Exiles, he got off to a victorious start in cricket whites.

Bowling first, Fuchs returned figures of 2-20 from his 3.2 overs and also contributed to a run out as Grindleford dismissed Riverside Notts for 150.

“His bowling, he was throwing it but it was alright,” Mahmood laughed.

“It was his first game, so it is what it is. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and didn’t say anything to him.”

During the run chase, Fuchs batted at number six, scoring 12 runs off 18 deliveries, including a four and that six as Grindleford triumphed by one wicket.

“When he got out, he was chatting to all of us. He was a very, very nice guy,” added Mahmood.

“It was a surprise to actually see him there because it was so random. It’s a random game on a Sunday and we just see a Premier League winner there.”

Fuchs is not the only former footballer who has swapped between the two sports later on in life.

Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn plays for Cornwall’s over-50s side. Ex-Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann once represented Cheshire side Alderley Edge’s second team while still contracted at City.

Current Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is also spending his summer break playing for Tynemouth in Division 1 of the North East Premier League.

During his football career, Fuchs made more than 650 appearances for club and country that included six seasons at the King Power Stadium.

As well as winning both the Premier League and the FA Cup, Fuchs won 78 caps for Austria and was captain at Euro 2016.

But if Fuchs is considering his next managerial move, he is certainly playing his cards close to his chest. In fact, he says work has already begun on preparations to improve upon County’s position of 20th, after a season mostly spent in and around the relegation zone.

“That’s the goal, right? We’ve definitely got to review the whole season, not only the period when I was here, but from the very beginning, to see what mistakes have been made, definitely,” he said.

“But then also, you have those two games that finished the season [that has put the club] in a good place and to push forward.

“We cannot just sit around and see what will happen next season, we need to push forward and need to better the team, need to use that momentum that we just created to push forward.”

Whatever happens in the next campaign, it will certainly be a new-look County squad, with as many as 17 players either out of contract or returning to parent clubs after loan deals.

For Fuchs, keeping key players like Kamwa – who scored vital goals in the final two games of the season – and captain Matt Baker, will be vital. Not to mention stalwarts such as Courtney Baker-Richardson and Cameron Evans.

Loan stars Sven Sprangler, Ryan Delaney, Harrison Biggins and Ben Lloyd have also played their part.

When asked when the recruitment strategy starts for the new season, Fuchs said: “It’s immediately, yes. All that has started already but I’m also looking forward now to a few days off my phone. You cannot really turn it off all the time, but I’m actually really looking forward to after a couple of days.

“To go through those ups and downs – and too many downs for my taste – then at the end to come out on top has just been incredible.

“I like to be in the background and do my job and be humble, but it also felt good, to be honest.”

Most County fans will be hoping that feel-good factor continues next season, with Fuchs in charge.