Dennis Zuill Leads Dunlop To Title In UK
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Dennis Zuill has guided Dunlop First to the Peter Bromwich Premier Division title in the Coventry Alliance in England – a triumph rooted in community, mentorship, and the values of his boyhood club, Dandy Town.
The former Bermuda national team defender and Town assistant coach, who relocated to England several years ago, led Dunlop to an impressive 14 wins in 18 league matches this season.
“We’ve been together a few years – it’s been a journey,” Zuill, the team’s manager, told Bernews.
“We were the Dunlop reserve team for a while, but the first team moved on, and we ended up staying.
“We’ve challenged for the league title in the past two seasons, but this season we managed to achieve our goal.
“I can’t thank the players and my assistant, Dave Watkins, enough.”
With a deep sense of purpose, Zuill has drawn on the foundational principles instilled in him during his youth at Dandy Town to mentor and inspire his players at Dunlop.
“I’m proud of the lads – several of them have been through trials and tribulations,” he added.
“I’ve helped mentor some of the players to keep them off the streets and get them involved in football in various ways – coaching, refereeing and physiotherapy.
“This is more than just a football club – we’re building a culture.
“I’ve taken some principles from Dandy Town and tried to instil them in my community here. We have a family model.”
Zuill, a former lead coach at Sky Blues in the Community, the charitable arm of Coventry City FC, is not stopping here.
His vision for Dunlop includes creating meaningful opportunities for young Bermudian footballers in England.
Several Bermudians have already featured for Dunlop in recent years, including Edre Moore, Jakeem Jennings, and Daehierry Zuill.
“We want to move into the semi-professional arena – have more youth teams, a women’s team, floodlights, and build the club from strength to strength,” he said.
“I can’t thank my chairman, Harry Robinson, enough. He’s been very supportive of the whole project.
“It’s a vision – we want to be a club open to all. Hopefully, the club can be an olive branch for young Bermudian players looking for a different football experience.
“I’m trying to create a home from home for the English-based Bermudian community and the local community at large.”
Beautiful work and all the best in your endeavours. May you see more victories come to the club. May your goals and inspiration continue to feed your community. All the best in the future