batsford then returned to managing in non-league football, first with a short stint at hillingdon borough fc before thriving once more with wealdstone fc, whose squad included the future england international stuart pearce. in 1981-82, batsford led wealdstone to success in both the southern league's championship, which secured promotion to the alliance premier league (the equivalent of the current conference premier) and its challenge cup, then to third place in their first season in the alliance. in the 1984-85 season, the club, now under the management of batsford's assistant and former wimbledon coach brian hall, became the first in history to achieve the non-league double of being alliance premier league champions and fa trophy winners.