Humes joined Colchester United's Centre of Excellence in the summer of 2009, and remained in the same position for five years, helping guide the U's under-18 team to a league and cup double during the 2013–14 season.
Born in Blyth, Northumberland,[1] Humes began his career with Ipswich Town, where he made his professional debut as a substitute for Mick Stockwell in a 0–0 Second Division draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on 29 November 1986.
[2][3] He scored his first goal for Town in the Full Members Cup as Ipswich defeated Manchester City 3–2 in the fourth round on 31 January 1987.
[1] He played his final game for the club on 17 September 1991, a 1–1 draw with Newcastle United in a match in which Humes broke his arm.
[9] With Colchester, Humes helped to prepare Colchester's youth players for first-team action, with players such as Alex Gilbey,[8] Sammie Szmodics, Tosin Olufemi and Freddie Ladapo all making their professional debuts in Joe Dunne's first-team squad under Humes' stewardship.
[12] His first game in charge was a 0–0 stalemate against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium on 6 September 2014, leading his side to their first clean sheet of the season.
He faced competition from Bury's David Flitcroft, Burton Albion's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Southend United's Phil Brown.