Page 25 - Yate Town FC v Swindon Supermarine 150423

In Town today

the top sides, but unfortunately dropping too many points against the teams lower down the table. But
for that we could have finished somewhere near the playoff positions rather than the 11th place finish
we achieved. All in all, though, it was a good achievement to finish midtable in our first season back at
this level.
As everyone is aware last season the club, along with all other clubs from Step 3 to 7, had their season
ended prematurely when the Covid-19 virus struck. All football at our level was cancelled and declared
null and void come April 2020. It was a huge disappointment as the team were settled in fourth place
in what was an extremely successful season up to then and a playoff game to potentially looking forward
to, but we will never know!
Season 2020/21 started late in September 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic and we saw less league
fixtures than the previous season as we only played seven games before we went into lockdown in the
last week of October. We did play four further games in the FA Trophy before losing 4-0 to Bath City in
the Third Round Proper in Bath.
In January 2021 the FA and Southern League concluded that the 2020/21 season should be null and
void and along with everyone we are now hopeful that we would complete the 2021/22 season which
we did with a fairly good start to our league campaign we then dipped in the middle and come good at
the end of the season when we only lost one in our final eight league games and ended the 2021/22
season in 12th place. It was disappointing in both FA Cup and Trophy with early exits at Poole Town in
the FA Cup and on penalties at Tiverton Town in the Trophy. Although we retained the Wiltshire Premier
Shield with a 5-2 win over Corsham Town in the final.
SWINDON SUPERMARINE FC 2
020/21 - STAFF & PLAYER PROFILES
LEE SPALDING Manager
Profile: Lee joined Marine as Assistant Manager in July 2012 having spent the previous few seasons at
Highworth Town, firstly as a player and then as assistant to Dave Webb. After playing at a high level,
including time at football league sides Swindon Town and Wycombe Wanderers, he began working
alongside manager Webb in 2011 when he also took on the coaching role and he's continued to do so
at Marine. Lee left the club for three months in February2015 to take time out to obtain his coaching
badges and watch his sons play for Bristol City and Swindon Town, respectively. In January 2018 he
became caretaker manager after the departure of manager Dave Webb. This was until the end of the
2017/18 season and then after leading the team to a playoff final victory at Wimborne Town on penalties
and promotion to the Southern League Premier Division he was rewarded with the managers role on a
permanent basis at the start of the 2018/19 season. Now established in the Premier South Division with
a creditable mid-table finish last season Lee is hoping to improve on that in 2022/23.
CHARLIE GRIFFIN Assistant Manager
Previous Club Manager / Coach: Cirencester Town Player: Cirencester Town, Gloucester City,
Bracknell Town, Bath City, Salisbury, Forest Green Rovers, Wycombe Wanderers, Swindon Town,
Chippenham Town
Profile: Charlie has a wealth of experience having played for over sixteen clubs with a few Football
League club amongst them. He was a player was Cirencester Town and then manager from 2016 before
departing the Centurions in November 2019. After a month away from football he was appointed as our
striker's coach at Marine in January 2020 and then in June 2021 he was appointed Assistant Manager
to Lee Spalding, replacing Kev Milsom who reverted to a scouting role. He was a vastly experienced
striker having played for several non-league and football league clubs which included Swindon Town,
Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers, Wycombe Wanderers, Newport County, Stevenage Borough,
Chippenham Town, Woking, Salisbury City, Bath City, Brackley Town, and Gloucester City amongst
others.
JOSH GOULD Goalkeeper
Previous Clubs: Bath City, Swansea City, Ebbsfleet United (loan), Barry Town (loan)
Profile: Taunton based goalkeeper Josh first signed for Marine on October 13th having been released
by Swansea in July 2022/23. Whilst with Swansea he had loan spells with both Barry Town and Ebbsfleet
United. He was at the Webbswood Stadium for a month before signing for National South side Bath City
and re-joining Marine in the first week of January 2023.
CHARLIE SEARLE Goalkeeper
Previous Clubs: AFC Totton, Havant & Waterlooville, Salisbury, Bognor Regis Town, Petersfield Town
Profile: Portsmouth based goalkeeper Charlie was an emergency signing in April 2022 as the club’s
keepers were injured. Charlie has been with both AFC Totton and Havant & Waterlooville this season
and made his debut in the 3-0 win at home to Plymouth Parkway on April 5th.