Page 18 - Raynes Park Vale v Guildford City

Wins were few and far between day of the season. However, 12 games of a ground record 545 spectators. At matches played. The 2020-21 season
The follow up Southern League sea- into the 2015-16 season and with City
son in 2013-14 was a lot tougher. The having only recorded four wins, Don
manager and many of the players had Chislett resigned as manager. Former
departed to take up a new challenge at Godalming & Farncombe manager
Chipstead FC. To substantially add to Dean Thomas stepped into the manag-
the challenge the FA moved City side- ers shoes in September 2015 and made
ways into Southern League Division an instant impact with a 5-3 victory
One South & West; a division geo- against Raynes Park Vale. Building
graphically based in Bristol and Som- a team for a competitive league took
erset. Former Kingstonian player Dean time for Thomas with many players
Thomas took on what was a huge chal- coming and going, but the core of the
lenge. Wins were few and far between, squad remained constant with striker
but the side were competitive at home Matt Anton scoring important goals
at the Spectrum. On the road there that saw City finish a respectable 14th
were some heavy beatings including position.
a disastrous 12-0 defeat at Merthyr City get off to a great start
Town. Dean Thomas resigned at the In 2016-17 Thomas was joined by Ste-
end of October, and Kevin Rayner re- ve Dormer as his assistant manager.
turned to try and save the team from With record sponsorships providing in-
relegation. Form did improve and come City were able to recruit a strong
doubles were achieved over Bishops team. In demand strikers Perry Coles
Cleeve, Fleet Town and Taunton Town. and Matt Glass were signed, along with
Going into the last month of the season a number of players with Step Four ex-
survival was a real prospect. But a bad perience. City get off to a great start to
run hit at the wrong time, and with just the season with some impressive wins
two points out of the last 24 City were and a memorable FA Cup tie at Bog-
relegated. nor Regis played in front of a crowd of
Hopes were high 396. In September Dean Thomas rather
Hopes were high in 2014-15 that the surprisingly left the club to manage at
club could make a swift return to Step his hometown Godalming Town. Ste-
Four. But the team under achieved and ve Dormer took over the role of First
with the team in the relegation places Team manager until the end of the sea-
Kevin Rayner departed the club in No- son. At the end of the season City had
vember to be replaced by local coach- finished a disappointing 16th in the
es Donovan Chislett and Phil Bowers. league. One highlight though had seen
Chislett decided to put his faith in Guildford appearing in the semi-finals
youth, and he led City to a remarka- of the Surrey Senior Cup, where they
ble escape from relegation on the last played Woking at the Spectrum in front
the season’s end Dormer chose to leave started a month late in September.
the club and take on the manager’s role City’s performances in the FA Vase
at Fleet Town. were the highlights in a season that had
Season started well threatened relegation. The FA Vase run
Former Merrow manager Chris Bal- to the third round was the club’s best
chin was appointed as Dormer’s re- since 2010-11. In December 2020,
placement in May 2017. The 2017- Chris Balchin left the club after three
2018 season started well with six wins years in charge following a run of poor
in the first seven games, including FA performances.
Cup victories against Newport IOW
and Camberley Town. A final league
finish of 12th was an improvement
but overall, still disappointing. Dan
Stewart, whose goals had played a big
part in 2014-15’s escape from relega-
tion, scored 27 goals in 46 appearanc-
es. Because of a major refurbishment
to the athletics track at the Spectrum,
the 2018-19 season saw home matches
principally being played at the home 2021-PRESENT
of Godalming Town. A seventh-place In January ex-Staines Town manag-
finish was a further improvement, but er Paul Barnes was appointed to the
inconsistency prevented a higher fin- manager of Guildford City. The league
ish. During the season the impressive season had been abandoned in Decem-
young goalkeeper Liam Beach moved ber owing to the pandemic and three
on to Farnborough Town, and Kyen months after his appointment Barnes
Nicholas finished as top scorer with 17 took charge of his first match.
goals in 25 appearances. Full restructure of the club
Hit by Covid-19 During the close season, Guildford City
The 2019-20 and the 2020-21 seasons undertook a full restructure of the club.
were both heavily hit by Covid-19 re- The management group was added to
strictions, and neither season reached with experience both in business and
its conclusion. The earlier of the sea- football administration. A major theme
sons had seen Guildford positioned in is to strengthen links with the commu-
a disappointing 17th position when the nity and a women’s team will be added
lockdown came. Goalscoring had been to the club for 2021-22. The club will
a particular problem as the side had also have a management trust that will
scored just 28 goals in their 31 league administer the community role.