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