Page 4 - Raynes Park Vale vs Guildford City 2020

Today's VisiTors
T oda y ' s Visi T ors
GUILDFORD CITY

The first club in the town was ama- 1973–74 a new board
teur side Guildford, formed in 1877 of directors took over
and known as the "Pinks". They with Bill Bellerby elect-
played home matches at the Wood- ed President (recently
bridge Road Sports Ground. elected as Patron of the new club) and club
At the end of 1920 Guildford United was stalwart Darby Watts as player manager.
formed. In May 1921 they were accepted Finacial difficulties resulted in a merger-
into the Southern League. with Dorking. The final game at Joseph's
In 1927 Guildford became a diocese and Road was played on 12 February 1974
the Guildford Cathedral was built. It was when the City beat Folkestone 2–0 in
believed that Guildford would become a front of 625 fans.
city so the club changed its name and the In 2005 the club changed its name to
"City" was born. Although they had little Guildford United, but quickly acquired
early success in the League, the FA Cup the name of Guildford City. The once fa-
bought a taste of glory in 1928–29 when- mous name had returned to senior foot-
they beat Queens Park Rangers 4–2 in ball after an absence of over 30 years.
front of a crowd of nearly 8,000. Kevin Rayner took charge in 2009. After
At the start of the 1936–37 season the escaping relegation and undergoing a sea-
club made the massive decision to turn son of improvement, in 2011/12 the club's
full-time professional, appointing Haydn had its furthest progress in the FA Cup
Green as manager. That season they fin- and Vase to date, but better was to come
ished 4th. In 1937–38 City beat Reading when the side clinched the Combined
in the FA Cup but in the league they won Counties Premier Division trophy.
22 of their 34 games to finish as Champi- Guildford City were switched to the
ons for the first time. The following year, Southern League Division One South &
with City finishing runners-up to Col- West for the 2013–14 season, with Dean
chester United by one point, scoring 126 Thomas taking the helm. Thomas re-
goals in the process. signed in November 2013 following a run
Archie Macaulay was brought in as play- of 10 defeats in a row. Kevin Rayner im-
er-manager in 1953 and he started build- mediately returned to the club but City
ing a side that would win the title in 1955– from finished bottom of the league
56. However, he left before the end of the Former Merrow manager and Guildford
season leaving Bill Thompson to take over City youth Chris Balchin took over as City
and lead the side to the championship. In manager in May 2017 .