New First-Team Manager For Guildford City

Published on: 6 Jan, 2021
Updated on: 6 Jan, 2021

Guildford City Football Club has appointed its new first-team manager.

He is Paul Barnes who joins the club from Staines Town, the club he joined as manager in February 2020.

Guildford City FC’s new first-team manager Paul Barnes. Picture from Guildford City’s website, credited to Graeme Wilcockson.

According to a statement from Guildford City FC, since joining Staines he rejuvenated the team and he departs with them currently in second position in the Isthmian League South Central division.

Barnes has also managed Greenwich Borough, and acted as assistant manager or first-team coach at Welling United, Ashford United and Margate.

On Guildford City’s website, Mr Barnes says: “I am extremely excited and proud to be joining Guildford City FC, a club with such history and prominence in the local community.

“I saw first-hand the magnificent support the club has, when we played each other in this year’s FA Cup.

“I have also quickly discovered it has great people dedicated to helping the club achieve its goals and some very exciting plans for the future ahead.

“Our aim is to help create a professional environment utilising technology and modern tools, along with a forward-thinking coaching philosophy to aid player development and performance. It is an exciting time for all involved and anyone connected to Guildford City FC and I cannot wait to get started.”

Guildford City’s chairman David Knight said “We are very happy to welcome a manager of the calibre of Paul Barnes.  With an exciting restructure of the club pending at the end of the season, we are delighted to have attracted such a go-ahead young manager to the club.”

In other club news, secretary Barry Underwood has been awarded an MBE for services to Parliament, particularly during the COVID-19 response and voluntary services to football.

Mr Underwood has been with Guildford City since 2011 and became club secretary for the 2012/13 season.

The club says that as well as the many duties that club secretary entails, he has always had a hand in many other areas of the club, including the design and creation of the award-winning match-day programme.

Guildford City FC’s matches are currently suspended due to the latest lockdown.

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