Kingstonian FC

Kingstonian FC is delighted to announce that Simon Lane has been appointed to the role of First Team Manager.

Simon leaves Isthmian South Central club Westfield to take up the reins and will take charge of first team training tonight and manage his first K's match this Saturday at Imperial Fields against Aveley.

Simon is a manager with extensive coaching and managerial experience who has held a UEFA A coaching licence since 1998.

His playing career saw him have spells with Yeovil Town, Woking, Bath City, Hayes and Aylesbury United before having to retire due to a number of serious injuries. He swiftly moved into coaching, becoming youth development coach at Chelsea and club coach at Leighton Town before becoming the youngest head coach in top division European football when he coached Maltese club Naxxar Lions to their highest-ever league position in 1999-2000.

His first managerial role came in 2003 when he took over at Berkhamsted Town and then Windsor and Eton. He spent three years as first team coach at Maidenhead United and was then manager at Wingate and Finchley, Egham Town and Northwood, scout at Hayes and Yeading United before taking over as Westfield manager in May 2020.

This season Westfield are within touching distance of the play-off zone and enjoyed their longest ever FA Cup run; Simon has built a reputation for developing young players and producing energetic, organised and attractive passing teams.

Simon was awarded the Isthmian League South Central Division manager of the month for October 2022.

Kingstonian Chairman John Fenwick said: "The directors are delighted to appoint Simon to the role of first team manager. His wealth of managerial and coaching experience will be vital in our remaining matches.

We are grateful to Spencer Knight for his hard work, having stepped in at short notice In November when Lee O’Leary stood down as first team manager, and wish him every success in his new role abroad."

Photo courtesy of www.westfield-fc.com