(Photograph – Motion Sports Photography)
Introduction
At the end of the FA Cup tie against Cribbs FC on the 2nd September 2023 manager Lee Spalding departed his role as manager of Swindon Supermarine. The end of a manager’s time at the helm invokes a range of opinions amongst a club’s followers. Some will feel the time for the parting of the ways had arrived; others will feel the incumbent deserved a little longer to turn things around; and others will be of the view that they deserved to remain in post. Whichever view is held all supporters will recognise that the end of a manager’s stint is a moment of sorrow. This is even more the case if the manager, and their management team, are recognised as being hard working and of unquestionable commitment – as Lee Spalding and his management team were.
Lee Spalding’s managerial record
One of the saddest things about a football manager’s departure from a club is that so often the final focus is on their difficult last few weeks. This is so wrong. It is their record over the full length of their tenure that should be judged. When Lee Spalding’s managerial record is analysed it is clear he has a record as Swindon Supermarine manager of which he can justifiably be proud.
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points | Points per game | Win ratio % | Loss ration % |
| 190 | 85 | 40 | 65 | 295 | 1.55 | 44.7% | 34.2% |
| Season | League | Position | Other Achievements |
| 2017/18 | Southern League Division 1 (West) | 5th | Play-off winners thus securing promotion to Southern Premier League |
| 2018/19 | Southern League Premier Division (South) | 11th | Wilshire Premier Shield Winners |
| 2019/20 | Southern League Premier Division (South) | 4th (Season curtailed at 32 games due to Covid pandemic | Wiltshire Premier Shield finalists – final not played due to Covid pandemic. |
| 2020/21 | Southern League Premier Division (South) | 8th (Season curtailed at 8 games due to Covid pandemic) | FA Trophy Round 3 (Club’s joint best ever run in the competition) |
| 2021/22 | Southern League Premier Division (South) | 12th | Wiltshire Premier Shield Winners Southern League Cup Semi Finalists |
| 2022/23 | Southern League Premier Division (South) | 6th | FA Trophy Round 3 (Club’s joint best ever run in the competition) |
When one looks at Lee Spalding’s record the following thoughts come to mind:
- There are an awful lot of Southern League managers who would be delighted with an impressive league points per game ratio of 1.55 and a win ratio of 44.7%.
- The club only once under his leadership ended the season below half way and that instance, in 2021/22, was only by one place.
- In both 2022/23 and the Covid curtailed season of 2019/20 the club made a strong challenge for a play-off place. Sat in 4th place in the latter with ten games to go a play-off place really was a strong possibility but for the season’s premature closure.
- The Wiltshire Premier Shield was won twice with a victory over Salisbury in the final of 2018/19 and Corsham Town in 2022/23. The final was also reached in 2019/20 but was not played due to Covid pandemic restrictions.
- A good FA Cup run eluded the club under Lee’s tenure. However, in seasons 2020/21 and 2022/23 the club equalled its best ever run in the FA Trophy.
A managerial career that includes the securing of a promotion; consolidating the team in the Southern Premier League after promotion; having two strong tilts for a play-off place to reach the National League South; and winning two Wiltshire Premier Shield finals is a record of which to be justifiably proud.
Ten matches to remember from the Lee Spalding era
Wimborne Town 0 Swindon Supermarine 0 (Southern League Division 1 West Play-off final – 07/05/18)
This was a day that will be indelibly etched in the memory of Swindon Supermarine supporters. Marine had to travel away to Wimborne Town and mid way through the second half things seemed decidedly grim when Zack Westlake was wrongly sent off. However, Marine’s ten men battled valiantly to stay in the game and after extra time took the game to a penalty shootout. Victory was secured by 4 penalties to 3 with Bradley Gray, Brad Hooper, Aaron Woodley, and Connor Thompson converting. The post match celebrations were joyous as a season that at its mid-point seemed to be fading into a mundane mid-table finish was, through an excellent run of form from January 2018, turned into a promotion year.
Swindon Supermarine 5 Basingstoke Town 2 (Southern League Premier Division South – 15/12/18)
The early games of the club’s first season back in the Southern Premier League were tough with the team languishing perilously close to the relegation positions. The management team had, quite rightly, kept faith with the squad that had secured promotion. However, by October it was becoming clear that further strengthening was required. The input of new faces had an immediate impact and this victory was Marine’s fifth win in six games. The first half was an “even Stevens” 1-1 but in the second half a glut of Marine goals relentlessly pummelled Basingstoke Town into submission. Scorers for Marine were Stuart Fleetwood, Henry Spalding, a Connor McDonagh brace, and Ryan Campbell.
Salisbury FC 1 Swindon Supermarine 3 (Wiltshire Premier Shield Final – 17/04/19)
The club secured its second piece of silverware under Lee Spalding when they won the Wilshire Premier Shield Final at Melksham Town. Marine established a first half lead when Henry Spalding cut inside and hit a curling left foot effort. On 48 minutes Marine doubled their lead when a defensive miscue in the penalty area fell to the feet of Harry Williams who finished with aplomb. With five minutes to go an own goal offered Salisbury a life line but with the last kick of the match Stuart Fleetwood made it 3-1.
Swindon Supermarine 3 Weston-super-Mare 2 (Southern League Premier South – 30/11/19)
This thriller of a match was very much a game of two halves. Marine were 3-0 in front at half time with goals from Harry Williams, Mat Liddiard, and Henry Spalding. However, some curious refereeing saw the visitors awarded two decidedly soft penalties. Interestingly the player in the Weston line up that most impressed was one George Dowling.
Chesham United 1 Swindon Supermarine 2 (Southern League Premier South -11/02/20)
For the travelling Marine faithful an evening match in Buckinghamshire on a freezing winter’s evening was one of those journeys supporters, to a large extent, undertake out of loyalty rather than pleasure. However. Marine battled tenaciously against an impressive home team to secure a 2-1 victory. The hosts had gone 1-0 up ten minutes before half time. However, a two minute spell turned the game on its head when Michael Hopkins converted a 62nd minute penalty and a minute later Mat Liddiard powered home a diving front post header. Marine then showed their defensive resilience battening down the hatches to secure victory.
Swindon Supermarine 5 Farnborough Town 2 (Southern League Premier South – 31/08/20)
For many supporters this match is deemed one of the best performances of the Lee Spalding managerial era. Marine comprehensively outplayed a team who went on to secure promotion to the National League South. The visitors took the lead with 16 minutes on the clock. However, the home side then produced a display that saw a strong opponent comprehensively played off the park. As Marine passed the ball slickly and the wide men had their full backs spinning like whirling dervishes – the overwhelmed visitors conceded five with David Pratt scoring two and Henry Spalding three.
Swindon Supermarine 5 Corsham Town 2 (Wiltshire Premier Shield Final – 03/05/22)
The end of the 2021/22 season saw the securing of the third piece of silverware under Lee Spalding’s auspices. On a clammy May evening Marine ran out 5-2 winners against a Corsham Town team who for a spell in the second half gave the Marine players quite a scare. With 30 minutes gone Marine found themselves 2-0 up as a result of goals from Henry Spalding and Conor McDonagh. However, a goal in first half injury time and one on the hour mark saw the Hellenic league side on level terms and with momentum in their favour. However, in the final 20 minutes Marine’s superior fitness paid dividends and further goals were netted by Harry Williams, Kieran Phillips and Henry Spalding to give the scoreline an emphatic appearance that does not do full credit to the stern test Corsham Town had provided.
Swindon Supermarine 4 Dartford 0 (FA Trophy Round 2 – 19/11/20)
Dartford arrived at the Webbswood in second place in National League South. The odds were stacked against Marine. However, this was George Dowling’s day. The midfielder destroyed “the Darts” scoring a hat trick and producing quite probably the best midfield performance seen in a Marine shirt. Marine’s other goal was scored by Zack Kotwica. By the hour mark Marine were 4-0 in front and their shell shocked opponents were yearning for the final whistle to end their agony. This was a famous victory where Marine comprehensively outplayed a high flying National League side.
Swindon Supermarine 3 Truro City 2 (Southern League Premier South – 26/02/22)
Automatic promotion chasing Truro City arrived at the Webbswood in fine form. Marine opened the scoring in the 6th minute through the prolific Harry Williams. In a toe-to-toe first half battle Marine will have been delighted to reach half time a goal to the good.
On the hour mark James Harding doubled Marine’s lead and seemed to have given the host some breathing space. However, between the 67th and 69th minutes the visitors scored two goals. It was now Truro City who seemed to have the momentum but Marine weathered a torrent of attacks and then in the 78th minute regained the lead through James Harding. Still there was more drama and with the last kick of the game Sam Turl cleared a goal bound effort off the line as the Truro City players surrounded the referee claiming the ball had crossed the line in one of the most dramatic match endings seen at the Webbswood.
Hanwell Town 1 Swindon Supermarine 3 (Southern Premier League South – 24/03/23)
Some victories are memorable because they entail overcoming adversity. This was one such game. Goalkeeper injuries, and an inflexible emergency loan system, meant that Marine were forced to play the match with an outfield player (Brad Hooper) between the sticks. What followed was a team performance of tremendous character. The midfield were tenacious, the defenders commanding, and the forwards clinical. Marine secured a two goal lead on the hour mark through goals by Harry Williams and James Harding. On 66 minutes the hosts pulled a goal back but any frayed Marine nerves were calmed when Henry Spalding scored Marine’s third. The most intriguing aspect of the game was that Brad Hooper looked so convincing in goal that many of the home supporters had no inkling he was not a regular keeper. The travelling support will remember this victory for years to come as one where team spirit overcame adversity.
And finally….
It is my strong view that a manager’s record is not about an emotive snapshot of their last weeks in post but a cool and sober look at their overall impact. I think when you look at Lee Spalding’s record as Swindon Supermarine manager it is one of which he can justifiably be proud. He and his assistant managers, Kev Milsom and Charlie Griffin, achieved a great deal and the balance sheet of their successes is very much in the positive. I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of Marine supporters will recognise that any manager who secures a promotion and the club’s highest ever league position did a good job. When the “whys and wherefores” of these last few weeks have faded from the memory I have no doubt the ‘Spalding era” will be seen as a positive one in Swindon Supermarine’s history. After some time to rest I fully expect Lee to find further success in football. He is too good a manager and coach not to. All that remains is to thank Lee, and his management team, for their hard work, the good football they encouraged, and the positive footballing memories their teams gave us supporters.
Moonraker Football 
Good article. True words. Best of luck for the future Lee.
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Thans Tim.
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Spelling correction – it should, of course, say “thanks”. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
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A brilliant write-up to celebrate a big man. It is amazing to think how well we finished the 21-22 season considering how depressing the winter was for us. Let’s hope the next manager can bring us as many successes.
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Both Lee and Charlie are steeped in football. They know what a volatile world football management is. They will, I have no doubt, bounce back from this. They are too good not to. I know the overwhelming majority of Marine supporters will wish them well for the future.
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