Berkshire’s longest serving non league managers

The big list of Berkshire’s longest serving managers in men’s football has been updated following the end of Alan Devonshire decade long reign as Maidenhead United manager.

Devonshire will step down at the end of Saturday’s home fixture with Chippenham Town, and with fellow long-serving managers like Jamie Tompkins and Lee Simpson departing their respective clubs in the summer, we have a new number one!

Managerial changes have come thick and fast this season, let alone in the last year so we celebrate that longevity as well as acknowledge the hard work, sacrifice and commitment required from bosses whether they in the job for five years or five minutes.

The list below looks at full dates of appointment where available. For the purposes of this list we’ve looked at Step 1 down to Step 6 of the English Football Pyramid.

And in case you were wondering why teams like Tadley Calleva, Virginia Water etc are included in this list, here’s a little explainer.

1. Reading City – Simon Johnson

Simon Johnson took over at Reading City, succeeding Rob Creech on Wednesday 31st October 2018. He successfully steered the Citizens away from relegation in his first season as boss and continues to drive the club forward in 2025.

2. Hungerford Town – Danny Robinson

Danny Robinson joined Hungerford Town in May 2020 from neighbours Thatcham Town where he won the FA Vase at Wembley. At the time he stepped up two levels to manage to manage in the National League.

3. Wallingford & Crowmarsh – Lee Matthews

Glenn Goudie’s first act as Chairman was to install the former Didcot Town Development, Ardley United and Abingdon Town manager Lee Matthews at Wallingford & Crowmarsh in the summer of 2021. In terms of hiring your own successor, this one has gone rather well for the Wally who are firmly a Step 5 club again.

4. Tadley Calleva – Joe Lawler

Joe Lawler became Tadley Calleva manager along with Ben Dillon in October 2021, joining from Cove. Lawler is currently solo first team manager at the Romans who earned national attention this season in the FA Cup.

5. Woodley United – Jordan Blake

Jordan Blake arrived at Woodley United on 14th June 2022 from Marlow, and it’s been a rollercoaster. Blake led the Kestrels to safety in Combined Counties League Division One last season on the final day of the season. At the time of writing, Woodley are second in the division have lost just once.

6. Slough Town – Scott Davies

Free-kick specialist Scott Davies was appointed Slough Town boss on 23rd November 2022 following the departure of Neil Baker and Jon Underwood.

7. AFC Aldermaston – Marcus Richardson

Former Football League striker Marcus Richardson was appointed AFC Aldermaston boss in July 2023, two years after resigning as manager of Flackwell Heath.

8. Binfield – Ross Weatherstone

Ross Weatherstone walked through the door at Hill Farm Lane on 22nd December 2023 and set about enacting ‘The Great Escape’ as doomed Binfield escaped relegation from the Isthmian League South Central Division One having been nailed on for the drop.

9. Burnham –  Omz Bakali and Mo Bakali

The duo of Omz Bakali and Mo Bakali were appointed in October 2024, succeeding Ben Murray in the dugout at Burnham.

10. Eversley & California – Mitch Cooper and Darryl Jelly

Wokingham Town – Matt Eggleston

2025/26 season appointees

• Ascot United – Gavin Smith
• Berks County – Ben Hall and Dan Money
• Bracknell Town – Carl Davies
• Holyport – Lee Ovens and Daniel Rapley
• Kintbury Rangers – Chris Collin
• Langley – Mick Woodham
• Maidenhead United – Ryan Peters
• Sandhurst Town –
• Thatcham Town – Cameron Phibey
• Virginia Water – Paul McCarthy
• Windsor & Eton – Rob Webb