All change at Virginia Water as Ceri Jones stands down

Ceri Jones. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
Ceri Jones. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

Virginia Water will head into the 2022/23 Combined Counties League Premier Division North season without the man that got them to Step 5.

Ceri Jones has overseen the club’s rise from the Surrey Elite Intermediate League to what will be a fifth consecutive season at Step 5 and move into a Director of Football role, the club have announced.

Jones’ side steamrollered the Hellenic League Division 1 East in 2018, losing just twice and amassing 58 points in the process before finishing 14th of 19 in their only completed Hellenic Premier season.

This season, the Surrey side finished 15th of 18 in the CCL Premier North and have had their status assured for some weeks.

A statement on the club website said: “During his 7 years at the helm, he has overseen the rapid rise of the team from Step 7 to Step 5 and switching from Hellenic to Combined Counties Leagues. The highlights being back-to-back league titles and promotions in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and the League Cup in 2017.

“It will most certainly not bring his time at the Waters to an end, as the Club continues to expand, and steadily move towards the approval of a new ground in the locality.”

Virginia Water currently ground share with Windsor but plans for a suitable ground appear to be moving along at the club whose own Timbers ground was originally opened by the then President of FIFA, Sir Stanley Rous.

The club statement added that Adam Bessent would take over the First Team role with immediate effect: “Adam Bessent take over as First Team Manager, assisted by brother Jake Bessent, and coaches Brian Joseph, Dave Atkins and Matt Holliday.”

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