Non League Today I Collier Commits to Melksham

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Collier Commits to Melksham

Pitching In Southern League Division One South club Melksham Town have announced that manager Mark Collier has signed a contract for the 2023/24 season with options to extend.

Tuesday 09 May 23 I 15:00:05	I	Photo by

Collier played for Purton and Chippenham Town and was a prolific goalscorer for Swindon Athletic before they amalgamated with Supermarine in 1992. In January 2004 he took his first step into senior management when he was appointed assistant manager to Tommy Saunders at Swindon Supermarine, but this only lasted eight games and he was given the opportunity to manage the side after Saunders resigned. At the time the side were in a precarious position as they fought for their Southern League survival. The threat of relegation wasn't lifted until the final two games of the seasons and the rest is history as, within two seasons, Collier and his assistant Ian Howell led the team to promotion to the Southern Premier Division. Collier’s inaugural season finished on a high in the 2005 season with 1-0 wins over promoted Ashford Town and a strong Swindon Town side in the Wiltshire Premier Shield at the County Ground. Prior to the promotion season in 2007, the team made the play-offs in the previous 2005/06 season with a fifth-place finish in the league but lost 3-0 against a very strong Hemel Hempstead Town side who were eventually promoted. The following season, Collier brought the biggest success to `Marine in its history when the side battled its way to the league play-offs and successfully defeated Burnham and Taunton Town to gain a place in the Southern League Premier Division for the 2007/08 season. The management team disappointed a number of the pundits in that inaugural season as they kicked-off as relegation favourites but completed the season with the team finishing in a very creditable 12th place. This was equalled again the following season and `Marine also had an excellent FA Trophy run with the team reaching the last 16 of the competition. On the way the side defeated two Conference sides and only lost a close game 2-0 to then holders Ebbsfleet United watched by over 3,700 spectators. In February 2011, Collier resigned due to proposed budget cuts and after a spell coaching at Swindon Town`s academy, he took over as manager of Chippenham in November 2013 and led them to the Vanarama National League South as Southern Premier Division champions in 2016/17 and kept them at Step 2, finishing 13th in his first two seasons in charge. In January 2020 though he was dismissed. Collier told his club’s website: “Following discussions with the chairman and directors, it was obvious the club has clear plans going forward. The outstanding facilities, a fan base that is the envy of many, and a core of the squad already in place for the coming season- I feel it’s a great opportunity. “I think we have every right to be very optimistic and excited in what will be a very competitive division".

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