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End of an Era at Thame

It’s the end of an era for Pitching In Southern League Division One Central club Thame United.

Sunday 04 June 23 I 10:29:08	I	Photo by

After sixteen years at the club, manager Mark West, together with long-term assistant Stuart Blaik and coach Ben Johnson, have stood down from their collective management roles. West was in his second spell in charge of the Red Kites. The former England semi-professional international striker was originally appointed player-manager when Andy Sinnott left during the summer of 2003. After a mid-table finish, the club moved to the newly formed Southern League Division One West and finished the season eleventh in the league. West left to join Slough Town and defender Tony Joyce was appointed player-manager. By July 2005, the club was in financial trouble and, following a visit from Bailiffs acting on behalf of HMRC, the landlord enforced a clause in the tenancy agreement and evicted the club from Windmill Road. A groundshare agreement was reached with neighbours Aylesbury United and, with the side struggling at the foot of the Southern Division One West, Joyce resigned in December 2005, with a new joint managerial partnership of Richard Searl and Alan Thorne appointed, but relegation to the Hellenic League was confirmed later in the season. A groundshare agreement was reached with AFC Wallingford for 2006/07 and West returned to the club midway through the season but could not save them from relegation to the Hellenic League Division One East. The 2007/08 season provided greater stability for the club, with West and new assistant, Frank Thompson, looking after first-team affairs. A mid-table finish resulted, which was followed by a ninth-place finish in 2008/09 and the following season saw the club win the Division One East title by 6 points and reclaim their place in the Hellenic Premier Division. The 2010/11 season was the most significant in the club’s recent history, with work on the new £3.1m ground at Meadow View Park commencing in March 2010. So, United returned to Thame in December 2010, just over five years after their forced eviction from the town. Boasting eight pitches, a floodlit 3G training pitch and an 8000 square foot clubhouse, United now have one of the best sporting facilities in the county. The official opening, against Oxford United in January 2011 saw a record crowd of 1,382. United finished the 2010/11 season in tenth place in the Premier Division. West`s successful partnership with assistant Stuart Blaik eventually saw them lift the Hellenic Premier Division title – and a return to Southern League football in 2016/17. The first season ended with a comfortable mid-table finish, with Dan West – son of the boss - securing the `golden boot` award. United spent much of the season around the play-offs before eventually finishing eighth. West was a former favourite and prolific marksman with neighbours Wycombe Wanderers where he played under Martin O'Neill. He was a key player, scoring 171 goals in 381 appearances for the club including the winner in the 1991 FA Trophy Final against Kidderminster Harriers to give O'Neill his first trophy in management. But West, who was also voted the `Non-League Player of the Year` in 1991, started his playing career with West Ham United and was an England Schoolboy international. He went on to win caps at England semi-professional international level (now England C) and joined Wycombe from Reading in 1984 and also turned out for Slough Town and Farnborough before joining Thame. The management team’s decision to leave has also triggered the departure of several key players, including Mark West’s son Dan. Jake Collinge, who has held various roles at the club over the last 30 years, including chairman and secretary, has also departed Thame.

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