Steve Connolly becomes new GTFC First Team Manager

Guisborough Town have appointed former Redcar Athletic Manager Steve Connolly as their new First Team Manager.

Belfast-born Steve, 41, took Athletic from mid-table in the Wearside League 11 years ago to becoming champions and then promotion to the Northern League’s Division Two followed by another promotion to Division One – a meteoric rise by any standards.

He left Redcar just under two years ago after nine and a half seasons with them and has since concentrated on his full-time role as Director of Football of the Junior Premier League – the biggest sports league in the UK.

Apart from his Redcar Athletic connections, Steve has also had brief spells with Stokesley and Billingham Town. He has lived on Teesside for 23 years now – longer he says than he was in Northern Ireland.

Speaking of his new role with Guisborough Town he commented:

Having met members of the Club Committee and watched the impressive performance of the Guisborough team against Shildon last Saturday, to be given the opportunity of managing the club is a really exciting challenge for me.

It was great seeing some of the Under-9 and Under-10 players at the KGV last Saturday running around in their club strips and track suits. Guisborough Town is clearly a ‘proper’ football club which is a valued part of the local community with a hard core of supporters many of whom have been loyal fans for 20 years and more.

It is a real honour to be given the opportunity to be a part of this club, which obviously means an awful lot to many people in Guisborough and district.

Guisborough Town CEO Andy Bell said: “We got some good, high calibre applicants for the job and we are delighted to have secured the services of Steve Connolly. He has a lot of experience and has numerous FA coaching badges so we are looking forward to welcoming him to the club and working with him in the future.”

Guisborough Town Chairman Andy Willis added: “I’m delighted to have Steve on board with us, he’s a manager who fits perfectly with our ethos at the Club. His appointment has been very positively received within the club and we look forward to him settling into his new role.”