Meet the squad: Record setters aiming for silverware
The sixth part of the Men's First Team 'Meet the squad' series takes a break from looking at players and instead covers the management team. Bassett have enjoyed significant success under manager Sam Collier, who has twice guided the Men's First Team to their highest ever league placing - including last season's fifth place finish, set the record for the club's best FA Vase run and equalled Bassett's best run in the FA Cup. He has also guided the team to two cup semi finals. Missing from that impressive CV is some silverware though - and Collier will be hoping that this is the year his team can land a long-awaited trophy. Indeed, if he were to achieve that Collier would become the first Men's First Team manager to win a trophy since the 2000-01 season. He'll once again be joined in the dugout by player-assistant manager Alan Griffin. Having joined as a player two years ago, Griffin was a big addition to the management team last year and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from playing at a higher level, as well as prior management experience. A new addition to the management team this year is Lee Beavis. A former Bassett defender, Beavis knows all about playing at this level and, given the position he played, will add more defensive expertise to the coaching team.
All three are available to sponsor for the 2023-24 season for just £50. If you are interested in sponsoring any of our Men's First Team players, please contact Chairman Paul Gerrish (paul.gerrish@rwbtfc.co.uk; 07946 629483). Detailed profiles of the three are available below.
Sam Collier
Collier has served as Bassett manager since taking the role, initially on an interim basis while still also a player, in January 2018. In 2018-19, his first full season in charge, Collier guided the team to 10th in the Hellenic League Premier Division - at that point, the club's highest ever finish. Bassett then exceeded that record with a 5th place finish in 2022-23. Bassett have also set records in national cup competitions under his stewardship, with Collier's sides equalling the club's best FA Cup run in 2020-21 when they reached the second qualifying round, narrowly losing to National League South Oxford City, and going further than ever before in the FA Vase, reaching the third round in both 2021-22 and 2022-23. This is Collier's second job in management after he served as Shrivenham player-manager from February 2014 to 2015. As a player, Collier has made 159 appearances for Bassett. Mainly featuring as a striker, he has scored 71 goals, finishing as top scorer in 2009-10, when Bassett earned promotion from Hellenic League Division One West, and 2010-11. Collier has played in almost every other position for Bassett too though - including as goalkeeper, making a last minute penalty save in 2022-23 to preserve a point against eventual champions Cribbs. During his playing career, he also featured for Purton, Abingdon United, Cirencester Town, Wantage Town and Thatcham Town among others.
Alan Griffin
A high quality target man who enjoyed a distinguished playing career in non-league football, Griffin is now entering his second season as Bassett's assistant manager. Griffin initially joined Bassett for the 2021-22 season as a player, scoring 16 times in 32 appearances before joining Sam Collier's coaching staff. While taking on his current role, Griffin has continued to play, featuring 38 times last season (with 34 appearances coming from the bench) and adding five goals. As a player, Griffin is an assured finisher, strong in the air and capable of effectively holding up the ball. He made a prolific start to his playing career with Corsham Town in the Western League, and soon moved onto Southern League football, plying his trade with Cirencester Town, Chippenham Town, Gloucester City, Mangotsfield United, Swindon Supermarine and Bristol Manor Farm. He spent most of his career with Chippenham Town and was part of their 2016-17 promotion winning squad that saw the Bluebirds earn National League South status. Then in 2018-19 he hit 26 goals for Cirencester as they finished runners-up in Southern League Division One South. He joined Bassett after splitting the 2019-20 season between Melksham Town and Malmebsury Victoria. Griffin also has prior managerial experience having spent time in charge of Malmesbury.
Lee Beavis
Beavis is a new addition to joins Bassett's Men's First Team management team for this season. A strong defender in his playing days, Beavis featured for Bassett during the first half of the 2006-07 season under then-manager Paul Burke. He also played for Devizes Town, Calne Town, Melskham Town and Malmesbury Victoria among others.