New Management Team for Beaconsfield

Following the departure of Gary Meakin last week, Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South club Beaconsfield Town have announced the appointment of Neil Baker and Jon Underwood as their new joint managers.

The duo, defensive partners in their playing days at a number of clubs including Bracknell Town and Farnborough, had rejuvenated Slough Town in nearly ten years, taking them from Step 4 back to an established side in the Vanarama National league South.

But they resigned as the Rebels` joint bosses in November.

Baker and Underwood became joint-managers of Slough in May 2013, after guiding Godalming Town to a third-place finish in the Southern League Division One Central.

Baker started his career at Wycombe Wanderers under John Gregory, before moving to Farnborough, the club his father Keith also represented over 400 times.

Neil went on to play for Aldershot Town, Boreham Wood, Sutton United, Leatherhead and Bracknell Town.

After a knee injury forced him into retirement at just 29, he made the move into management, joining Fleet Spurs in the Wessex League Division One, where he was first team manager for two seasons.

He then made the switch to Godalming during the 2010/11 season, linking up with Underwood and enjoying a successful spell which culminated in reaching the Isthmian Division One South play-offs and beating Sutton United to lift the Surrey Senior Cup in 2012/13.

Baker and Underwood also led Godalming to the Isthmian Division One South play-offs in 2011/12, and the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, where they narrowly lost out against Maidenhead United.

At Slough, Baker and Underwood guided the club to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division after a thrilling 3-2 victory at Kettering Town in the play-off final.

In 2016/17, the Rebels went close to winning promotion to National League South, but were defeated 1-0 in a play-off semi-final at Leamington.

Underwood, 48, played for the likes of Godalming Town, Sandhurst Town, Bracknell Town, Aylesbury United, Farnborough Town and Wokingham Town.

He moved into management with three seasons at Sandhurst and a similar stint in joint charge at Godalming.

A statement from Beaconsfield reads: "Neil and Jon have a proven track record in management and their experience in the National League is what stood out for us when considering who to entrust with the next steps forward for this club.

“The directors are extremely proud of the club’s achievements over the past
five years, but we are making this appointment to reflect our ambition to sustainably progress to the National League, at the forefront of our minds".

Beaconsfield Town Web Site