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MARK COLLIER |
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Profile: Before stepping into management Mark 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 Mark and his assistant, Ian Howell, led the team to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. Mark’s inaugural season finished on a high in 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 Mark brought the biggest success to the club in its history when we battled our 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 we kicked off the season as relegation favourites but completed the season with the team finishing in a very creditable 12th place. This was equalled again last season and we 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 and only lost a close game 2-0 to then holders Ebbsfleet watched by over 3,700 spectators.
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