Ashley Bayes

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Ashley Bayes
Ashley Bayes 12072025 (3).jpg
Bayes with AFC Wimbledon in 2025
Personal information
Full name Ashley John Bayes [1]
Date of birth (1972-04-19) 19 April 1972 (age 53) [2]
Place of birth Lincoln, England [2]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m) [1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 AFC Wimbledon (goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
Nottingham Forest
1988–1990 Brentford
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1990–1993 Brentford 4 (0)
1993–1996 Torquay United 97 (0)
1996–1999 Exeter City 127 (0)
1999–2002 Leyton Orient 69 (0)
2002–2003 Bohemians 33 (0)
2003–2004 Woking 40 (0)
2004 Hornchurch 10 (0)
2004–2007 Grays Athletic 83 (1)
2007–2008 Crawley Town 45 (0)
2008–2011 Stevenage 10 (0)
2011–2013 Basingstoke Town 74 (0)
2013–2015 AFC Wimbledon 0 (0)
Total592(1)
International career
1989 England Youth
1991 England U18 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ashley John Bayes (born 19 April 1972) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is goalkeeping coach at League One club AFC Wimbledon.

Contents

Bayes began his career at Brentford, making his first-team debut in March 1990, before establishing himself at Third Division club Torquay United, where he made 119 appearances across three seasons. He then spent three years at Exeter City, making 145 appearances, before joining Leyton Orient in July 1999. After three years at Orient, Bayes signed for League of Ireland club Bohemians in 2002, winning the league title in his first season. Returning to England, he played for Woking, Hornchurch, and Grays Athletic, where he won a Conference South title and two FA Trophy medals during a three-year spell.

After a season with Crawley Town, Bayes signed for Stevenage Borough in May 2008, helping the club win the FA Trophy in his first season and achieve back-to-back promotions from the Conference Premier to League One. He signed for Conference South club Basingstoke Town in June 2011 before joining AFC Wimbledon in June 2013 as a player-coach, eventually becoming the club's goalkeeping coach. Bayes also represented England at youth level.

Early life

Born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, [2] Bayes began playing as a goalkeeper for local youth team Manor United. [3] He grew up admiring goalkeepers Ray Clemence, Peter Shilton, and Neville Southall. [3] He spent time as a schoolboy at Lincoln City, but the club's academy was disbanded following Lincoln's relegation from the Football League. [4] While representing Lincolnshire's county team, he had trials with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, joining the latter for six months. [4]

Bayes signed a two-year Youth Training Scheme contract with Brentford at the age of 15, initially travelling from his family home in Lincoln each weekend before moving to London. [3] [4] He struggled with homesickness at first, but later settled and regarded the experience as formative in developing his resilience. [3]

Club career

Early career

Bayes progressed through the Brentford academy and was playing for the under-18 team at the age of 15. [3] He made his Football League debut on 20 March 1990 in a 2–2 draw with Preston North End, and signed his first professional contract two months later. [5] [6] He went on to make only three further league appearances over the next three seasons, leaving the club at the end of the 1992–93 season. [7] He made 12 appearances for Brentford in all competitions, including in a League Cup match against Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. [5]

Following his departure from Brentford, Bayes joined Third Division club Torquay United on 13 August 1993, initially as second-choice to Matthew Lowe. [7] He featured in 32 league matches and two play-off games in his first season, with Torquay losing to Preston North End in the play-off semi-final. [6] [7] He remained a regular during the 1994–95 season, making 37 league appearances. [7] [8] In his third and final year at Torquay, he lost his starting place to Ray Newland midway through the season, finishing with 28 appearances. [7]

Exeter City

Ahead of the 1996–97 season, Bayes joined Exeter City of the Third Division on 31 July 1996, signing on a free transfer. [9] He made his debut and registered a clean sheet in a 1–0 away victory against Mansfield Town on 17 August 1996, [10] and went on to establish himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, making 46 appearances as Exeter avoided relegation to the Football Conference by a single point. [10] [11] He remained a regular during the 1997–98 season, making 50 appearances in all competitions. [12] [13] The following season, Bayes was named the club's Player of the Year after making 49 appearances in a mid-table campaign, [6] [14] with Exeter recording one of the best defensive records in the division. [15] He made 145 appearances across his three seasons with the club. [6]

Leyton Orient

At the end of the 1998–99 season, Bayes rejected a new two-year contract at Exeter and became the first player to leave the club under the Bosman ruling, joining fellow Third Division club Leyton Orient on 5 July 1999. [6] [16] He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Carlisle United on 7 August 1999, [17] and played regularly during the first half of the season before losing his place to Scott Barrett in December 1999. [17] Bayes regained his place towards the end of the season, finishing with 21 appearances in all competitions. [17] During the 2000–01 season, he was the club's first-choice goalkeeper, making 51 appearances as Leyton Orient finished fifth in the league and reached the play-off final, where they lost 4–2 to Blackpool at the Millennium Stadium on 26 May 2001. [18] [19] [20] [21] A shoulder injury limited him to 14 appearances in the 2001–02 season, and he left the club at the end of the season when his contract expired, [22] [23] having made 86 appearances in total. [2]

Bohemians

After a two-week trial, Bayes signed a three-year contract with League of Ireland club Bohemians on 31 May 2002. [3] [24] He made 33 appearances during the 2002–03 season, his only full season with the club, as Bohemians won the league title. [7] The title was secured with a 1–0 victory over Shelbourne, in which Bayes made a key save with the match goalless. [25] [26] At the start of the following season, he lost his place to Seamus Kelly and, in March 2003, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent to allow him to return to England, two years before its expiry. [3] [27]

Woking

Later that month, Bayes signed a short-term deal with Conference National club Woking for the remainder of the 2002–03 season. [28] [29] He made five appearances in the last month of the season, [30] keeping three clean sheets as the club avoided relegation. [29] Bayes signed a one-year contract ahead of the 2003–04 season and played regularly, making 40 appearances, though briefly lost his place to loanee Scott Bevan. [31] [32]

Grays Athletic

At the end of the season, Bayes rejected a contract extension at Woking and joined Conference South club Hornchurch in May 2004. [33] [34] [35] [36] He made ten league appearances before leaving in November 2004 following the club's financial collapse. [37] [38] He then signed for divisional rivals Grays Athletic on 9 November 2004. [39] He played regularly as the club won the league title by 23 points, conceding 31 goals in 42 matches. [40] He scored the only goal of his career in a 3–0 victory against Havant & Waterlooville in April 2005, in Grays' final home match of the season, converting the rebound after missing a first-half penalty. [41] He also featured in Grays' FA Trophy victory that season, saving two penalties in a 6–5 penalty shoot-out win over Hucknall Town in the final following a 1–1 draw after extra-time. [42]

Bayes remained first-choice during the 2005–06 season, making 32 appearances as Grays lost in the play-off semi-finals to Halifax Town. [43] He also helped the club retain the FA Trophy, saving a penalty in the semi-final second leg and then playing in the 2–0 victory over former club Woking in the final on 14 May 2006. [44] [45] [46] He played 42 times during the 2006–07 season under manager Justin Edinburgh before being released in May 2007, ending a three-year spell with the club. [47] [48] [49]

Crawley Town

Despite expressing a desire to rejoin Exeter City, [50] Bayes signed a one-year contract with Conference Premier club Crawley Town on 19 June 2007. [51] He made his debut in a 2–1 home victory over Stevenage Borough in the opening game of the 2007–08 season, [52] and went on to make 46 appearances in all competitions. [53] Crawley finished 15th in the league, despite a six-point deduction for breaching financial regulations. [54]

Stevenage

Bayes with Stevenage Borough after the 2009 FA Trophy Final. Ashley Bayes 09-05-09.png
Bayes with Stevenage Borough after the 2009 FA Trophy Final.

Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Bayes signed for Stevenage Borough on a free transfer. [55] He made his debut in a 5–0 defeat to Wrexham on 9 August 2008, [56] and played in the following three matches. [57] Following the arrival of Chris Day, Bayes featured less frequently, [57] making seven appearances that season, [57] including in the FA Trophy, which Stevenage went on to win. [58]

Bayes featured five times during the 2009–10 season as the club earned promotion to the Football League for the first time after finishing as Conference Premier champions. [59] [60] He did not make any first-team appearances the following season [61] but took on coaching responsibilities while Stevenage secured a second consecutive promotion via the play-offs. [62] Bayes left the club in June 2011 to return to first-team football and focus on coaching. [63] [64]

Basingstoke Town

On the same day as his departure from Stevenage was confirmed, on 20 June 2011, Bayes signed for Conference South club Basingstoke Town. [65] A week later, he joined Aldershot Town as a part-time goalkeeping coach while continuing as a player at Basingstoke. [66] [67] Named club captain ahead of the season, [68] he was first-choice goalkeeper throughout the 2011–12 campaign, making 47 appearances as Basingstoke finished fifth and reached the play-offs, where they lost 3–1 on aggregate to eventual winners Dartford. [69] [70] [71] [72]

He remained at the club for the 2012–13 season, signing a one-year extension in March 2012, [73] and made 40 appearances as Basingstoke finished 14th. [74] [75] Bayes left by mutual consent on 29 May 2013 to take up a full-time coaching role in the Football League, [76] stating that the move was motivated by a desire to focus on his long-term coaching career. [76] He made 87 appearances during his two years with the club. [68]

AFC Wimbledon

Following his departure from Basingstoke, Bayes was appointed full-time goalkeeping coach at AFC Wimbledon by manager Neal Ardley on 19 June 2013. [77] He was also registered as a player to provide additional cover if required, [77] but did not make a competitive appearance for the club. [7] He retired from playing at the end of the 2014–15 season to focus solely on coaching. [3] [4]

International career

Bayes was selected for England at under-17, under-18, and under-19 level. [3] He earned one cap for the under-18 team, playing in a 3–1 defeat to Mexico in Port of Spain on 27 March 1991. [3] [78] [79]

Coaching career

Bayes gained his coaching badges while still playing and began coaching part-time at Aldershot Town during the 2011–12 season. [3] [4] [66] He was appointed full-time goalkeeping coach at AFC Wimbledon in June 2013, a position he has held since, working under five permanent managers. [3] [4]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOther [A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford 1989–90 [7] Third Division 1000000010
1990–91 [7] Third Division0000000000
1991–92 [7] Third Division1000000010
1992–93 [7] First Division 2000000020
Total4000000040
Torquay United 1993–94 [7] Third Division320000020340
1994–95 [7] Third Division370000000370
1995–96 [7] Third Division280000000280
Total970000020990
Exeter City 1996–97 [10] Third Division410202010460
1997–98 [12] Third Division450202010500
1998–99 [14] Third Division410402020490
Total12708060401450
Leyton Orient 1999–2000 [17] Third Division170102010210
2000–01 [18] Third Division390404040510
2001–02 [22] Third Division130001000140
Total690507050860
Bohemians 2002–03 [7] League of Ireland Premier Division 330000000330
2003 [7] League of Ireland Premier Division0000000000
Total330000000330
Woking 2002–03 [30] Football Conference 5000000050
2003–04 [31] Football Conference350300020400
Total400300020450
Hornchurch 2004–05 [37] Conference South 100300000130
Grays Athletic 2004–05 [80] Conference South221000080301
2005–06 [43] Conference Premier 250100090350
2006–07 [47] Conference Premier360100050420
Total83120002201071
Crawley Town 2007–08 [53] Conference Premier450000010460
Stevenage 2008–09 [57] Conference Premier6000001070
2009–10 [59] Conference Premier4000001050
2010–11 [61] League Two 0000000000
Total100000020120
Basingstoke Town 2011–12 [69] Conference South370500050470
2012–13 [74] Conference South370200010400
Total740700060870
AFC Wimbledon 2013–14 [81] League Two0000000000
2014–15 [82] League Two0000000000
Total0000000000
Career total59212801304406771
A.  ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy, Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs, Conference play-offs and Conference South play-offs.

Honours

Bohemians

Grays Athletic

Stevenage

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Ashley Bayes – World Football". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ashley Bayes – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Bayzo brews up for success". AFC Wimbledon. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "A safe pair of hands for six years and counting". AFC Wimbledon. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 "On This Day in History: 19 April". Brentford F.C. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bayes, Ashley". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Ashley Bayes – Profile". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "English Division Three 1994–1995 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Ashley Bayes – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "English Division Three 1996–1997 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "English Division Three 1997–1998 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "English Division Three 1998–1999 : Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "Profile: Ashley Bayes #1". Grays Athletic F.C. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  18. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  19. ↑ "English Division Three 2000–2001". Statto.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  20. ↑ "Orient see off Hull challenge". BBC Sport. 16 May 2001. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "Blackpool 4–2 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 26 May 2001. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  22. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Brush to sweep Bayes out". BBC Sport. 26 March 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  24. ↑ "Bohs sign goalkeeper Ashley Bayes". Irish Examiner. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  25. ↑ Keane, Paul. "Football: Bohs Bank-ing on their Glory Bayes". The People. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  26. ↑ "Republic of Ireland round-up: Bohemians crowned". UEFA. 12 January 2003. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  27. ↑ O'Connor, Tom (11 April 2020). "Stephen Kenny's goalkeeping options: Time for Talbot?". ExtraTime. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Transfers – March 2003". BBC Sport. 14 March 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  29. 1 2 "Bayes has high hopes". BBC Sport. 4 June 2003. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
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  31. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  32. ↑ "Bevan returns to Saints". BBC Sport. 18 December 2003. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  33. ↑ "Woking duo agree new deals". BBC Sport. 11 May 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  34. ↑ "Richards signs for Woking". BBC Sport. 11 May 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  35. ↑ "Hill makes another major signing". Non-League Daily. 11 May 2004. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  36. ↑ "Hornchurch swoop again". BBC Sport. 12 July 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  37. 1 2 "Player Details: Season 2004–2005". Soccer Facts UK. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  38. ↑ "For Hornchurch read AFC Hornchurch". Non-League Daily. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  39. ↑ "Bayes makes Grays switch". Non-League Daily. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  40. ↑ "English Conference South 2004–2005 : Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  41. ↑ "Grays Athletic 3–0 Havant & Waterlooville". Grays Athletic F.C. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  42. 1 2 "Grays Ath 1–1 Hucknall Town (aet)". BBC Sport. 22 May 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  43. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  44. ↑ "Bayes hailed after semi-final win". BBC Sport. 26 March 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  45. 1 2 "Grays beat Cards to retain Trophy". BBC Sport. 14 May 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  46. ↑ Phillips, Owen (15 May 2006). "Grays turn style into substance". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2006.
  47. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  48. ↑ "2006/2007 Statistics – Ashley Bayes". Grays Athletic F.C. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  49. ↑ "Edinburgh begins summer clearout". BBC Sport. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
  50. ↑ "Bayes desperate for Grecians return". Non-League Daily. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  51. ↑ "Crawley boss signs four players". BBC Sport. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
  52. ↑ "Crawley 2–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  53. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  54. ↑ "English Conference Premier 2007–2008 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  55. ↑ "Stevenage sign defender Anaclet". BBC Sport. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  56. ↑ "Wrexham 5–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  57. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  58. 1 2 "Stevenage 2–0 York". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  59. 1 2 "Stevenage 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  60. 1 2 "Kidderminster 0–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  61. 1 2 "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  62. 1 2 Begley, Emlyn (28 May 2011). "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  63. ↑ "Four players move on". Stevenage F.C. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  64. ↑ "Ashley Bayes leaves Stevenage to coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  65. ↑ "Town secure new shot stopper". Basingstoke Town F.C. Retrieved 21 June 2011.[ dead link ]
  66. 1 2 "Aldershot bring in coaches Matt Gray and Ashley Bayes". BBC Sport. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  67. ↑ "Aldershot goalkeeper Ross Worner signs new contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  68. 1 2 "Ashley Bayes – Basingstoke Town". Basingstoke Town F.C. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  69. 1 2 "Ashley Bayes appearances 2011/2012". Basingstoke Town F.C. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  70. ↑ "English Conference South 2011–2012 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  71. ↑ "Basingstoke 0–1 Dartford". Soccerway. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  72. ↑ "Dartford 2–1 Basingstoke". Soccerway. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  73. ↑ "Bayes commits to Basingstoke". Planet Sport. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
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  75. ↑ "English Conference South 2012–2013 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  76. 1 2 "Club captain Bayes departs Town". Basingstoke Town F.C. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  77. 1 2 Slavin, Chris (20 June 2013). "Dons appoint new coach". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
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  79. ↑ "Mexico v England, 27 March 1991". 11vs11.com. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  80. ↑ "2004–05 Statistics – Ashley Bayes". Grays Athletic F.C. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  81. ↑ "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  82. ↑ "Games played by Ashley Bayes in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  83. ↑ "Grays are promoted to Conference". BBC Sport. 26 March 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  84. ↑ "Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
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