John Bailey
Manager Profile

Biography

It seemed to be a case of second time lucky when Boro appointed John Bailey as their manager on Thursday, 22 October 1987. The club had shortlisted Bailey as a potential manager back in 1983, but he opted to drop out of the contest and stay at Letchworth instead.

Bailey himself felt it was a missed opportunity, telling the Comet after his appointment as Boro's manager: "I'm elated to be offered the chance of managing a club like Stevenage. I've regretted rejecting the chance last time, ever since". And Boro's chairman, Ken Vale, was effusive in his praise: "We had some fine candidates, but were impressed by John's 100 per cent commitment, enthusiasm and his loyalty, which hasn't always been returned."

Bailey had spent the early part of the 1987/88 season coaching and playing at Histon in the Eastern League, but took over from Delvin Stevens, who had been in temporary charge of Boro.

Bailey was best known for his time at Letchworth where, in 1982/83, he at one point had the Bluebirds top of the Isthmian League Division Two North and on a fine run in the FA Vase. He left the club after a disagreement over off-field issues, and then spent a season as assistant manager to Denny Bevis - a reversal of their previous roles - at Barton, before joining Royston for three seasons. He parted company with the club in the 1986/87 season, with the Crows firmly rooted to the bottom of Division Two North after swingeing cuts to the playing budget.

At Boro, Bailey appointed Martin Murray as his assistant manager - and player. Murray joined the club from Saffron Walden, where he had been player-coach and captain for the past six seasons, and was a midfield supremo who had spent ten years in the Southern League with Cambridge City. Peter Shadbolt, who had been a coach when Bailey arrived, stayed on as club coach.