“It will be exciting times” says Smith after Chalford appointment announced
Lee Smith says he is looking forward to the test of the Gloucestershire County League after being appointed Chalford Manager for the new season.
On Tuesday night, the club announced that the former Tredworth Tigers and Lydney Town boss would replace Mike Finan – who stepped down following the 2025/26 season.
Smith is familiar with Chalford after the infamous three-way title race in Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One in the 2023/24 season and speaking to Severn Sport following the announcement, Smith says he knew it was a place he wanted to be from the first conversation with the club.
“It’s a club with a good background and strong committee and from the first conversations it was clear they’re ambitious and I’m excited to be the new Manager.
When they beat Tredworth in the title decider, I didn’t expect to be here as Manager, but that’s the beauty of football and now I can have a good crack at the County League with a really good club,” Smith said.
Smith makes his return to football after leaving Hellenic Premier side Lydney Town earlier in 2026 and whilst the appointment at Chalford may raise a few eyebrows – Smith says that he has learned a lot from his stint at Lydney and believes this will be an exciting time for his new club.
“It was a tough 19 months at Lydney – who are a great club, but I struggled to get lads out there and ending up leaving in March and of course I wish them the best for the coming season, but I learned loads about myself as a Manager and players- both good and bad!
For me to now be at a local club like Chalford, gives me the chance to get some lads in and put together a squad capable of having a really good go at the league, I think it will be exciting times for both Chalford and myself this season,” Smith added.
Joining Smith at Chalford are Warren Evans, who worked alongside Smith at Lydney and will be his Assistant Manager, as well as James Crowest and Jason Hojjaty and with the club returning for pre-season training on Monday 22 June, Smith is targeting a higher place finish than last season (8th) and admits that’s only a minimum and he wants to aim for the title.
“The target is always the same, try to win the league, as every manager will say – but a more realistic target is to finish above last season points total and final position!
I’m excited to see what the current squad can do and it’s important to give them all the chance and with some new players I’ll look to bring in, we will look to help take the club forward and give them a new vision for the future,” Smith said.
Chalford Chairman Martin Smith has also welcomed the appointment and believes it is a statement signing for the club.
“After speaking to Lee, I was really happy with how the conversations went. Lee is a man who has been there and done that locally as a player and is still learning as a Manager.
He is ambitious and wants to win and to bring in someone so experienced within the local game is a bit of a statement signing for a club like Chalford.
We have done so well over recent years, from Powello and Newman [former Managers Ben Powell & Ben Newman] getting us up into the County League to then finish in the top half in both seasons since – hopefully Lee can continue that great work and we can keep building as a club,” Smith said.
Chalford return for pre-season training on Monday 22 June, kicking off at 18:30. Any players interested in joining the club – not just for their First Team, are free to go along to the Chalford Sports and Social Club to get involved.
Cover photo courtesy of Chalford AFC
