Management Profiles 2025/26

Mike Ford: Manager
Mike, as a player, represented Cardiff City and Oxford United, clocking up close to 500 league appearances, gaining two promotions during that time. Following retirement due to injury, Mike has managed Oxford United (twice in caretaker roles) and was also assistant manager there for a period.

He then went on to manage Oxford City (2009-2014), leading them to promotion to the National League Southern Division.

He then moved to Banbury United (2015-2020), where he gained promotion from Evesham’s level in 2016, before establishing them in the Premier Division from that point. He helped manage St. Ives Town last season.

Mike is a UEFA A-licensed coach who has experience working with and developing young players, including being the Oxford United Youth Team Manager.

Alex Sykes Assistant Manager

In May 2011, Alex was appointed as manager of Bishop’s Cleeve. In his first season as manager, he led Bishop’s Cleeve to the club’s then record high league finish of 11th in the Southern League South & West.

At the end of his second season as boss, in April 2013, he stepped down from his role as manager at the club. In May 2013, he became joint manager at fellow Southern League club Shortwood United alongside John Evans.

He would eventually take sole charge of the club following the retirement of John Evans at the end of the 2015-16 season. After leading the side for the 2016-17 season, he left Shortwood in April 2017.

In January 2018, Alex was appointed as assistant manager of Redditch United. In October 2021, he was appointed manager of Cinderford Town and left at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Alex started his playing career in the Football League with Mansfield Town. However, he is best known for his time at Forest Green Rovers from 1996 to 2004, where he played 295 times, scoring 73 goals in two spells and a loan. He was also a fans’ favourite at Gloucester City, where he scored 60 goals in 160 appearances.

Alex played for other teams such as Nuneaton Borough, Bath City, and Bishops Cleeve. He is a former England Futsal international.

Dan Head: GK Coach

Dan is an experienced coach and Head of Senior Goalkeeping at Evesham United. Having played academy football at an early age, Dan played the majority of his senior football at representative level in the Services, but stopped playing due to injury at a relatively young age.

Turning his attention to coaching, he became an ECB-accredited cricket coach and was involved at the minor counties level before turning his focus back to football.

Dan is a UEFA B-qualified outfield and goalkeeper coach and is also a member of the GK Nexus set-up. A small group of goalkeepers, mainly working in the professional game, who are mentored by former Derby and Manchester City goalkeeper Eric Steele, who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s goalkeeper coach at Manchester United.

Dan also works across the junior setup at Evesham United and previously coached at Cheltenham Town Academy.

Players Profiles 2025/26

Alex Harris: Goalkeeper

Alex has played for title-winning teams in this division, firstly with Cinderford Town in 2015/16, and then Hereford when they were champions in 2016/17.

Since then, Harris has played for Gloucester City, Westfields, and Merthyr Town, as well as a second spell at Cinderford Town, whom he also helped reach the play-off final.

He signed for Cirencester Town from Merthyr during the Covid-19 season. Up until the end of the 2022-23 season, Alex had chalked up almost 100 appearances for the Centurions before moving on to play in Europe last season with Penybont of the Welsh national league.

Rhys Bennett: Defender

The left-sided defender rejoined after being on the books of Bishops Cleeve. Rhys had previously made one start and three substitute appearances for the first team. He has dual signed this season with Westfields at step 5.

Jyrel Bojang: Defender

Jyrel joined Evesham from Pershore Town; previously, he played at Studley. A solid defender when called from the bench or in the starting XI.

Aaron Heap: Midfielder

Aaron represented Northern Ireland at youth international level. He began his career with Kidlington, signing on a scholarship for Oxford United in April 2016. He made his senior debut on 6 November 2018 in the EFL Trophy.

He joined North Leigh and then signed for Banbury United in August 2020. He returned to North Leigh, where he was a regular for two seasons, making 69 appearances before becoming a Robin.

Amer Awadh: Midfielder

28-year-old Amer Awadh is an attacking midfielder who came through the youth system at Oxford City, playing primarily for their Nomads side, though he progressed to make a few first-team appearances.

He had been playing for Fanja SC in Oman before joining Banbury United in February 2018, for whom he made 84 appearances.

In 2021-22, he started the season at Nuneaton Borough before moving to North Leigh later that term where he helped the club to promotion through the play-offs. For the Oxfordshire outfit, he turned out on 70 occasions, scoring 6 goals.

Amer captained the Robins promotion side in 2024/25 and continues in the role this season.

Reegan Messenger: Midfielder

Reegan has come through from the Cirencester Town Juniors to reach the First Team and during last season appeared in 35 of the 39 matches played, scoring 8 goals, and reached 77 appearances in total (62 starts, 15 as a substitute, scoring 18 goals). 47 appearances as a Robin last season, 2024/25 brought 13 goals.

Josh Barlow: Midfielder

Josh started his career at Cheltenham before making the move to the Salop Academy in the 2020/21 season. Whilst impressing in the middle of the park, Steve Cotterill, the Shrewsbury manager, took a shine to Barlow and rewarded him by naming him on the bench towards the end of 21/22 season as a scholar.

During the 22/23 season, Josh started three games in the EFL Trophy, making his debut in a 2-1 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He went on to feature twice more in the same competition, with Shrewsbury eventually bowing out in the group stage.

Despite the results in the EFL Trophy. He joined Banbury in June 2023 before leaving them in December. A solid member of the squad with good vision on the ball.

Will Owens: Midfielder

Will joined Evesham permanently after signing for Worcester City at the start of the season 23/24. 22-year-old Will originally came on loan from Oxford United in February 2023 and played for us mainly on the left wing.

Lewis Middleton: Midfielder

18-year-old Lewis joined Evesham from Kidlington last season. He recently scored his first FA Cup goal for the Robins, hopefully the first of many. This season, 2025/26, Lewis is becoming a super sub, causing our opponents’ defence many problems with his speed.

Levi Steele: Forward

Levi is a prolific striker who certainly knows where the back of the net is. Levi has previously played for Southam United, with whom he had an impressive scoring record, bagging 57 goals in just 36 competitive games for them.

FC Stratford secured the services of the forward at the start of the 2021/22 season. In 19 appearances, he scored 16 goals. He moved to Easington Sports at the end of November 2021.

He joined North Leigh in February 2022, scoring 16 goals in 19 games until the end of that season where he helped the club to promotion through the play-offs.

Levi then moved to Pershore Town, scoring 9 goals in 12 matches, helping them to win the league.

Andre Wright: Forward

Andre joined Evesham from Stratford Town FC. Andre was a product of West Bromwich Albion’s academy. He was loaned out to Kidderminster Harriers, Torquay United, and Coventry City in his early career to gain senior football experience.

He has also had experience playing in League Two for Yeovil Town in January 2017. He joined National League North side Hereford in January 2022 before moving to Hereford in the same season. Andre signed for Stratford Town in October 2022.

Andre has a natural instinct for a chance to score; when in the right place, his shot is deadly.

Brendon Beard: Goalkeeper

A promising goalkeeper who joined the Robins from Stoke Gifford United for the 2025/26 season.

Ioan Richards: Defender

Ioan is a Welsh-born defender who was on a short-term loan from Gloucester City at Swindon Supermarine.

He signed at Gloucester City after a trial period in preseason, having previously been with Redditch United and Taunton Town, and had a previous short spell with Gloucester City in 2019.

He was initially on a one-month loan until mid-October, which was extended until the end of the season, but Ioan left City in December and joined Swindon Supermarine for the 2024/25 season.

He signed for the Robins permanently for the 2025/26 season.

Jenson Kilroy: Goalkeeper

Jenson signed his first professional contract with Walsall. He impressed throughout his scholarship and gained men’s football experience during loan stints with Hereford Pegasus, Stratford Town and Farsley Celtic.

Jenson has been with Walsall since the age of 10, has also trained with the first team and been involved in matchday squads during his scholarship.

His professionalism, character and good performances earned him the Saddlers Apprentice of the Year award for the 2024/25 season.

The Saddlers have loaned Jenson to the Robins for the 2025/26 season. Already, the young keeper has made some important saves.

Ethan Patterson: Defender

Ethan is a product of Aston Villa’s academy, where he started the 2016/17 season for three years before a stint at Thróttur Vogum (Iceland) from July 2020 until January 2021.

Alvechurch was next for Ethan for the 2021/22 season, a short spell at Hednesford during 2023, followed by a return to Alvechurch in June of that year.

Ethan then moved on to Bromsgrove Sporting for the 2024/25 season. Signed as a Robin for the 2025/26 season.

Cameron Walters: Defender

18-year-old Cameron joined the Robins on loan from Cheltenham Town after signing his first professional contract with them in early July 2025.

Cam was loaned to Cirencester Town in 2023/24, loans at Malvern Town, North Leigh and Gloucester City followed in the 2024/25 season.

Ethan Dunbar: Forward

Ethan signed from Bishops Cleeve for this season, 2025/26. Ethan is a hardworking, right-footed forward who started out in 2021-22 with Longlevens AFC before moving to Slimbridge in 2022-23, where he scored 18 goals.

Bishops Cleeve signed Ethan for 2023-25, and he scored 39 goals in two seasons with them. Already finding the net this season, Ethan is a handful for the opposition defence.

Brandon Liggett: Midfielder

Brandon started with Cheltenham Town Under 18s in the 2023/24 season before being loaned early in the year to Gloucester City.

Back to Cheltenham the following year, and a month’s loan to Salisbury ensued. Brandon moved to the Robins on a free transfer for the 2025/26 season.

Jamar Smith: Defender

Jamar started at Kidlington in the 2019/20 season and made 24 appearances, scoring on two occasions. He had spells at Thame United and North Leigh before signing for Didcot Town in 2021, finishing the campaign on seven goals in 28 appearances.

The following season, promotion to the Southern League Premier South with Didcot Town after defeating Ware in the Playoff Final, where Jamar scored the winning goal to secure promotion in front of a crowd of 2,000 people.

Jamar was offered a contract with Salisbury and played a vital role in achieving another promotion with them as they secured National League South status.

A move to Poole Town for 2024/25 with 16 appearances before a short stint with Gosport Borough and a return to Poole Town followed in February this year, which finished with 27 appearances.

Jamar became a Robin for the 2025/26 season.

Ryan Hayes: Midfielder

22-year-old Ryan played for QPR in his youth career. He signed for Potters Bar Town in July 2024 and became a Robin for the 2025/26 season.

Kai Churchley: Forward

Kai had an excellent 4-year spell (2 years scholar and 2 years pro) with Bristol City, where he played a key role in the Robins’ successful Under-21s team in the Professional Development League Two.

Kai also had a loan spell with Gloucester City during their National League North campaign in 2023/24, before having a spell with Tiverton Town in the Southern League Premier South during the 2024/25 season.

Kai comes to the Robins as a loan signing from Merthyr Town. The 21-year-old attacker joins the Robins on a deal that will run until at least the New Year.