An impressive track record for developing young talent stands out during a decade of service from Ashley Bayes.
“I love everything about goalkeeping, I don’t know anything else,” said our long-serving Goalkeeping Coach.
Speaking during an in-depth interview to mark the achievement before setting off for Spain with the rest of the first team squad, Bayzo added: “I just try to give it everything I’ve got every single day. Sometimes I might be a bit too loud or lively for people and they soon let me know, but what you see is what you get.
“At the end of the day, it’s about what I do on the training ground and what I produce from the goalkeepers on match days and I like to be judged on that.”
Bayzo nurtured the talent of young England keepers Will Mannion, Joe Bursik, Matthew Cox and more recently Spike Brits as they emerged from our academy. He also helped improve James Shea, Kelle Roos, George Long and most notably Aaron Ramsdale during their time with us, to name but a few.
“I’ve a real passion for it,” said Bayzo. “From the kit they wear, to the gloves they wear, to how they train. Day in, day out, how they look after themselves - I want to know what their life is all about, so that when they come in all they’ve got to worry about is giving me everything they’ve got on the training ground.
“I used to take things very personal. Don’t get me wrong, it still hurts if the goalkeeper makes a mistake, but I’ve learned to cope with the mental side of things as well. I feel I’ve definitely improved as a coach.
“This club is my family, but I never get comfortable or complacent about it. The minute I do, I know I’ll be getting a rocket,” added the larger than life character.
“I’ve got a lovely family at home too, who support me. I’m a family man, I commute from Hertfordshire, wake up every morning, and look forward to coming in because I enjoy what I do, but my office is that training pitch up at Woodies.”
Bayzo’s best moment came in 2016, when we achieved promotion to League One, via the promotion play-offs. It’s something he’s keen to do again, this time under Johnnie Jackson’s leadership.
“Getting promoted at Wembley was the high point so far for me,” said Bayzo. “I loved every minute of that and I’d love to do it again. We’ll keep striving to get to where we can and hopefully we can go there again too.
“It was also a proud day when we went back to Plough Lane, were able to have the fans back in and with it a full house. It was quite emotional for me actually, having been here that long. I’d heard so much about going back there previously, but when it actually happened - that was something else! I know we’ll get the place bouncing again.”
His longevity for what he does remains undiminished and could well be set for at least another ten years in the game, on what has become a hugely successful production line.
According to Bayzo: “The day I wake up and I’ve lost that buzz or that drive, will be the day I might have to start thinking about calling it a day - but I can’t see that happening for a long time.”