Ashley Bayes

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

Bayes started his career at Brentford, where he progressed through the youth system to make his first-team debut in March 1990.

Bayes began his career as an apprentice at Brentford, and progressed through the club's academy, making his Football League debut on 20 March 1990 in a home game against Preston North End.

He signed his first professional contract on 5 July 1990.

Bayes went on to make only three further league appearances over the next three seasons and was released at the end of the 1992–93 season.

He made 12 appearances for Brentford in all competitions, including in an away League Cup fixture against Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

He spent most of his time at Griffin Park as the club's second-choice goalkeeper, and in 1993, signed for Torquay United on a free transfer.

Bayes played regularly during his time at Torquay, making over 100 appearances during his three seasons in Devon.

Following his departure from Brentford, Bayes joined Third Division club Torquay United, signed by then manager Don O'Riordan on 13 August 1993.

Although he started the season as second-choice to young goalkeeper Matthew Lowe, Bayes played 32 league games in his first season, and another two games in the play-offs as Torquay lost to Preston North End in the play-off semi-final.

He remained a regular the following season, making 37 league appearances as Torquay finished the campaign in mid-table.

During his third and final year at Torquay, midway through the 1995–96 season, he lost his place to Ray Newland, and as a result made 28 appearances.

He then joined Exeter City in July 1996, and spent three years there.

Ahead of the 1996–97 season, Bayes joined local rivals Exeter City of the Third Division on 31 July 1996, signing on a free transfer.

He soon established himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, making his debut on 17 August 1996 and keeping a clean sheet in the process in a 1–0 away win at Mansfield Town.

Bayes made 46 appearances in his maiden season at Exeter, as the club narrowly avoided relegation to the Football Conference, finishing just a point above the relegation place occupied by Hereford United.

He remained a regular during the 1997–98 campaign, making 50 appearances in all competitions with the club sitting comfortably in mid-table by the end of the season.

Bayes won the 1998–99 club Player of the Year award, a campaign in which he was ever-present and made 49 appearances.

The club finished the season once again in mid-table, with a strong defensive record only bettered by three of the promotion-chasing teams.

He made 145 appearances during his three seasons of first-team football at Exeter.

Bayes returned to London in July 1999 when he signed for Leyton Orient.

At the end of the 1998–99 season, Bayes turned down a new two-year contract at Exeter, becoming the first Exeter player to leave under the Bosman ruling, and subsequently joined fellow Third Division club Leyton Orient on 5 July 1999.

He made his Orient debut on 7 August 1999, in a 2–1 defeat to Carlisle United at Brunton Park.

He played regularly during the first half of the campaign, but lost his place to Scott Barrett after a 1–0 loss to Reading in the Football League Trophy on 8 December 1999.

He eventually won his first-team place back towards the latter stages of the season, and played in Orient's last nine league matches, making 21 appearances in all competitions in his first season with the East London club.

The 2000–01 season was Bayes' most successful season at Leyton Orient, where he made 51 appearances in all competitions as Orient finished the season in fifth place.

He also played in their play-off campaign, as the club lost 4–2 to Blackpool in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in May 2001.

Bayes made just 14 appearances the following season as a persistent shoulder injury hampered his last season with the club.

He made 86 appearances during his three-year spell at Orient.

After three years at Orient, Bayes joined League of Ireland team Bohemians in 2002, winning the league title in his first season with the club.

He left Leyton Orient when his contract expired in May 2002.

He returned to England in March 2003, and subsequently signed for Conference National club Woking.

He spent the 2003–04 campaign with Woking, before joining Hornchurch of the Conference South ahead of the following season.

He left Hornchurch after just three months following the club's financial difficulties, joining divisional rivals Grays Athletic in November 2004.

Bayes' three-year tenure with the Essex club was a successful one, securing a Conference South title and two FA Trophy medals.

After a season with Crawley Town, Bayes signed for Stevenage on a free transfer in May 2008.

The club won the FA Trophy in his first season, before earning back-to-back promotions into League One following their successful 2010–11 season.

Bayes left Stevenage in June 2011, signing for Basingstoke Town of the Conference South.

He joined AFC Wimbledon, initially as a player-coach, under manager Neal Ardley in June 2013, before later being appointed solely as the club's goalkeeping coach.

He also represented England at youth level.