Ashley Bayes - Career

Career

Born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Bayes began his career as an apprentice at Brentford, making his Football League debut on 20 March 1990 against Preston North End at Griffin Park, and turning professional on the 5 July later that year. He made only three further League appearances over the next three seasons and was released, joining Torquay United signed by the manager Don O'Riordan on 13 August 1993. Although he started the season as second choice to Matthew Lowe, he played 32 league games in his first season, and another two games in the play-offs as Torquay lost a bad-tempered tie with Preston North End.

He remained a regular the following season, but lost his place to Ray Newland in the 1995–96 season. After 97 games for the Gulls he moved on a free transfer again, joining local rivals Exeter City on 31 July 1996. Once more he soon established himself as a first choice goalkeeper, his performances earning him the 1998–99 club Player of the Year award. At the end of the 1998–99 season, after 127 league games, Bayes turned down a new two year contract with Exeter, becoming the first Exeter player to leave under the Bosman ruling, joining Leyton Orient on 5 July 1999. His first game for Orient came on 7 August, a surprising 2–1 defeat to then perennial strugglers Carlisle United at Brunton Park. Soon after Bayes lost his place to Scott Barrett, but eventually he won his place back and became the established regular goalkeeper at Brisbane Road.

He left Orient in May 2002 on a free transfer, joining Irish side Bohemians in June 2002. Bayes became a fan favourite at the club and won a league winning medal that season.

However, he lost his place to Seamus Kelly at the beginning of the next season and returned to England in March 2003, joining Conference side Woking. He rejected a new contract with Woking and joined ambitious non-league side Hornchurch in May 2004, but left, along with many other players, in November that year, joining Grays Athletic as Hornchurch suffered a financial collapse. Bayes starred as Grays won the 2005 FA Trophy final, saving the crucial penalty as Grays beat Hucknall Town 6–5 on penalties. Bayes was also part of the Grays team which retained the FA Trophy the following season.

Bayes was released by Grays at the end of the 2006–07 season, and in June 2007, despite stating his desperation to rejoin Exeter City, joined Crawley Town. The following season he signed for Stevenage. He made his Stevenage debut in a 5–0 defeat to Wrexham in August 2008, and played the following three games. However, following the arrival of Chris Day, Bayes has featured less frequently. He played in Stevenage's 1–0 victory against Woking in March 2009, whilst also keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy. The following season witnessed Bayes continue to feature behind Chris Day; playing five times during the club's successful campaign – as Stevenage won promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history. Bayes left Stevenage June 2011 in order to play first-team football and concentrate on his coaching career.

On the same day as his departure from Stevenage was confirmed, on 20 June 2011, Bayes signed for Conference South side Basingstoke Town. A week later, Bayes was added to the backroom staff at Aldershot Town, working part-time as a goalkeeping coach while also registered as a player at Basingstoke. He made his Basingstoke debut on the first day of the 2011–12 season, playing the whole game in a 2–0 away win against Eastleigh.