Leatherhead appoint ex-Arsenal and EFL player who turned to non league after injuries

Leatherhead appoint ex-Arsenal and EFL player Ian Selley who turned to non league after a number injuries ended his pro career early.

His playing career began in 1992 and ended in 2023, now the 49 year old is flourishing as a manager at non league level and has big plans for Leatherhead.

They finished the 2023/24 sitting 3rd with 86 points form 40 games played in the Isthmian League – South Central Division, then lost 3-1 to Marlow in the playoff final.

New Manager Announcement – Ian Selleyhttps://t.co/iCTvOWJtKt

— Leatherhead FC (@LeatherheadFC) May 16, 2024

Really looking forward to the challenge ahead.

A big club that we can’t wait to get stuck into. Tomorrow the prep starts 😍 https://t.co/tFMwGIFLlo

— Ian Selley (@Ian_Selley) May 16, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Leatherhead Football Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Selley as our new first team manager.

Ian had a very successful playing career the highlights being his time at Arsenal where he won the European Cup Winners Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. He went on to play for Fulham and Wimbledon amongst others

He worked as head coach at the Arsenal academy in Dubai for 7 years before starting his non league career at Chertsey Town. In his time there he finished 2nd in the league and lost in the play off final to Hanwell town.

He moves to us from Westfield FC where he set a club record of 7 straight wins as well as only losing 2 matches in a 27 game run. He reached the play offs last season before loosing narrowly to eventual winning Marlow 3-2 in extra time.

On his appointment Ian Selley said….

I am very excited to get started as I see Leatherhead as one of the biggest clubs in this league. I have always admired this great club from afar The target is promotion, we build on last season and push the club forward with some entertaining and attractive football.”

Vice Chairman John Dean said

“We are delighted to appoint Ian as our new manager. We had a vigorous selection and interview process and the quantity and quality of the people who applied spoke volumes for the improvements in the club over the last 18 months. During that process Ian stood out as someone who’s drive and ambition to take this club forward and his vision of where he feels he can take a club of our size was most impressive. I am sure all the Leatherhead family will join me in welcoming Ian and his coaching team to Fetcham Grove.

HIS CAREER:

Youth career
1990–1992 – Arsenal

Senior career
1992–1997 – Arsenal
1996–1997 → Southend United (loan)
1997–2000 – Fulham
2000–2003 – Wimbledon
2002 → Southend United (loan)
2002 → Southend United (loan)
2003–2007 – Woking
2007 – Lewes
2007–2008 – Grays Athletic
2008 – Maidstone United
2008–2009 – Croydon Athletic
2009–2010 – Dorchester Town
2010–2011 – Havant & Waterlooville
2011–2012 – Kingstonian
2011–2012 → Chertsey Town (loan)
2012 → Whyteleafe (loan)
2021–2022 – Dial Square
2023 – Westfield

International career
1994 – England U21

Managerial career
2020–2021 – Sandhurst Town
2021–2022 – Chertsey Town
2022–2023 – Hartley Wintney
2023–2024 – Westfield
2024– Leatherhead

Honours

Club career
Arsenal
FA Cup: 1993
League Cup: 1993
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1994

International career
England
FIFA World Youth Championship: Third Place – 1993

Thanks for the painting @StevenONeill61 Absolutely love it , it’s going straight up in the office mate thank you 😍😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/1tZrnicpYX

— Ian Selley (@Ian_Selley) April 11, 2024

2/6

..professional terms aged 17 in May 1992. He made his debut in Sep 1992 in 0-1 league loss against Blackburn at Highbury and further 12 appearances that season.

In those, it was enough for him to earn both the FA Cup and League Cup winners medal at the end of the season.

— 𝖍𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊 (@hente_afsc) April 5, 2023

4/6

For the club as big as we are, our European success is fair to say very much below the bar. On the night though, we won 1-0.

That was our only second European trophy ever and still the latest for almost 30yr. That our schoolboy graduate was part of that, brilliant!

— 𝖍𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊 (@hente_afsc) April 5, 2023

6/6

There’s a list of clubs that Ian represented after until 2012, but the most heart warming must his very late short spell at @DialSquareFC1 just under 2yr ago.

Ian worked for #Arsenal for years at Dubai as a coach and was appointed as a manager of @westfield_fc a month ago. pic.twitter.com/BR1ObdbHN4

— 𝖍𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊 (@hente_afsc) April 5, 2023

Ian Selley (@Ian_Selley) volley for Arsenal against Brondby, 1994 ⚽️ #AFCpic.twitter.com/2Wq0V6mAdc

— Football Remind (@FootballRemind) April 16, 2023

This is how fans reacted as Leatherhead appoint the ex-Arsenal and EFL player who turned to non league after injuries…

@Moler2000: Well done to the Board for acting swiftly and making a very good appointment…. and hopefully we might even beat Westfield next season!

@81beesfan: Welcome Ian and well done to the Board. Sorry to say goodbye to Hayden but getting the Westfield manager is a sign of very serious intent.

@cvhdavidblues: I’m loving the thought of a vigorous selection process as opposed to something that was merely rigorous. Well done for navigating that and very best of luck!

@surreyhire: Great appointment well done to all involved , will certainly watch some games next season 👏👏

@hosk4162: Well done the Board, potentially a great appointment to move us to the next level.

@TH3_LEN: Congrats @Ian_Selley. Loughlin on a free ??

@DouglasFrazer3: Great signing there in our new manager @Ian_Selley, really looking to seeing the team come together and the games to start, welcome to the Tanners.

@Browski_uk: Very happy with this appointment. Onwards and upwards!

@footymum73: Good Luck Ian! 👍🏻⚽️Great appointment Leatherhead 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

@William21164097: Welcome to the club Ian 👏👏👍💚

@TheMabbyMabster: Welcome @Ian_Selly! Very much looking forward to meeting you and watching our future 😃🇳🇬🇳🇬

@SKontheradio: Welcome to the club Ian , looking forward to catching up soon

@vince_bartram: Congratulations Sells, hopefully catch up soon.

@jjwmoney: Ian, welcome to Fetcham Grove. All the best to you and your team.

@GoonerHillsy: All the best @Ian_Selley

@medwayred72: Good luck @Ian_Selley x

@Boizey: Welcome to the Tanners @Ian_Selley 💚💚 Look forward to seeing the squad you put together 👍🏻 #greenarmy #Tanners

@StephenCas2907: Good luck Ian / Mick – Leatherhead you have certainly got a couple of diamonds there with these guys

@TmhHill: Good luck Ian 🙌🔥

@KeoghHeath: Welcome and the best of luck #Gooners ☺️ #UTA

@pa_pga: Good luck Ian… Get some good wellies 😉

@Andrewbunchlfc: Good appointment

@kdogblue1: Hopefully a good appintment. Shame about the Arsenal connection!

@THerrick_: Welcome Ian. Looking forward to the season! 💚