Moneyfields start rare search for a new manager after Dave Carter quits to join AFC Portchester

George Wain spent 13 years as Moneyfields boss along with Mickey Gee. Pic: Malcolm Wells.

George Wain and Mickey Gee spent 13 seasons in charge of the club prior to stepping down at the end of 2000/1.

During their tenure Moneys had won promotion to the Wessex from the Hampshire League in 1998.

Though they finished runners-up to Blackfield & Langley, they went up due to having better facilities at their Copnor ground.Terry Arnold and Calvin Hore both had spells in charge before Miles Rutherford took over in late 2003.

Miles Rutherford spent a long time in charge at Moneyfields. Picture: Steve Reid

He was to stay for 13 years - helped by Mickey Gee’s son Graeme - before resigning in October 2015.

Moneys had lost six of their opening 12 Wessex Premier games, and Rutherford’s last match in charge was a 5-1 drubbing at Portchester where Jason Parish scored twice.

Dave Carter was subsequently persuaded to leave Horndean, where he had been since 2008.

A day before Carter officially took over, he was in the crowd as Moneys were thrashed 6-1 at home by Salisbury and had three men sent off - Conor Bailey, Tom Chapman and debutant Dan Woodward.

Former Moneys boss Terry Arnold. Pic: Michael Scaddan.

Carter had won promotion from Division 1 of the Wessex in 2010/11, finishing runners-up behind Downton. AFC Portchester were third, but only the top two went up.

In Carter’s first full season at Moneys, 2016/17, the club finished second in the Wessex Premier behind Portland.

They picked up two more points than the Dorset club but had three deducted for fielding an ineligible player, Ash Howes.

Despite that, Moneys were still able to win promotion to step 4. After a season in the Southern Division 1 East, where they finished 10th, the club were moved to Division 1 South.

Calvin Hore had a spell as Moneyfields player-manager in 2003. Pic: Michael Scaddan.

After finishing fourth in 2018/19, Moneys qualified for the play-offs - losing at Yate Town on penalties.

Carter left Dover Road on Monday having improved the club’s league position in every (completed) season he was there.

Though 2019/20 was hugely disappointing - Moneys were third bottom of Division 1 South when the campaign was halted due to the pandemic - all results were null and voided!

This season they reached the first round of the FA Trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

Carter had previously overseen a club record FA Cup run to the third qualifying round in 2018/19, and last season they also reached the semi-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time ever.

They won the Portsmouth Senior Cup in 2018/19 and are due to play Fareham Town in the semi-final of the much-delayed 2019/20 tournament.