Terras Are Going For A Top Table Return Eleven Years Later

Click here to find out how to watch Saturday's Promotion Final between Weymouth and Dartford.

It was April 2017, and the 36-year-old said yes to Weymouth’s offer of the permanent position after a caretaker spell in charge, writes Dec O'Reilly.

Attendances were sitting well shy of 500 - it needed someone to engage the fans again and start getting results.

One league title and a Promotion Final later, it wasn’t exactly a terrible decision from the Terras, was it?

They hope to dine at the top table for the first time since 2009, knowing there is quite a task at hand to achieve that.

Dartford are standing between the Dorset club and back-to-back glory - and the manager cannot wait.

“The previous ten years had been a tough time for Weymouth,” said the classy former Aldershot winger when we spoke to him this week.

“After a rapid decline from the National League and the club had stagnated in the Southern League, it’s not been easy.

“If it wasn’t for the volunteers, some who are still here, the club would be gone.

“To see us now with this chance of reaching the National League is fantastic. It’s for the people who kept us going. It’s a great story for the club and it’s a testament to the hard work that has been put in on and off the pitch.”

Weymouth took their place in the final on their home patch but seeing off Dorking - just.

A lot has changed for Molesley since hanging up his boots three years ago and this is without doubt the biggest moment of his short - but so far very successful - managerial career.

“When I first started managing at the club, it was such a different experience,” he said.

“As a player, you can think selfishly about your own role but as a manager, you have to focus on every role. I remember my first game as a manager, mentally it was very draining and I remember not sleeping much the night!

“The job is so consuming that I haven’t had the chance to reminisce on my playing career yet because there is always something else in this job that takes your attention.

“The role at Weymouth has been very time-consuming but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

He adds: “We all know how difficult Saturday is going to be - Steve King has done a wonderful job at Dartford.

“We will have to play at our absolute best to keep driving forward and everyone of us are going to need to perform in this final to achieve our goal.”

Full feature interview available in the National League South Promotion Final matchday programme.