Richard Garfield Announces Retirement
After 28 years at the helm, Richard Garfield will step back from the day-to-day management of Guildford City Swimming Club. The succession process started some time ago and the leadership reins will be passed in September 2025 to Chief Coach Lee Spindlow who has been with Guildford City since 2010. Having built one of the most successful swimming clubs in South East England’s history, Richard has decided that it is now the right time to pass the torch on to Lee. Richard will step down as Director of Swimming but will remain within the Club as a consultant and mentor.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to have led Guildford City for so many years,” stated Richard, “I was originally made Chief Coach during a very dark time in the Club’s past when we had 160 members, were ranked 10th in Surrey and mired in the second division of the Arena League. Since 1997 we have developed and evolved into the Swim England Performance powerhouse that we are today. With a dedicated team of loyal professionals, we have grown Guildford City to 800 members, helped the University of Surrey build and develop the use of the 50m swimming pool at Surrey Sports Park, and have maintained our top club status in the South East and within Surrey for over two decades.
“Lee has been with us for a considerable amount of time, and I am sure he will embrace his new leadership role with skill and a continued passion for success.”
Lee continued, “We want to build on Richard’s legacy as we progress into the future. We are very fortunate that Richard will continue to support me, the Management Team and the coaches going forwards. I will continue in my dedication to ensuring each and every swimmer reaches their full potential and to maintain Guildford City Swimming Club and the University of Surrey Swim Squad’s reputation as one of the best swimming hubs in Great Britain.”
Lewis Dunford, Lead Coach of the University of Surrey Performance Squad added,“Richard has been one of the key figures in taking regional swimming into the new age. Through his leadership at Guildford City, he has helped shape the future of swimming in the South East of England for several decades through evolving our Club, chairing the South East Region Coaches Forum, increasing swimming provision for all, creating many jobs, developing countless young coaches and teachers and personally coaching swimmers at the highest levels.”
The Club would like to thank Richard for all of his years of service. During his tenure Guildford City Swimming Club have been
National Arena Swimming League Champions – 2016 and then back-to-back in 2024 and 2025
National Arena Swimming League South Champions – 2005 to 2018 and 2021 to 2024
National Arena Junior League Champions – 2014 to 2016 and 2022 to 2024
Surrey County Championships Top Club – 2004 to 2025
Additionally, the Club has developed numerous Olympians, Para Olympians, Great Britain junior representatives, hundreds of summer national medallists and nearly two thousand national qualifiers. We have proudly established and continue to develop the University of Surrey Swim Squads.