Sutton Common Rovers v Basingstoke Town (ISC)

Hon Chairman - Alan Salmon

Hon Vice Chairman - Adrian Farley

Hon General Secretary - Justin Salmon

Hon Treasurer - Darren Salmon

Match Secretary - Scott Wallage

Youth Secretary - Mark Hargreaves

Welfare Officer - Darren Brown

Management & Board:

Gary Brigden, Mark Bruce, Steve Casserley Francois

Gabbidon, Charlie Hands, Val Roots, Mick Murfet

Alan Reed, Sharon Streets

1st Team Manager - Darren Salmon

1st Team Asst Manager - Sam Morgan

Head Coach: Cornelius Nwadialor

Coach - Liam Joyce

Physio - Iona Ruhomon and Geoff Moxey

Kit & Equipment Manager - Tony Williams

Stadium Emergency 1st Aid - Brent Wallage

Matchday Media - Gary Brigden

Photographs courtesy of:

Gary Brigden Photography and Stuart Tree.

Match Graphics courtesy of Football Web Pages

LEAGUE HONOURS

Combined Counties League Premier Division: Runners-up: 2018–19

Combined Counties League Division One:

Champions 2009–10; Runners-up: 2012–13

CUP HONOURS

Combined Counties League Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup:

Winners: 2018–19

Combined Counties League Division One Cup: Runners-up: 2008–09

Middlesex County League Premier Division Cup: Runners-up: 2007–08

Southern Combination Challenge Cup: Winners: 2016–17; Runners up: 2018–19

Surrey Premier Cup: Runners-up: 2009–10

Sutton Common Rovers Football Club are an unincorporated members club run by volunteers. Club officials & management committee are elected annually at the clubs AGM.

WELCOME, SALUT, HOWDY,WILLKOMEN

Good afternoon ladies and gentleman, wishing you a warm SCR welcome to the Whyteleafe Sports centre for this todays Isthmian South Central fixture.

We would like to welcome the players, committee and supporters of Basingstoke Town FC, we hope they enjoy their stay with us this afternoon.

We would also like to welcome today's match officials, referee Mr Derrick Laing and his assistants, Mr Tolga Inanc and Mr David Payne, again we trust they enjoy their brief stay with us this afternoon.

WELCOME, SALUT, HOWDY,WILLKOMEN

Today’s opponents come to us in second spot in the table, and are the form team in the league at the minute, very much similar to ourselves in many respects…

They sit two points off league leaders Northwood and have that all important game in hand, which would see them move clear at the top. They have won eight of their last nine fixtures, including big wins over Merstham and Guernsey, whilst their last two matches have seen them beat Bedfont Sports 3-1 and Westfield 4-1.

Their only defeat in recent times came in their last league game of 2022 when they narrowly lost 1-0 at home to Walton & Hersham.

When the two sides met at the Winklebury Stadium back in November, a feisty encounter saw Basingstoke come away with a 2-1 win, thanks to early goals in both halves, from Sam Argent and Ezio Touray. Our reply on the day came from Matt Surmon.

Our dismal run continued with another three defeats on the spin, most importantly against our relegation rivals. Last time here we slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Chipstead in what was a fairly nondescript game, with few chances and played in horrendous conditions.

We followed that with a 3-0 loss at an improving Merstham. We looked the better side early on, but a poor last fifteen minutes of the first half saw former SCR men Adam Allen and Aaron Goode put the hosts in control and although we went close through Daryl Cooper-Smith, being denied by another ex SCR man Filip Chalupniczak, early in the second half, a late Adam Adam goal sealed the win.

Last weekend we travelled to Guernsey with no regular forwards available and a debutant Dion Macfoy-Johnston up top. We fell behind early on, saw another debutant Joshua Okpolokpo dismissed for clearing the ball (don’t, just don’t), and although we dominated much of the game we were unable to find a finishing touch and slipped to defeat.

We have to arrest the slide somewhere, and start picking up points, otherwise a swift return to step 5 will be on the cards, and that is not what the people behind the scenes deserve.

The development sides both should have been in action last week, but the 23’s trip to Molesey was postponed. The 18’s though were in action on Wednesday and won an eight goal thriller 5-3, goals from Matty Hill, Bobby Moore, Lou Kokubo, Abdul Sbaiti and Liam Moore.

Enough from me, enjoy the game, have safe trips home, and see next week at Walton & Hersham.

TODAY’S OPPONENTS BASINGSTOKE TOWN

FORMED: 1896

NICKNAME: The Stoke

Basingstoke Town FC were formed in 1896 following a merger of Aldworth United and Basingstoke Albion. They joined the Hampshire League North in 1903 and were champions in both the 1911–12 and 1919-20 seasons.

Following the end of the Second World War, Basingstoke Town moved in to it’s historical home at The Camrose.

After league reorganisation, Basingstoke were placed in Hampshire League Division One where the team finished as runners-up in 1965–66 and 1966–67, before eventually winning the league in 1967–68. After finishing as runners-up again in 1968–69, Basingstoke Town won back-to-back titles in 1969–70 and 1970–71, remaining unbeaten in the latter season.

In what was a successful few years for the club, Basingstoke moved up to Division One South of the Southern League. Their first season in the Southern League saw ‘Stoke reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, eventually losing 5–1 to Northampton Town.

The club remained in Southern League Division One South until 1979, when league restructuring saw them placed in the Southern Division. Basingstoke won the division in 1984–85, earning promotion to the Premier Division. Two seasons later Basingstoke Town were transferred to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League. Although they were relegated to Division One at the end of the 1987–88 season, they made an immediate return to the Premier Division after ending the following season as runners-up.

The 1989–90 season saw the club reach the first round of the FA Cup again, eventually losing out 3-2 in the Second Round Proper to Torquay United with an attendance of 4091 at The Camrose.

In 1993–94 Basingstoke were relegated to Division One, returning to the Isthmian Premier Division in 1996–97 after finishing as Division One runners-up.

1997 was a monumental year for Basingstoke Town – conquering league opposition for the first time, beating Wycombe Wanderers 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in a replay; the attendance of 5,085 was a new record for the club. The FA Cup Second Round saw Basingstoke take Northampton Town to a replay, before eventually narrowly losing out, 4–3 on penalties.

Basingstoke again reached the FA Cup Frist Round in 1998, losing 2-1 to AFC Bournemouth.

As part of league restructuring, Basingstoke Town formed part of the newlyformed Conference South in 2004-05.

In 2006, whilst bottom of the Conference South, Basingstoke Town defeated League One Chesterfield Town at Saltergate 1-0 in the FA Cup First Round, before losing to local neighbours Aldershot Town in a Second Round Replay.

‘Stoke lost 1-0 to Brentford at Griffin Park in the FA Cup First Round in 2011 before reaching the Conference South play-offs later that season.

Basingstoke again reached the Conference South play-offs again in 2014/15, losing in the semi-finals on each occasion

Basingstoke most recently reached the FA Cup First Round in the 2015/16 season, losing away 1-0 to Cambridge United.

In a troubled period for the club, it was relegated to Southern League for the 2016/17 season and again relegated to Southern League Division One South in 2019 after being evicted from it’s Camrose ground.

The club went through a transition period, making it a community owned football club, and was forced in to a ground-share at Winchester City FC in 2019 before returning to the town in 2020 at Hampshire FA’s Winklebury Football Complex.

The club was moved sideways to the Isthmian South Central Division for the 2021/22 season, finishing fourth and eventually losing out in the play-offs in the club’s inaugural season in this league.

HONOURS:

Southern League Southern Division champions 1984–85

Hampshire League Division One champions 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71 North Division champions 1911–12, 1919–20

Hampshire Senior Cup Winners 1970–71, 1989–90, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2007–08, 2013–14, 2016–17

Remembrance Cup Winners 2005, 2006

THE GROUND:

The club played at Castlefields from their establishment until 1945, and then moved to a new ground, offered to them by Lord Camrose and named The Camrose.

In 2019 the club was forced to relocate to Winchester City's City Ground as former chairman Rafi Razzak attempted to sell the Camrose for development. In October 2020 the club returned to Basingstoke, at the upgraded FA WinklebuRy Sports Com-

TODAY’S OPPONENTS MEET THE PLAYERS

SPOT THE BALL

Action from the Chipstead game, as Zaid Ouaret Sorr challenges the visiting defence, but where is the ball...

FROM THE GAFFER

We caught up with Darren Salmon as he looks back on the last week.

GB: Safe to say it has been a difficult couple of weeks, with another three league defeat and no goals scored. How frustrating has that been, given that performances have not been that bad?

DS: Hi G, obviously deeply disappointing not to have recorded a single point during this on paper vital period, however as you rightly say, there have been several good performances during this period that perhaps haven't seen us get the little bit of luck that we all know you need at times.

GB: With Rhamar and Hugo both moving on you had to install a new captain, and put Tyler Cox into the role, how easy a decision was that and how well has he taken the responsibility

DS: It was an easy decision with Tyler G, he is a natural leader who gets respect of his peers and he has shown that aside from just “wanting it” it has the attributes to own it.

GB: There has been a lot of debate on twitter following the video of Joshua Okpolokpo’s dismissal on Saturday. Obviously posting incidents is not something we have done in the past, what was the thinking behind it this time?

DS: We didn't state the match or officials in our tweets, however there must be accountability as football is an emotional game and a lad has picked up a suspension / fine for an outrageously poor decision that was not more than 10 yards from BOTH assistant and referee.

GB: Aside from Joshua, you also handed a debut to Dion Macfoy-Johnston, how did both those lads come on our radar?

DS: These lads were introductions from Cornelius, Dion has been around a while tbf and Joshua more recently introduced, both are young and hungry and here for the fight...

GB: Finally, Basingstoke today are the form side in the division, Dan has them playing well, and they are looking like title favourites. How can we put a spanner in the works?

DS: Every game I manage ever I will go into believing we can create an on paper upset, truth be told G, this will be tough but we’ll be up for it, we are fighting for our Isthmian survival so we simply need to be…

MATCH REPORT: CHIPSTEAD

Rovers made it eight defeats on the spin on Saturday when a wonder strike by Michael Dixon gave visitors Chipstead all three points.

In all fairness, Chipstead were good value for the win as Rovers, for all their possession in the wrong areas, rarely threatened the visitors goal.

There was very little to shout about in the opening exchanges, but it was Chipstead who almost got in on nine minutes. An uncharacteristic mistake by Liam Holden let Andy Somo free, he tried to play in Jerry O'Sullivan but the pass was overhit and the danger averted.

With that, the heavens opened and we treated to twenty five minutes of monsoon like conditions before the sun broke through and players and spectators were able to dry off.

Not a lot happened in that time with neither keeper being severely tested, and it wasn't until just shy of the half hour that Chipstead's Matt Kerbey was called into action, getting down well to his left to turn a Courtney Swaby free kick wide.

Five minutes from the break and Kerbey was out sharply to hack clear a through ball as Shakeel Morris looked destined to get on the end of the ball.

Back at the other end and neat interplay on the right ended with a dangerous whipped in Dixon cross being just too far in front of Somo and the sides went in level at the break.

Chipstead started the second half brightly and in the opening minute a cross from Dixon cleared Holden only for Somo's touch to let him down and the ball trickled harmlessly behind for a goal kick. Chipstead had plenty of pressure in the opening fifteen minutes of the half, without really troubling Rovers, and at the other end the willing Rovers captain Tyler Cox waas ensuring O'Sullivan was kept on his toes.

The only goal of the game came on 64 minutes. Rovers half cleared a Chipstead corner, but neat link up on the left between Peter Wedgeworth and Charlie Kennett ended up with the ball finding Dixon, and his curled shot from 25 yards flew over Endurance Johnson and into the net for 1-0.

Minutes later and a fierce effort by Jensen Grant crashed against our crossbar as Chipstead looked to increase their lead. We responded positively though and after a Swaby corner was only half cleared, Matt Surmon saw his fierce drive well save by Kerbey away to his right.

Tom Smith struck an effort from just inside the area against the crossbar on 80 minutes. Rovers pushed forward but despite our best efforts the central duo of Teddy Perkins and Ollie Hamstead were holding firm for Chipstead and it was they who almost increased their lead on 89 minutes, when a ball from substitute Kieran Lavery found O'Sullivan but his effort was deflected over the bar.

The last chance came to Rovers when Zaid Ouaret Sorr saw his effort deflected behind for a corner, but from the delivery Tyrese Sutherland was unable to get a decent head on the ball and the chance went begging.

Rovers now move on to Monday nights vital six pointer with Merstham.

MATCH PICS: CHIPSTEAD

Shakeel Morris takes on the Chipstead defence;

MATCH REPORT: MERSTHAM

Rovers slumped to a damaging defeat against fellow relegation strugglers Merstham on Monday night.

In fairness, despite the two league positions, an in-form Merstham would have gone into the game as clear favourites against an out of sorts Rovers.

Merstham started brightly and Brian Zepo fired an effort over the Rovers bar in the opening stages. Rovers grew into the game and a cross shot by Tyler Cox failed to trouble Filip Chalupniczak in the Merstham goal, before Zaid Ouaret Sorr (pictured right) saw his effort well gathered by the keeper.

Endurance Johnson saved well from Adam Adam midway through the half, and at the other end a half chance for Tyrese Sutherland went wide of the Merstham right hand post.

The opening goal came on 32 minutes, and it was an old SCR fan favourite who struck the blow. A shot from distance by Luke Read was only partly saved by Endurance Johnson, and Adam Allen was on hand to fire home the loose ball for 1-0.

Shortly after and it should have been 2-0, Johnson was left grasping at thin air at a cross and with the goal gaping, Zepo somehow failed to hit the target and Rovers survived. A swift break down the right as the half drew to a close saw Roman Charles-Cook fire an effort across the face of goal by Allen was unable to keep his effort down.

A hammer blow for Rovers came in first half stoppage time, and it was another ex-SCR player who did the damage. A free kick on the right was swung over to the back post and an unmarked Aaron Goode was left with an unmissable chance.

Rovers improved slightly in the second half and looked like to get back into the game. Malachi Robinson and Ouaret Sorr linked up and a decent delivery into the area was just beyond Daryl Cooper-Smith, and minutes later an underhit backpass by Read left Chalupniczak in trouble but the keeper just beat CooperSmith to the ball and cleared the danger.

Playing down the slight slope, the Merstham pace was a constant problem for Rovers, and Adam almost reached a ball over the top, although the challenge on Johnson left a lot to be desired.

Ten minutes in and a fierce Ouaret Sorr drive was saved by Filip Chalupniczak and with the goal gaping Daryl Cooper-Smith was denied by a superb recovery save by the keeper.

A mistake by Liam Holden almost let in Merstham but the experienced defender was able to recover and clear the danger and from the break, Robinson found Cox and his eventual shot was deflected behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

Rovers were having much the better of things, but with ten minutes remaining Adam Adam sealed the win for the hosts, cutting inside from the right, he curled a delightful effort beyond Johnson for 3-0.

There were no further chances and Rovers slumped to a ninth straight league

MATCH PICS: MERSTHAM

Top: Fizzed effort by Zaid Ouaret

Inset: Markus Marku and Malachi Robinson;

Below:

DCS denied after Sorr’s shot is spilled by the keeper

Sorr;

LATEST RESULTS

SUNDAY 8 JANUARY

Guernsey 0-1 Thatcham Town

MONDAY 9 JANUARY

Merstham 3-0 Sutton Common Rovers

TUESDAY 10 JANUARY

Uxbridge 2-2 South Park (Reigate)

SATURDAY 14 JANUARY

Basingstoke Town 4-1 Westfield

Chertsey Town 1-2 Binfield

Guernsey 1-0 Sutton Common Rovers

Marlow 1-1 Thatcham Town

South Park (Reigate) 1-0 Leatherhead

Uxbridge 2-1 Southall

MONDAY 16 JANUARY 2023

THEVELOCITYCUP22-23-QUARTER-FINALS

Aveley 2-1 Leatherhead

TUESDAY 17 JANUARY

Binfield P-P Uxbridge

Chertsey Town P-P Thatcham Town

WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY

Merstham P-P Tooting & Mitcham Utd

LEAGUE TABLE (as at 18.1.23)

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Ashford Town (Middx) v Leatherhead

Binfield v Hanworth Villa

Chertsey Town v Bedfont Sports

Marlow v Southall

Merstham v Chipstead

Northwood v Uxbridge

South Park (Reigate) v Thatcham Town

Tooting & Mitcham United v Walton & Hersham

Westfield v Guernsey

Rovers Round-Up (Fixtures & Results)

The Untold Game

The Italian Invincibles

If you were to guess at the first team to go through an entire Serie A season unbeaten, a few obvious names leap out. The Milan clubs, Juventus, maybe Roma or Lazio. But in the 1978-9 season, in a long, difficult title fight against Milan, it was a small regional side from Umbria, Perugia, who achieved the feat. And yet, more remarkably still, they somehow still failed to win the Scudetto.

Formed in 1905 by the merger of US Fortebraccio and Libertas, Perugia endured seven decades of mediocrity, before in the mid-1970s they found a new owner in Franco D’Attomo, a student from a wealthy family who fell in love with the city, and with a member of the family who owned sports brand Ellesse. With their combined fortunes, and his football fanaticism, he purchased the club, brought in a new Head Coach, and funded an impressive array of talent in the second tier of Italian football. The city saw success immediately, and just one season later, Perugia won their highest honour to date, the Serie B title. For the first time in their history, they would take their place among Italy’s elite.

Manager Ilario Castagner (pictured right) instilled in his side a system based on that Rinus Michels was developing in the Netherlands, and the relative minnows from Umbria took to the system well. Total Football would put an end to the Catenaccio on the international stage, and Castagner’s system would reap similar rewards, as a group of young professionals and journeymen, overlooked by Italy’s giants, finished a decent eighth in their first ever season at that level. The following year they would improve to sixth, and in doing so qualify for the Mitropa Cup, a UEFA competition between sides in central Europe.

The upwards trajectory of Italy’s most exciting, progressive side, looked unending, but football has a way of upsetting the odds, and in Perugia’s case it did so in the most tragic way possible. In Europe for the first time, and looking to push their way to the very top table in Italy, midfielder Renato Curi was drawing the attention of the national side, at just the right time to force his way into the World Cup squad.

In October 1977, however, just five minutes into an important match with Juventus, he collapsed on the pitch. He never got back up; the heart attack claimed his life. Perugia’s progress understandably stalled, and it took all of Castagner’s motivational skills to keep the side in the top half, finishing that season in seventh. During that summer, the squad took stock, and Castagner used the loss of their teammate to galvanise the squad. 1978-79 was the season they would make their assault on the Scudetto.

The newly named Stadio Renato Curi became an emotional fortress for the side, and Perugia started their season with a win against Vicenza, and a clean sheet, something that would become commonplace. In fact, the Umbrian side conceded just six goals at home in all competitions that season, a statistic that would become the bedrock of an outstanding season. Over the course of their 30 league games, Perugia would have the best defence in the league.

A last minute equaliser away at Inter Milan showed the spirit of Castagner’s Perugia in their second game, and wins against Fiorentina and Juventus followed as the provincial side proved their title credentials. The system may have put a lot of pressure on a lone striker to find ways of winning games, but with such a miserly defence that didn’t prove much of a problem over the first half of the season. But as the winter progressed, the lack of a goalscorer, and the lack of funds to go and buy one, would start to cause a problem. Six draws from seven games gave up top spot to Milan, but Perugia just wouldn’t go away.

The spirit of the side was in evidence in the return fixture against Inter Milan, in February. 2-0 down at half time, Castagner gave a rallying speech and the players started to believe in the ‘invincibles’ tag that the local press had given them, and responded with a stirring performance in the second half. Franco Vannini halved the deficit, but Inter held on until the dying moments, when Antonio Ceccarini found an equaliser. Celebrations were short-lived however, as a horror tackle on Vannini would take him out of the game. It later transpired to be a double leg break; Vannini never played football again.

That injury, along with the niggles that come with the demands of a season, were too much for Perugia to recover from. They stayed solid at the back, but too many draws cost them, and AC Milan won the title in the penultimate game of the season. Perugia finished the season with just 11 wins from their 30 games, and 19 draws. An unbeaten season, the first ever in Italy, was one of heartbreak.

Enjoy the game.

Martyn Green, The Untold Game (Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk and on social media, @TheUntoldGame)

ISTHMIAN ROUND UP

Advantage Stoke!

Postponements see Basingstoke Town close to within two points of the leaderswith a game in hand. Marlow take one point, South Park three, and we’ve impressive wins for Binfield and Uxbridge- whilst Guernsey win at home!

BASINGSTOKE TOWN had the chance to go second and close the gap on leaders Northwood- with both the Woods and second place Walton & Hersham seeing their matches postponed. Stoke, who had won eight of their previous ten matches, fell behind against WESTFIELD as an own goal gave the visitors the advantage, but Bradley Wilson levelled from the spot just before the break.

Soon after the restart the hosts got another penalty, and Wilson beat Sonny Wheeler from the spot for the second time in six minutes- and on sixty six minutes they added a third, this one not from the spot- Marcio Magalmaes-Nevez making them more comfortable.

George Reid ended the contest by adding a fourth with thirteen minutes left, but there was time for two red cards, one from each side- Brody Peart for Town and Richard Afrane-Kesay for the visitors taking an only slightly early bath. Town are now two points behind Northwood with a game in hand.

MARLOW welcomed THATCHAM TOWN to the Alfred David Ground. The hosts seemed to have hit a tricky patch, with one win from four matches, whilst the Kingfishers were in their best form of the season, with four wins from their last five- and they looked set to continue that run as Muhamadou Ceesay put them ahead on twenty one minutes. Marlow hit back, however, Louis Rogers delivering the equaliser seven minutes after the break, and the two couldn’t be separated.

CHERTSEY TOWN, with only one defeat from their previous nine- and having scored ten goals without reply in their last three- welcomed BINFIELD, the Moles arriving on the back of a five match unbeaten run.

Brad Pagliaroli put the visitors ahead on fourteen minutes, but they were ahead for only sixty seconds before Jonathan Hippolyte equalised for the Curfews.

The Moles were ahead again five minutes after the break, James Beauchamp with his fifth of the campaign, and held on to climb to within two points of the top five- a top five which the Curfews dropped out of.

UXBRIDGE and SOUTHALL met in a West London derby. The hosts fell behind on the half hour, Jack Roper with the goal, but they were level by the break with a goal from Mark Bitmead and ahead soon after the restart, Kensley Maloney with his second of the campaign.

They held on for all three points, and end the day in twelfth- doing the double over their opponents with a second two-one win.

We’d a Surrey derby as SOUTH PARK REIGATE welcomed LEATHERHEADbut they weren’t all that welcoming, taking the lead after just two minutes, Sam King with the goal. That turned out to be the only goal of the game- a second one-nil win of the campaign over the Tanners, and three points which lifts them to fifth.

We had a relegation battle in the Channel Islands. GUERNSEY’S success over the years has always been built on their home record, but this season home had brought no comfort, eight home matches without a win. The Green Lions finally began to roar, however, as SUTTON COMMON ROVERS came to call. Sam Murray opened the scoring for the hosts after just thirteen minutes, and Rovers made things more difficult for themselves when Joshua Okpolokpo was dismissed in the early stages of the second half. The hosts held on to take a critical three points and complete the double over their opponents- and close the gap on safety to five points.

TRANSFER NEWS

(from the last ten days on the league site)

NICHOLAS BACK WITH THE WOODS—Northwood bring back Hanwell promotion winner George Nicholas

WILLMOTH ATTRACTED TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THATCHAM—Midfielder Callum Willmoth returns to Thatcham Town

SPLATT THE TANNER—Dulwich Hamlet man Jamie Splatt arrives at Leatherhead on loan

SIAWTHING! - Swans bring back defender Darryl Siaw

DOUBLE TERRORS! - Dan Purdue and Manu Oke-William make Tooting & Mitcham United debuts

CAREER RECORDS

Stats only include players still with the club

A BRIEF HISTORY OF: SUTTON COMMON ROVERS FORMED:

1978

NICKNAME: THE COMMONERS

JUST A S..T SUNDAY SIDE

Ah, the cry from the Eastbourne Town fans back in the day as they romped to a 2-0 lead in the Vase, before we struck back to win 3-2.

Well, truth be told that’s where it all started back in 1978, when INRAD FC took to the field, the club being founded by current Chairman Alan Salmon. Not long after Centre 21 came about following a sponsorship deal with a local youth centre.

Once players left having reached 21, a new name came about: Sutton Common Rovers FC, which quickly abbreviated to SCR followed by whichever public house sponsored the team.

Seasons followed in the Leatherhead & District, Mitcham & District, and Croydon & District Sunday league, with varying degrees of success before Darren Salmon took the plunge and moved the team into Saturday football.

SATURDAY SUCCESS

The 2004/5 season saw that Saturday move. After a couple of seasons in the Surrey South East Combination and the Middlesex County League we took our place in the Combined Counties League for the 2008/09 season.

Darren made the bold statement that he wanted to be an Isthmian side within five seasons. Well, it took a bit longer but we eventually got there.

Our time in the CCL was full of ups and downs. Missing out on promotion in our opening season on goal difference, by 1 goal (as it turned out a missed penalty against Dorking in our penultimate game was key as it meant they had a 1 goal better goal difference than us).

Promotion followed the next season, and two seasons in the Premier culminated with relegation back to Division 1 in 2011/12. We bounced back up immediately, but then spent three seasons struggling in the Premier division before a change in fortunes in 2016/17 saw a mid-table finish.

It was all upwards after that, missing out on promotion with 3rd and 2nd finishes by one place in consecutive seasons. However, we finished top on PPG after two abandoned seasons to finally move to the Isthmian League.

IT’S A FAMILY THING

As said, chairman Alan Salmon founded the side back in 1978, and his boys, Darren and Justin, both played for the club once the were old enough.

Darren progressed to First Team manager, in around 2000 while we were still a Sunday side, something he has continued to the present day.

Justin has since been co-manager of the First team with Darren and reserve team manager, all alongside managing the Sunday sides. He is now the club secretary.

We were also ahead of the game in terms of getting ladies involved in the club. Alan’s daughter Tracy joined the fun when the SCR Colts were formed and quickly established herself behind the tea bar counter.

For good measure her other half Mark became youth secretary, a role that he held until the start of this season.

Throw into that that all Alan’s grandchildren (Sam: #forever7, forever missed; Tyler, Reece and Blake, and Ethan) all played for the club, with Blake and Reece now involved on matchdays. As you see, we are truly a family club.

CUP GLORY (ish)

We have a proud cup-fighting tradition, often getting the better of higher ranked sides.

It’s not all been glory though as we suffered heartbreak twice in finals, losing 1-0 to Staines Lammas in the CCL Division 1 final in the 2008/09 season, and the following year we lost to Sutton Utd Reserves in the Surrey Premier Cup Final, 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

The 2016/17 season saw the club secure it’s first Saturday trophy with a 4-1 win over Camberley Town in the Southern Combination Challenge Cup.

Semi final defeats followed the next season in the Southern Combination Cup and the EL Records Premier Challenge Cup, which saw a heartbreaking 97th minute goal against Worcester Park to lose 3-2.

In 2018/19 we reached two cup finals, with defeat after extra time against Walton Casuals 4-2 in the Southern Combination Cup. The club finally secured the EL Records Premier Challenge Cup. An 84th minute strike by Matt Farrell securing a 1-0 win over CB Hounslow Utd.

There has been some success in the FA Vase, with the 5th Round reached in the 2019/20 season, but it ended in disappointment away at Western League Bitton AFC when we lost 2-1.

The FA Cup has been hit and miss with exits in the Extra-Preliminary Round before the 2021/22 season saw us reach the 2nd Qualifying Round for the first time.

SPOT THE BALL ANSWER

Well done to all of you who spo ed it where it was

The ‘Rovers’ V The ‘Stoke’

Saturday 21st January 2023 | 15:00 KO

Isthmian South Central

Match Officials: Ref Mr Derrick Laing Assistants: Mr David Payne & Mr Tolga Inanc

Manager: Darren Salmon

Head Coach: Dan Brownlie

SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY | 3PM KICK OFF