Page 3 - Raynes Park Vale vs Cobham
P. 3

CLUB HISTORY
 Raynes Park Vale FC was formed in 1995
 following the merger of Raynes Park and
 Malden Vale (formed 1967).
          CHAIRMAN'S NOTES

 1928 to 1995

 Southern Railway Football Section -   Last weekend Raynes Park Vale travelled
 Raynes Park FC  RAYNES PARK VALE FC  the furthest we had been since the club was
          formed when the team flew to St. Helier in
 Raynes Park FC used to be based at   Grand Drive   Jersey to play the Jersey Bulls.
 Taunton Avenue, SW20 at the Raynes   Raynes Park             This is serious football territory  Enzo
 Park Recreation Group until the 1995/96   Greater London
 merger.  Raynes Park FC was originally   SW20 9DZ  Elsewhere in this edition of Into The Vale you
 the Southern Railways Football Section   can read a full match report from the game
 (formed 1928) and were known as   STAFF DIRECTORY  so I won’t dwell on the sporting details here
 Southern Railway until they changed   Chairman: John Dalton  but the trip did highlight the nature of what gets termed ‘non-
 name to Raynes Park FC in 1964.  The   Secretary: Paul Armour  league’ football in this country. The term always conjours up
 Southern Railway Team was a victim of   Treasurer: Simon Maynard  images of football from the Sunday League and amateur wings
 the notorious 1963 Beeching spending   General Manager: Marc Skinner  of the game. Of course, Sunday League is a great tradition and
 cuts, a national review into modernising   one of which many thousands of us have been or are a part of.
 the UK's railways.  Southern Railways   Manager: Josh Gallagher  Right here at Grand Drive on any weekend, dozens of matches
 1950's home kit was Gold and Green   Programme Editor: Mark Ferrari  demonstrate the commitment to the sport from people of all
 quarters, the company colours.  Raynes   ages, genders and cultures as they keep football alive at the real
 Park FC home shirt colours were Red   TODAY'S COVER  grass-roots level, but the CCL is a rather different prospect.  It
 and Black stripes (similar to AC Milan).    Reece Williams-Bowers
 Another home kit was light blue shirts   doesn’t take long in this league before one thing becomes evi-
 and white shorts.  Raynes Park FC ran   dent - this is serious football territory. Sure, Raynes Park Vale
 five senior teams on Saturdays.  The 1st   are not likely to be bothering the Galacticos at the Real Madrid
 and 2nd XI's played in the Surrey Premier   any time soon any more than Bayern will be sending spotters to
 League.  The 3rd team played in the   check on the Jersey Bulls, but there’s no denying that there is
 Surrey South Eastern Combination while   commitment in this league that sets it and other leagues like it
 the 4ths and 5ths played in the Kingston   apart from the fine tradition of weekend foot-
 and District League.  They also ran an   ball. Clubs like Jersey Bulls have financial
 over 35's team and youth teams aged 14   clout, reliable support and great facilities
 to 18.                          and, most importantly, they have ambi-
                                    tion. All of this was evident during the
 Source: Former RPV FC President, Robert   trip to the Channel Islands as it is
 Hallett Senior, who was instrumental in   every time RPV travel.
 the formation of both the Rayes Park
 and Raynes Park Vale football clubs.                         Continued...
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