Page 23 - RPVFC v AFC Croydon Athletic

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AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC

AFC Croydon Athletic was officially
born on 6th February 2012 after a
group of supporters gathered at Sel-
hurst Evangelical Church in South
Norwood to form a new club.
Worthy of a place
The newly appointed Committee had
just 7 weeks to put everything in place
to convince the Football Association
and the League that they were worthy
of a place at Step 6 in the pyramid. De-
spite the challenge it was a successful there followed a long wait to see if they focus shifted from off the field priorities its Spiritual home of Mayfield Stadium
journey. would endorse the application. On the back to the team. On 29th May the Club on 15th November 2014 with a game
Cricket match-fixing scandal day of the first Annual General Meet- announced the appointment of Antony against Banstead Athletic. This was lat-
The need to form a new club had about ing, on 10th May, the Club got the call Williams as its first manager and along er than had been expected as there were
because of the demise Croydon Ath- that they had been recommended to be with his management team he set about problems with the pitch and floodlights.
letic FC who had become the inno- placed at Step 6. the task of putting together a squad ca- Despite these problems and having to
cent victims of an international crick- Clubhouse was destroyed by fire pable of competing in the division. The play their first 10 matches away from
et match-fixing scandal by their then The biggest challenge had been secur- preparations begun in earnest with the home the club maintained a promotion
owner. Valiant attempts to find a buyer, ing a stadium to play at. The club’s real first pre-season friendly against Fisher chasing position all season and finally
which looked very positive at times, home remained the Mayfield Stadium FC and the journey had really begun. We clinch 2nd place with a 3-0 victory over
turned out to be fruitless and with debts off Mayfield Road but that currently lies completed our initial season in Division Cobham FC. The club also won its 2nd
mounting and owners unwilling to pay empty as the owners of the old Club re- One of the Combined Counties League piece of silverware when winning the
what they owed the club folded playing fused to give it up and back to the Coun- in a creditable 8th position. The club London Senior Trophy beating Inter-
its last game in December 2011. cil and whilst unused the clubhouse was also won its first piece of silverware by wood 4-3 after extra time.
The club got the call destroyed by fire. winning the Lemon Recordings Division Following promotion
Having secured the support of the Com- Croydon FC & Croydon Council One cup by beating Staines Lammas 5-0 With the FA Leagues Committee having
bined Counties League and the London For the first season the Club was in- at Windsor. The 2013/14 Season was placed the club in The Southern Coun-
FA, representatives of the Club met of- debted to both Croydon FC and Croy- more a season of continued consolida- ties East Football League (formally the
ficials from the FA and made their case don Council who facilitated the use of tion. We finished one place higher in the Kent League) following promotion for
for being placed in Division One. Hav- Croydon Sports Arena as the Club’s first League and with a little bit more consist- the 2015/16 season the club then main-
ing made a presentation and answered home. ency could have been in the final shake tained their position in the League by
questions for more than ninety minutes With a place in the League secured, the up for promotion. The Club returned to finishing 11th. Continued...

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