Page 9 - Raynes Park Vale vs AFC Croydon Athletic 05-04-22

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AFC CROYDON ATH

AFC Croydon Athletic was
officially born on 6th February
2012 after a group of support-
ers gathered at Selhurst Evan-
gelical Church in South Nor-
wood to form a new club.
The newly appointed Committee
had just 7 weeks to put everything
in place to convince the Football As- made their case for being placed in
sociation and the League that they Division One. Having made a pres-
were worthy of a place at Step 6 in entation and answered questions Action from earlier in the season
the pyramid. Despite the challenge for more than ninety minutes there
it was a successful journey. followed a long wait to see if they use of Croydon Sports Arena as the by winning the Lemon Recordings
Valiant attempts would endorse the application. On Club’s first home. Division One cup by beating Staines
The need to form a new club had the day of the first Annual General Antony Williams Lammas 5-0 at Windsor. The
about because of the demise Croy- Meeting, on 10th May, the Club got With a place in the League secured, 2013/14 Season was more a season
don Athletic FC who had become the call that they had been recom- the focus shifted from off the field of continued consolidation. We fin-
the innocent victims of an interna- mended to be placed at Step 6. priorities back to the team. On ished one place higher in the League
tional cricket match-fixing scan- Mayfield Stadium 29th May the Club announced the and with a little bit more consisten-
dal by their then owner. Valiant The biggest challenge had been appointment of Antony Williams cy could have been in the final shake
attempts to find a buyer, which securing a stadium to play at. The as its first manager and along with up for promotion.
looked very positive at times, turned club’s real home remained the his management team he set about Despite these problems
out to be fruitless and with debts Mayfield Stadium off Mayfield Road the task of putting together a squad The Club returned to its Spiritual
mounting and owners unwilling to but that currently lies empty as the capable of competing in the division. home of Mayfield Stadium on 15th
pay what they owed the club folded owners of the old Club refused to The preparations begun in earnest November 2014 with a game against
playing its last game in December give it up and back to the Council with the first pre-season friendly Banstead Athletic. This was later
2011. and whilst unused the clubhouse against Fisher FC and the journey than had been expected as there
Placed at Step 6 was destroyed by fire. had really begun. We completed were problems with the pitch and
Having secured the support of the Croydon Sports Arena our initial season in Division One of floodlights. Despite these problems
Combined Counties League and the For the first season the Club was the Combined Counties League in and having to play their first 10
London FA, representatives of the indebted to both Croydon FC and a creditable 8th position. The club matches away from home the club
Club met officials from the FA and Croydon Council who facilitated the also won its first piece of silverware maintained a promotion chasing