Welcome

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Colston Avenue for this Velocity Trophy fixture. I would especially like to welcome the officials, players, and fans of AFC Croydon Athletic

Please can I remind you:

• We serve a selection of draft beers and real ale in our clubhouse.
• We serve a wide range of food from our matchday kitchens from midday.

I would like to wish both teams the best of luck in this important fixture.

Paul Dipre – Chairman

Match Officials

Team Officials

	Carshalton Athletic FC Peter Adeniyi
	AFC Croydon Athletic Jermaine McGlashan

Recent Clashes

History

Carshalton Athletic FC 1906

AFC Croydon Athletic

AFC Croydon Athletic was officially born on 6th February 2012 after a group of supporters gathered at Selhurst Evangelical Church in South Norwood to form a new club.

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. Despite the challenge it was a successful journey.

The need to form a new club had about because of the demise Croydon Athletic FC who had become the innocent victims of an international cricket match-fixing scandal by their then owner. Valiant attempts to find a buyer, which looked very positive at times, turned out to be fruitless and with debts mounting and owners unwilling to pay what they owed the club folded playing its last game in December 2011.

Having secured the support of the Combined Counties League and the London FA, representatives of the Club met officials from the FA and made their case for being placed in Division One. Having made a presentation and answered questions for more than ninety minutes there followed a long wait to see if they would endorse the application. On the day of the first Annual General Meeting, on 10th May, the Club got the call that they had been recommended to be placed at Step 6.

The biggest challenge had been securing a stadium to play at. The club’s real home remained the Mayfield Stadium off Mayfield Road but that currently lies empty as the owners of the old Club refused to give it up and back to the Council and whilst unused the clubhouse was destroyed by fire.

For the first season the Club was indebted to both Croydon FC and Croydon Council who facilitated the use of Croydon Sports Arena as the Club’s first home.

With a place in the League secured, the focus shifted from off the field priorities back to the team. On 29th May the Club announced the appointment of Antony Williams as its first manager and along with his management team he set about the task of putting together a squad capable of competing in the division. The preparations begun in earnest with the first pre-season friendly against Fisher FC and the journey had really begun. We completed our initial season in Division One of the Combined Counties League in a creditable 8th position. The club also won its first piece of silverware by winning the Lemon Recordings Division One cup by beating Staines Lammas 5-0 at Windsor. The 2013/14 Season was more a season of continued consolidation. We finished one place higher in the League and with a little bit more consistency could have been in the final shake up for promotion.

The Club returned to its Spiritual home of Mayfield Stadium on 15th November 2014 with a game against Banstead Athletic. This was later than had been expected as there were problems with the pitch and floodlights. Despite these problems and having to play their first 10 matches away from home the club maintained a promotion chasing position all season and finally clinch 2nd place with a 3-0 victory over Cobham FC. The club also won its 2nd piece of silverware when winning the London Senior Trophy beating Interwood 4-3 after extra time.

With the FA Leagues Committee having placed the club in The Southern Counties East Football League (formally the Kent League) following promotion for the 2015/16 season the club then maintained their position in the League by finishing 11th.

Antony Williams resigned to take over at Chipstead FC and the club replaced him with Kevin Rayner as they looked to continue the progress they have made.

His first season saw a 7th place finish which remains our highest position.   It was hoped that this would enable the team to progress further but successive seasons have seen mid-table finishes.   In 2017/18 they slipped to 13th and the following year they went down to 15th.   However, in 2018/19 saw progress in the FA Cup for the first time which coincided with their first home tie too.   A 5-0 victory over Rochester United and then a 1-0 replay win over Hanworth Villa saw a First Qualifying Round tie.

Since then the global pandemic has curtailed two seasons.   The 2019/20 season saw progress in the FA Cup again before succumbing to Herne Bay United after a replay but after 27 games the season was abandoned.   Season 2020/21 started late with a thriller of an FA Cup tie against Sutton Common Rovers with a record 174 turning up but the season would again be curtailed after just 12 matches.

A reorganisation means that it is time to move back to the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South for the 2021/22 season with the firm wish that we have a full season to look forward to.

CAFC People

Chairman: Paul Dipre
Directors: Clare Dipre, Paul Williams, Kelly Riddel, Vicky Mannooch

Club Secretary: Bonnie Hare
General Manager: David Geddes
Match Day Tannoy: John Kistner
Admissions: Andy Rickman
Matchday Sec: Christian Kemble
Safety Officer: Clare Dipre
Programme: Christian Kemble
Media: Joe Turner & Lin Bartley

Club Vice Presidents:
Phillip Payne, Steve Friend, Alan Walker, Kay Maynard, John Kistner, David Reilly, Martin Reilly, Peter Clews, Alec Griffin, Gary Smith, Alan Clarke, Peter Lebihan, Peter Robins, Marc Haskins, John Hillarby, Graham Skipp, Matt Hillarby

Matchday:
1st Team Manager: Peter Adeniyi
Coaches: Charlie Acres
Physio: Dave Feasey
Kit Manager: David Geddes
Matchday Safeguarding Officer: Andy Rickman

The Club is owned by Paul Dipre & Family by way of controlling interest

CAFC Snapshot

Surrey County FA
London FA
Pitching-In Isthmian League Premier Division
Isthmian Development League
The National League U19 Alliance
Isthmian Youth League
Surrey Youth League
Surrey County Women’s & Girl’s League
Epsom and Ewell League
Registration Number: 05316320

Contact details
War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue.
Carshalton. Surrey SM5 2PW
Tel: 020 8642 2551
Email: enquiries@carshaltonathletic.com
Web: www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk
TV: www.robins.tv
Twitter: @CarshaltonA_FC
Instagram: (Link to your Instagram profile)

The Robins Choir

Ground Rules

Colston Avenue Ground Rules

Carshalton Athletic is a FA Charter Standard Community Club.
We do our best to make every matchday or event as safe and enjoyable as we can for players, fans, customers and officials. We also respect the amenity of our neighbours.

To those ends we have ground rules that we respectfully ask visitors to the ground to abide by.

Approaching and leaving the ground and stadium

Please respect the amenity of neighbours surrounding the ground when arriving and leaving the ground. If driving please drive very slowly and carefully in the access road approaching the ground and in the car parks inside the ground. Please avoid making unnecessary noise in the surrounding roads on your journey to the ground, please save it all up in support of your team!

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted in the stadium, regardless of size and nature. (Except guide dogs)

No Drums or clappers

Our operating licence prohibits the use of drums, clappers or musical instruments, they cannot be brought into the ground

Flags and Banners

There are plenty of places to hang flags and banners around the ground, but pleased don’t hang them over the pitch-side barriers where they cover advertising hoardings.

Bring Photo ID

Please bring photo ID. You may need it for purchasing alcohol. Seniors, U18s and all season ticket holders will need to show it at the turnstiles, no exceptions.

Challenge 25

If you are lucky enough to look under the age of 25, then you will need to show a driving license, passport or an id card bearing the PASS hologram. Staff will lose their jobs if they don’t adhere to the challenge 25 guidelines.

Video Filming

Any filming within the ground that is intended for publishing online must seek written permission before filming – except for the official videographers of opposition clubs who may film at the ground for the period beginning 2 hours before kickoff and ending two hours after kickoff. Other private or third party videographers must seek the clubs written permission prior to filming within the ground if the footage it to be published online.

Commercial Photography

Any filming within the ground that is intended for publishing online must seek written permission before filming – except for the official videographers of opposition clubs who may film at the ground for the period beginning 2 hours before kickoff and ending two hours after kickoff. Other private or third party videographers must seek the clubs written permission prior to filming within the ground if the footage it to be published online.

No foul language please

As a community club, many fans and customers are families with young children. Please help us to provide an environment suitable for the whole family.

Hospitality

Football on TV

Partners with Sky Sports & TNT Sports.

Every evening, every matchday, all the big games are showing on our big screens

Two viewing rooms – both with 75 inch LED screens, Dolby sound and fully stocked bars.

Matchday food

Gourmet Steak Burgers

Our steak burgers are fresh and from local sustainable suppliers – Scotts the Butchers.
Our Burgers are fresh, never frozen. Made with English Steak and cooked to perfection.
Our Buns are fresh, never frozen. Soft and squidgy.
Our Onions and fresh, never frozen. Slow-cooked for 4 hours and caramelised

WE DONT RIP YOU OFF – 1/4 POUNDER IS UNDER A FIVER

Chips

You wont find tastier chips anywhere.

Pies

We serve a range of meat and vegetable pies

Matchday food

Bean to Cup Coffee

Our coffee is freshly ground and brewed. Choose a cappuccino, latte, americano or flat white

Fully stocked free-house Bar

Choose from our wide selection of real ales, craft beers and a vast range of liquors.

Respect statement

“The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.” (The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162). The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.”

League sponsors