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{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{Infobox Football club
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
|clubname = Merstham
{{Infobox football club
|image = [[Image:Merstham_logo.png|125px|Merstham FC badge]]
|fullname = Merstham Football Club
| clubname = Merstham
| image = Merstham F.C.png
|nickname = The Moatsiders
|founded = 1892
| upright = 0.8
|ground = Moatside,<br>[[Merstham]],<br>[[Surrey]]
| fullname = Merstham Football Club
| nickname = The Moatsiders
|capacity = 2,000
| founded = 1892
|chairman = Ted Hickman
| ground = Moatside, [[Merstham]]
|manager = Mick Sullivan
| capacity = 2,500 (174 seated)<ref name=NLCD2017>Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) ''Non-League Club Directory 2017'', Tony Williams Publications, p344 {{ISBN|978-1869833695}}</ref>
|league = [[Isthmian League Division One South]]
| chairman = Paul Glasgow
|season = 2007-08
| manager = Jamie Decruz
|position = [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]]<br/>Premier Division, 1st<br>(promoted)
| league = {{English football updater|Merstham}}
|pattern_la1=_blacklower |pattern_b1=_blackstripes_alt |pattern_ra1=_blacklower
| season = {{English football updater|Merstham2}}
|leftarm1=FFAA00 |body1=FFAA00 |rightarm1=FFAA00 |shorts1=000000 |socks1=FFAA00
| position = {{English football updater|Merstham3}}
|pattern_la2=_navylower |pattern_b2=_lightbluestripes |pattern_ra2=_navylower
| pattern_la1 = _blackshoulders
|leftarm2=63D1F4 |body2=000080 |rightarm2=63D1F4 |shorts2=000080 |socks2=0BB5FF
| pattern_b1 = _blackshoulders
| pattern_ra1 = _blackshoulders
| pattern_sh1 = _goldsides
| pattern_so1 = _2 gold stripes
| leftarm1 = FFD700
| body1 = FFD700
| rightarm1 = FFD700
| shorts1 = 000000
| socks1 = 000000
| pattern_la2 = _whitelowerthin
| pattern_b2 = _thinwhitesides
| pattern_ra2 = _whitelowerthin
| pattern_so2 = _2 white stripes
| leftarm2 = FF0000
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| rightarm2 = FF0000
| shorts2 = FF0000
| socks2 = FF0000
| website = http://www.mersthamfc.com
}}
}}
'''Merstham Football Club''' is a [[association football|football]] club based in [[Merstham]], near [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], in [[Surrey]], [[England]]. Established in 1892, the club joined the [[Combined Counties Football League]] in 1984. The club won the championship of the [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]] Premier Division in the 2007&ndash;08 season to gain promotion to the [[Isthmian League Division One South]]. In addition to the league title they also reached the quarter-final of the [[FA Vase]] and achieved a treble of trophies by winning their league cup for the third time in four seasons and the [[Surrey Senior Cup]] for the first time in their history.
== Honours ==
*Surrey Intermediate League: Champions 1952-53
*Surrey Senior League: Champions 1971-72
*Surrey Senior Charity Cup: Winners 1976-77
*London Spartan Challenge Cup: Winners 1979-80
*East Surrey Charities Senior Cup: Winners 1980-81
*Dan Air Class Elite Cup: Winners 1989-90
*Veterans County Cup: Winners 1995-96
*East Surrey Charity Cup (2): Winners 1998-99, 2004-05, 2006-07
*Premier Challenge Cup (3): Winners 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08; Runners-Up 2005-06
*Combined Counties Premier Division: Champions 2007-08
*Surrey Senior Cup Winners 2007-08


'''Merstham Football Club''' is a [[association football|football]] club based in [[Merstham]], [[Surrey]], [[England]]. Affiliated to the [[Surrey County Football Association|Surrey FA]], they are currently members of the {{English football updater|Merstham}} and play at Moatside.
== History ==
In the early years of Merstham FC, matches were played on a pitch situated at the old Merstham Lime Works known as Limeworks Meadow. At first changing facilities were non-existent and the players had to make do with the hedgerows to shield their modesty. After some time, accommodation was made available at the Jolliffe Arms (now the Vojan Indian Restaurant).
The level of football played in the first five years is unclear. However by 1897 the club were founder members of the Redhill & District League although the Surrey Mirror reports that they ‘opened their first season with a friendly match against Redhill Gas Works’ on Saturday 29th October 1904 having been elected as an affiliate of the Surrey FA in the previous September; so this may only relate to their first match as members of the Surrey FA. It is certain though that they were playing in the Redhill & District League Division Two in the 1905/06 season along with, amongst others, Redhill Gas Works, Holmethorpe, Whyteleafe and Bletchingley.


==History==
The club’s first major success was winning the league in 1927, by which time they had moved to their present location in the Recreation ground, and in 1930 added the East Surrey Junior Cup to their trophy cabinet. 1935 and 1936 saw Merstham record a remarkable double by winning the Redhill League Premier Division in consecutive years; a record later repeated in the post World War II years of 1950 and 1951.
The club was established in 1892.<ref>[https://www.billericaytownfc.co.uk/13863-2/ Merstham visit the AGP Arena] Billericay Town F.C.</ref> In 1897 they were founder members of the Redhill & District League.<ref name=H>[https://www.mersthamfc.com/history Our history] Merstam F.C.</ref> In 1926–27 the club were Redhill & District League champions, and in 1929–30 they won the East Surrey Junior Cup.<ref name=H/> Merstham won back-to-back titles in 1934–35 and 1935–36 and again in 1949–50 and 1950–51, after which they moved up to the [[Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)|Surrey Intermediate League]], going on to win the league at the first attempt.<ref name=H/> In 1965 the club moved up to the [[Surrey Senior League]].<ref name=FCHD>{{fchd|id=MERSTHAM|name=Merstham}}</ref> They were champions in 1971–72, but left the league in 1978 to join the [[Spartan League|London Spartan League]],<ref name=FCHD/> largely composed of clubs to the north of London. Their first season in the league saw them win its Challenge Cup and the Surrey Senior Charity Cup, before winning the East Surrey Charities Cup in 1979–80.<ref name=H/>
It was at this time that the decision to apply for intermediate status was taken and Merstham FC was duly accepted into the Eastern Section of the Surrey Intermediate League. The move to the new league could hardly have paid more rapidly a reward, for in the 1952-53 season the club proved their readiness for the test by claiming the title at their first attempt.


In 1984 Merstham transferred to the Surrey-centred [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]] to reduce their travelling.<ref name=H/> They were runners-up in [[1987–88 Combined Counties Football League|1987–88]] and [[1989–90 Combined Counties Football League|1989–90]], a season that also saw them win the Elite Cup.<ref name=CCL>[http://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/honours.php Honours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220225/http://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/honours.php |date=4 October 2013 }} Combined Counties League</ref> When the league gained a second division in 2003, Merstham became members of the Premier Division. After winning the Premier Challenge Cup in [[2004–05 Combined Counties Football League|2004–05]] and finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division in [[2005–06 Combined Counties Football League|2005–06]] and [[2006–07 Combined Counties Football League|2006–07]] (also winning the Premier Challenge Cup and the [[Southern Combination Challenge Cup]]),<ref name=CCL/><ref name=H/> the [[2007–08 Combined Counties Football League|2007–08 season]] saw the club win the Premier Division title, the Premier Division Cup and the [[Surrey Senior Cup]].<ref name=CCL/>
Major achievements were also in progress off the field and in 1960, through the devotion and hard work of club officials and members, in partnership with the local authority, the changing room and tearoom were constructed and training lights were erected. This was followed some years later in 1974 by the construction of a small stand with a modest capacity of some 90 people. Although unable to win the league again, Merstham continued to play in the Surrey Intermediate League until they gained senior status in 1964 and joined the Surrey Senior League. In a fourteen year phase in the Surrey Senior League Merstham managed to win the title only once in the 1971/72 season. In 1978 they again switched leagues joining the London Spartan League and attaining a creditable third in their first two seasons.
Those first two seasons proved to be amongst the club’s best as in addition to their pleasing league positions they claimed the Surrey Senior Charity Cup and the London Spartan League Challenge Cup in the first season, adding the East Surrey Charities Cup the following year.
By the 1984/85 season Merstham had decided that the travelling involved in the Spartan League was proving too much on the club’s resources and they applied to join the Combined Counties League, partly reformed from the Surrey Senior League. This new league encompassed teams from Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and Middlesex. 1984 also saw the completion of the new clubhouse replacing the portable shelter that had been in use since 1975.
Merstham were runners-up in the Combined Counties League in the 1987/88 season and the following year proved to be the club’s best season in senior football by reaching the fourth round of the FA Vase losing, to Billericay Town at home 2-3 after throwing away a 2-0 lead. They then won the Dan Air Class Elite Cup beating local rivals Chipstead 2-1 after extra time. This came as some consolation as Chipstead had just pipped Merstham to the league title by a single point.
The 1990/91 season saw the erection of floodlights at the Weldon Way ground and an official ‘Floodlight Opener’ against Crystal Palace whose side included the current Middlesbrough United Manager Gareth Southgate. Merstham's defence of the League Cup saw them again reach the final where this time they had to settle for the runners-up spot as Frimley Green defeated a tired Merstham side 1-0, after extra time, in a replay.
The next few seasons saw Merstham generally settle for mid-table anonymity; 1991/92 (14th) 1992/93 (4th), 1993/94 (17th), and 1994/95 (15th).
The 1995/96 season brought some success to Merstham, finishing fourth in the League, but it was the reserves that brought the silverware home in the form of the Reserve League Challenge Cup, defeating Godalming at Ashford Town.
The FA Cup of 1996/97 saw, historically, Merstham’s biggest defeat when they crashed out in the 1st Qualifying Round at home to Aldershot Town. Aldershot ran riot with an impressive eight goals to which Merstham could only reply with a token one.
The next two years saw some improvement in their fortunes, 11th in 1998/99 and 13th in 1999/2000; after a disastrous start which saw them bottom at Christmas.
In 1998/99 the Reserves reached the final of the Challenge Cup at Farnborough Town, but narrowly lost 0-1 to Ashford Town in a hard fought game.
The 2000/01 season was Merstham's most successful for nearly a decade. They reached the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, their best showing, and finished eighth in the league after being in the top six for most of the season.
The 2002/03 season brought AFC Wimbledon into the league and their visit to Merstham attracted 1,582 fans, the club's record home attendance. Unfortunately the visitors won 2-0. A successful application to the FA Stadia Fund enabled the club to build the new changing rooms and add a perimeter fence.
‘Silverware’ returned to Merstham in the 2004/05 season when they beat AFC Guildford (now Guildford City) 3-0 in the final of the Premier Challenge Cup held at Woking FC and they also won the East Surrey Hospitals Charity Cup with a victory over local rivals Redhill. Despite this a poor run of results as the season drew to a close saw them finished in 16th spot in the league.
The 2005/06 was their best all round season for twenty years; Beaten finalists in the Premier Challenge Cup and ESHCC and runners up in the Combined Counties Premier Division. Also Merstham’s regular goalkeeper Colin Harris (now with Corinthian-Casuals) kept an incredible 19 clean sheets in the league making him the league’s top ‘keeper. However disappointment followed when they were denied promotion to the Ryman League because their stand was delivered two weeks late.
Many of the players moved on during the close season all with the good wishes of the club; notably Captain Chris Boulter who joined promoted Godalming Town. For the 2006/07 season manager, Mick Sullivan, along with two new assistants Micky Stratford and Rhys Williams had to form a new line up for the team with the previous season’s Vice-Captain Craig Vernon stepping up as Captain and the addition of several new players, notably Michael Morgan from Redhill and the very promising Kwabena Agyei. However, despite the upheaval in the club and against many of the beliefs of management and supporters alike, Merstham surpassed their ‘best all round season for twenty years’ again finishing second in the league but this time with the added bonus of winning the Premier Challenge Cup by beating North Greenford Utd 4-1 in a hard fought final. In the league they notched up their highest tally of goals in living memory - a fantastic 100, nearly a quarter of which were scored by striker Kwabena Agyei. The Southern Combination Cup was shared between Merstham and Staines Lammas when a fixture date for the final could not be agreed. The final of the ESHCC against Redhill at Kiln Brow was put off until the start of the 2007/08 season when Merstham won 3-2. All in all an excellent and record breaking season for the club and for manager Mick Sullivan who will go down in the history of Merstham FC as their most successful manager to date.


Winning the Combined Counties League title resulted in Merstham being promoted to Division One South of the [[Isthmian League]]. In [[2014–15 Isthmian League|2014–15]] they finished fourth in the division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating [[Faversham Town F.C.|Faversham Town]] 5–4 on penalties in the semi-finals, they defeated [[Folkestone Invicta F.C.|Folkestone Invicta]] 3–0 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division.<ref name=FCHD/> They finished the season by winning the Surrey Senior Cup for a second time. In [[2016–17 FA Cup|2016–17]] the club reached the first round of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time, losing 5–0 at home to [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] in front of a record crowd of 1,920.<ref name=BBC>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37895152 FA Cup: Oxford United chairman donates gate receipts share to Merstham] BBC Sport, 7 November 2016</ref> They won the Surrey Senior Cup again in 2017–18.<ref>[https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/merstham-fc/11528/trophies/ Merstham - Trophies] Soccerway</ref> The [[2018–19 Isthmian League|2018–19 season]] saw them finish fifth in the Premier Division. In the subsequent play-offs, they beat [[Carshalton Athletic F.C.|Carshalton Athletic]] 2–1 in the semi-finals before losing the final 2–0 to [[Tonbridge Angels F.C.|Tonbridge Angels]]. In [[2021–22 Isthmian League|2021–22]] the club finished bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated to the South Central Division. At the end of the [[2022–23 Isthmian League|following season]] they were transferred to the South East Division.
However, when many thought Merstham may have peaked, the 2007/08 season, Mick Sullivan’s seventh year in charge, brought the Club into a new era with a treble winning side, a fantastic run in the FA Vase and promotion to the Ryman sponsored Isthmian League South Division as they finally finished top of the league after two seasons as runners up. Despite losing on the opening day of the season away at Cove Merstham went on undefeated in the league for the rest of the season winning 35 times and drawing six for a total of 111 points and 114 goals with Kevin Lock and Kwabena Agyei scoring 53 between them. The dream of a Wembley final in the FA Vase fell short on the 1st March in the Quarter Final when they lost at home to Needham Market 2-3 in extra time in a game watched by a crowd of 841. Merstham successfully defended the Premier Challenge Cup beating Bedfont Green 4-2 in the final at Woking FC with two goals from Kwabena Agyei and one each from Chris Boulter and the 19-year-old Matt Francis who proved to be a real asset for the club. Probably the icing on the cake came when Merstham were re-instated into Surrey Senior Cup after Tooting & Mitcham and Kingstonian were removed for fielding ineligible players. In the semi-final they were pitched against local rivals Redhill, who had been winners on two previous occasions, at Moatside where they won 4-3 with the help of a hat-trick from Mark Simmons. The final was played at Imber Court, home of the Metropolitan Police FC, against Ryman League side Whyteleafe. On a top quality surface Merstham’s passing skills paid off and they won 3-2 in extra time after being behind on two occasions. With promotion officially confirmed on 14th May 2008 Merstham left behind the Combined Counties League after 24 seasons. Adding to the success of the senior side the newly reformed ’A’ Team were entered into the Redhill & District League Division Three and they won the league title at the first attempt.


== Club records ==
==Ground==
[[File:Merstham F.C. main stand and clubhouse.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The Main stand and clubhouse]][[File:Mertsham F.C. Albury End.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The Albury End]][[File:Merstham F.C. panorama.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Ground panorama]]
*Best [[FA Cup]] run: 2nd Qualifying Round (2000-01) v [[Bracknell Town F.C.|Bracknell Town]], Lost 3-1
*Best [[FA Vase]] run: Quarter-Final (2007-08) v [[Needham Market F.C.|Needham Market]], Lost 3-2
*Highest attendance: 1,587 v [[AFC Wimbledon]], [[9 November]] [[2002]]
*September 2008: Full of FUN!


The club originally played at Limeworks Meadow, a pitch based in the Merstham Lime Works.<ref name=H/> Players initially had to change in nearby hedges before being allowed to use the nearby Jollieffe Arms pub.<ref name=H/> In the early 1910s the club temporarily relocated to the Weir ground.<ref name=H/> They moved to Moatside in the early 1920s.<ref name=H/> Changing rooms were built in 1960 and a 90-capacity stand opened in 1974.<ref name=H/>
==Current squad==
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Ian Chatfield]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Craig Vernon]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Chris Boulter]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Kristian Hale]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Matt Francis]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Michael Morgan(Merstham)|Michael Morgan]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Chris Read(Merstham)|Chris Read]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[David Smith(Merstham)|David Smith]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=Gambia|name=[[Hassan Nyang]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Chris Kennedy(Merstham)|Chris Kennedy]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Nick Greenhouse]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Glen Garman]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Kwabena Agyei]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=England|name=[[Kevin Lock(Merstham)|Kevin Lock]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs end}}


Floodlights were erected during the 1990–91 season and were inaugurated with a friendly match against [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]].<ref name=H/> A record attendance of 1,587 was set on 9 November 2002 for a league match against [[AFC Wimbledon]]. This was broken in 2016 when 1,920 watched the club's FA Cup first round match against Oxford United.<ref name=BBC/>
==External links==
*[http://www.mersthamfc.co.uk/ Official website]


==Honours==
{{fb start}}
*'''Combined Counties League'''
{{Isthmian League First Division South teamlist}}
**Premier Division champions 2007–08
{{fb end}}
**Premier Challenge Cup winners 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08
**Dan Air Class Elite Cup winners 1989–90
*'''London Spartan League'''
**Challenge Cup winners 1978–79
*'''Surrey Senior League'''
**Champions 1971–72
*'''Surrey Intermediate League'''
**Champions 1952–53
*'''Redhill and District League'''
**Champions 1926–27 1934–35, 1935–36. 1949–50, 1950–51
*'''Surrey Senior Cup'''
** Winners 2007–08, 2015–16, 2017–18
*'''Surrey Senior Charity Cup'''
** Winners 1978–79
*'''East Surrey Charities Cup'''
**Winners 1979–80
*'''East Surrey Junior Cup'''
**Winners 1929–30
*'''East Surrey Hospitals Charity Cup'''
** Winners 2004–05<ref name=H/>
*'''Southern Combination Challenge Cup'''
**Winners 2006–07 (shared)

==Records==
*Best [[FA Cup]] performance: First round, 2016–17<ref name=FCHD/>
*Best [[FA Trophy]] performance: Second qualifying round, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2016–17<ref name=FCHD/>
*Best [[FA Vase]] performance: Quarter-finals, 2007–08<ref name=FCHD/>
*Record attendance: 1,920 vs [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], FA Cup first round, 5 November 2016<ref name=BBC/>
*Heaviest defeat: 8–1 vs [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]], FA Cup first qualifying round, 1996–97<ref name=H/>

==See also==
*{{c|Merstham F.C. players}}
*{{c|Merstham F.C. managers}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.mersthamfc.com/}}


{{Isthmian League}}
[[Category:English football clubs]]
{{Reigate and Banstead}}
[[Category:Sport in Surrey]]
{{coord|51|15|29|N|0|8|48|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
[[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1892]]
[[Category:Isthmian League]]


[[Category:Merstham F.C.| ]]
{{england-footyclub-stub}}
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Surrey]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1892]]
[[Category:1892 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Redhill and District Saturday Football League]]
[[Category:Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)]]
[[Category:Surrey Senior League]]
[[Category:Spartan League]]
[[Category:Combined Counties Football League]]
[[Category:Isthmian League clubs]]

Latest revision as of 20:34, 21 July 2024

Merstham
Full nameMerstham Football Club
Nickname(s)The Moatsiders
Founded1892
GroundMoatside, Merstham
Capacity2,500 (174 seated)[1]
ChairmanPaul Glasgow
ManagerJamie Decruz
LeagueIsthmian League South East Division
2023–24Isthmian League South East Division, 15th of 20
Websitehttp://www.mersthamfc.com

Merstham Football Club is a football club based in Merstham, Surrey, England. Affiliated to the Surrey FA, they are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at Moatside.

History

[edit]

The club was established in 1892.[2] In 1897 they were founder members of the Redhill & District League.[3] In 1926–27 the club were Redhill & District League champions, and in 1929–30 they won the East Surrey Junior Cup.[3] Merstham won back-to-back titles in 1934–35 and 1935–36 and again in 1949–50 and 1950–51, after which they moved up to the Surrey Intermediate League, going on to win the league at the first attempt.[3] In 1965 the club moved up to the Surrey Senior League.[4] They were champions in 1971–72, but left the league in 1978 to join the London Spartan League,[4] largely composed of clubs to the north of London. Their first season in the league saw them win its Challenge Cup and the Surrey Senior Charity Cup, before winning the East Surrey Charities Cup in 1979–80.[3]

In 1984 Merstham transferred to the Surrey-centred Combined Counties League to reduce their travelling.[3] They were runners-up in 1987–88 and 1989–90, a season that also saw them win the Elite Cup.[5] When the league gained a second division in 2003, Merstham became members of the Premier Division. After winning the Premier Challenge Cup in 2004–05 and finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division in 2005–06 and 2006–07 (also winning the Premier Challenge Cup and the Southern Combination Challenge Cup),[5][3] the 2007–08 season saw the club win the Premier Division title, the Premier Division Cup and the Surrey Senior Cup.[5]

Winning the Combined Counties League title resulted in Merstham being promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League. In 2014–15 they finished fourth in the division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Faversham Town 5–4 on penalties in the semi-finals, they defeated Folkestone Invicta 3–0 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division.[4] They finished the season by winning the Surrey Senior Cup for a second time. In 2016–17 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 5–0 at home to Oxford United in front of a record crowd of 1,920.[6] They won the Surrey Senior Cup again in 2017–18.[7] The 2018–19 season saw them finish fifth in the Premier Division. In the subsequent play-offs, they beat Carshalton Athletic 2–1 in the semi-finals before losing the final 2–0 to Tonbridge Angels. In 2021–22 the club finished bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated to the South Central Division. At the end of the following season they were transferred to the South East Division.

Ground

[edit]
The Main stand and clubhouse
The Albury End
Ground panorama

The club originally played at Limeworks Meadow, a pitch based in the Merstham Lime Works.[3] Players initially had to change in nearby hedges before being allowed to use the nearby Jollieffe Arms pub.[3] In the early 1910s the club temporarily relocated to the Weir ground.[3] They moved to Moatside in the early 1920s.[3] Changing rooms were built in 1960 and a 90-capacity stand opened in 1974.[3]

Floodlights were erected during the 1990–91 season and were inaugurated with a friendly match against Crystal Palace.[3] A record attendance of 1,587 was set on 9 November 2002 for a league match against AFC Wimbledon. This was broken in 2016 when 1,920 watched the club's FA Cup first round match against Oxford United.[6]

Honours

[edit]
  • Combined Counties League
    • Premier Division champions 2007–08
    • Premier Challenge Cup winners 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08
    • Dan Air Class Elite Cup winners 1989–90
  • London Spartan League
    • Challenge Cup winners 1978–79
  • Surrey Senior League
    • Champions 1971–72
  • Surrey Intermediate League
    • Champions 1952–53
  • Redhill and District League
    • Champions 1926–27 1934–35, 1935–36. 1949–50, 1950–51
  • Surrey Senior Cup
    • Winners 2007–08, 2015–16, 2017–18
  • Surrey Senior Charity Cup
    • Winners 1978–79
  • East Surrey Charities Cup
    • Winners 1979–80
  • East Surrey Junior Cup
    • Winners 1929–30
  • East Surrey Hospitals Charity Cup
    • Winners 2004–05[3]
  • Southern Combination Challenge Cup
    • Winners 2006–07 (shared)

Records

[edit]
  • Best FA Cup performance: First round, 2016–17[4]
  • Best FA Trophy performance: Second qualifying round, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2016–17[4]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 2007–08[4]
  • Record attendance: 1,920 vs Oxford United, FA Cup first round, 5 November 2016[6]
  • Heaviest defeat: 8–1 vs Aldershot Town, FA Cup first qualifying round, 1996–97[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p344 ISBN 978-1869833695
  2. ^ Merstham visit the AGP Arena Billericay Town F.C.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Our history Merstam F.C.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Merstham at the Football Club History Database
  5. ^ a b c Honours Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Combined Counties League
  6. ^ a b c FA Cup: Oxford United chairman donates gate receipts share to Merstham BBC Sport, 7 November 2016
  7. ^ Merstham - Trophies Soccerway
[edit]

51°15′29″N 0°8′48″W / 51.25806°N 0.14667°W / 51.25806; -0.14667

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