Merstham F.C.
Full name | Merstham Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Moatsiders | ||
Founded | 1892 | ||
Ground |
Moatside, Merstham, Surrey | ||
Capacity | 2,000 | ||
Chairman | Chris Chapman | ||
Manager | Hayden Bird | ||
League | Isthmian League Premier Division | ||
2015–16 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 10th | ||
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Merstham Football Club is a football club based in Merstham, near Redhill, in Surrey, England. They play in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League after promotion in 2015. The club is affiliated to the Surrey County Football Association.[1]
History
Established in 1892, the club became a founder member of the Redhill and District League in 1897.[2] The club went on to win the Redhill and District League for the first time at the end of the 1926–27 season, also repeating the feat they repeated four more times.[1] After their last success in the Redhill and District League in the 1950–51 season the club applied to join the Surrey Intermediate league and in 1952 they were admitted to the Eastern section of the Surrey Intermediate League.[2]
In their first season in the Intermediate league they went on to win the title.[1] The club then joined the Surrey Senior League in 1964, and in their seventh season in the league became champions at the end of the 1970–71 season.[3] In the 1974–75 season the club played in their first national competition by competing in the FA Vase, losing to Horley Town in the first round.[3] In 1978 they joined the London Spartan League and finished in third place in their first two seasons. Their time in the London Spartan League also saw them make their debut in the FA Cup, losing to Hendon in the First Qualifying round.[3]
In 1984 they joined the Combined Counties Football League finishing runner-up in 1987–88 and again in 1989–90.[3] After the club finished as runners up twice of the Combined Counties League in a row for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, the club went on to win the championship as well as completing the treble of the Surrey Senior Cup and the Combined Counties League Challenge Cup. This triple success was followed with promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South.[4]
In the 2015–16 season, Merstham were promoted to the Ryman Premier Division. After finishing 4th in the regular season, they met Faversham Town in the Play-off Semi Final, where they prevailed on penalties after a goalless draw in 120mins. In the final, they visited second-placed Folkestone. Merstham ran out 3–0 winners, winning a place in the Ryman Premier Division for the first time in their history.[3][5] The average attendance for the season stands at 201.[6]
In 2016–17 Merstham embarked on their best-ever FA Cup run, reaching the first round proper where they met League One opponents Oxford United F.C. The match represented a windfall for the club as they were drawn as the home team and the match was selected for "live" screening on BT Sport, netting them £67,000, more than the club's annual playing budget.[7] The Moatsiders eventually lost the game by 5 goals, although the game was more closely fought than the scoreline suggested.[8] The game also saw the attendance record, which previously stood at 1,587 v AFC Wimbledon on 9 November 2002, broken.[1] The Moatsiders welcomed 1,920 into the stadium, including 450 Oxford fans.[6]
Ground
Merstham play their home games at Moatside on Weldon Way in Merstham. Floodlights were erected in the 1990–91 season at the Weldon Way ground and were inaugurated in an official ‘Floodlight Opener’ against Crystal Palace.
Honours
League honours
- Isthmian League Division One South:[3]
- Play-off winners (1): 2014–15
- Combined Counties League:[3]
- Winners (1): 2007–08
- Runners-up (4): 1987–88, 1989–90, 2005–06, 2006–07
- Surrey Senior League:[3]
- Winners (1): 1971–72
- Surrey Intermediate League:[2]
- Winners (1): 1952–53
- Redhill and District League:[3]
- Winners (4): 1934–35, 1935–36. 1949–50, 1950–51
Cup honours
- Surrey Senior Cup[9]
- Winners (2): 2007–08, 2015–16
- Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup[10][11][12][13]
- Winners (3): 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Runners-Up (1): 2005–06
- Surrey Senior Charity Cup
- Winners (1): 1976–77
- London Spartan League Challenge Cup
- Winners (1): 1979–80
- East Surrey Charities Senior Cup[14]
- Winners (1): 1979–80, 1980–81
- Surrey Lower Junior Cup:[15]
- Runners up (1): 1939–40
- Dan Air Class Elite Cup
- Winners (1): 1989–90
- East Surrey Charity Cup[1]
- Winners (3): 1998–99, 2004–05, 2006–07
- Runners-Up (1): 2005–06
- Horley Hospital Cup:[14]
- Runners-Up (1): 1935–36
Club records
- Highest League Position:[3] Isthmian League Premier Division: 10th (2015–16)
- Best FA Cup run:[3] 1st Proper Round (2016–17) v Oxford United
- Best FA Trophy run:[3] 2nd Qualifying Round (2009–10, 2012–13*)
- Best FA Vase run:[3] Quarter-Final (2007–08) v Needham Market, Lost 2–3
- Best Isthmian League Cup run: 2nd Round (2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12)
- Highest attendance:[6] 1,920 v Oxford United F.C., 5 November 2016
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
- Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
- Players with full international caps.
Former coaches
- Managers/Coaches that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
- Managers/Coaches with full international caps.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "History of Merstham FC". Mersthamfc.co.uk. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 3 "News Story". Dulwichhamletfc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 MERSTHAM at the Football Club History Database
- ↑ Salmonboy (13 April 2009). "He's Got the Wrong Shirt: Merstham FC 0–0 Chipstead FC". Gotthewrongshirt.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Club of the Year award for Merstham FC – Sport". getsurrey. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Merstham 0–5 Oxford United: FA Cup minnows crash out". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
- ↑ "Merstham Cup bonanza can put minnows on a roll". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
- ↑ McVeigh, Niall (2016-11-05). "Merstham 0–5 Oxford United: FA Cup first round – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
- ↑ "Saturday Senior Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ↑ "CCL Cup Draw Page". Ccleague.co.uk. 24 July 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "CCL Cup Draw Page". Ccleague.co.uk. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "CCL Cup Draw Page". Ccleague.co.uk. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "CCL Cup Draw Page". Ccleague.co.uk. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 "History | Lingfield Youth Football Club". Lingfieldyouthfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ↑ "Saturday Lower Junior Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
External links
Coordinates: 51°15′29.401″N 0°8′47.810″W / 51.25816694°N 0.14661389°W