Chipstead Football Club was formed in 1906, when the Netherne hospital was being built and the building workers and the lads in Chipstead challenged each other to a match. The oldest club records dated 1911 show a far from healthy position, survival relying mainly on the proceeds of whist drives. The clubs health began to improve and in 1920 it even had its own transport for away games, an open topped lorry owned by a local builder. Up to the 1962/63 season Chipstead played junior football but having finished runners up in the County Junior Cup the previous year they then moved into the Surrey Intermediate League.
The club played at this standard until 1982 when they became founder members of the Surrey Premier League. The next four years saw the club have great success finishing Runners up three times and also winning the League Cup on three occasions. During this period they were also beaten finalists in the County Premier Cup. The reserves also met with success being Runners up once and also winning the League Cup. After a long battle the club were awarded senior status in 1986 and were promoted to the Combined Counties League where once again success followed, a League Championship was gained in 1989/90 and Runners up was gained on two occasions, six League Cup Finals with Chipstead being victorious in four.
Season 1987/88 saw the club make its debut in the F.A. Vase and the following year in the F.A. Cup. Over recent years the club has continued to grow and strengthen its youth policy with some 200 players between the ages of six and eighteen involved every week. At present two ex Chipstead youth players are with professional clubs, Leon McKenzie playing at Coventry City and Steven Sidwell at Chelsea and last seasons Combined Counties Championship winning squad contained no fewer than 12 players who had represented the club at youth level.
In 1998 the Chipstead was able to purchase the freehold of the ground from the Local Authority and in 2001 thanks to a grant from the F.A. the club was able to purchase additional land, which was developed into Mini soccer pitches to further enhance its youth policy. More recently in November 2004 a 100-seater stand was installed which was increased to 150 in March 2007 and in May 2006 a covered standing area for 150 people was erected.
2006-07 was the clubs ‘Centenary Season’ and the hope was that it would be a memorable one. On the opening day of the season the team won their first game and went top of the table, come February and still top the decision was made to do the necessary work to achieve the ground grading. The next six weeks saw the ground transformed thanks to the incredible hard work of the committee and supporters. The team remained top and promotion to the Rymans league was achieved for the first time in 100 years.
In the 2007-08 season Chipstead established themselves un the Ryman League finishing a creditable 15th. They also went onto win the Southern Combination Cup beating Ryman Premier side Ashford Town(Middx.) in the final.
In 2008-09 Chipstead struggled in the league, but in the FA Cup reached the 4th qualifying round for the first time in our history eventually losing at Torquay United.
CHIPSTEAD FOOTBALL CLUB 1906
B. Hewett, J. Elder, W.E. Bennett, A Dulake, W.Bennett, F. Adams, F. Hewett, J. Young, T. Burrows, S. Smith, A.W. Berry, J. Ellis, T. Sheldon
My first contact was in 1933 when we would go to the Wolf Cubs and when released we would all troop along the High Road to watch the team. Our aim was to get hold of the ball when it went out of play and then to give it back to one of the four Sparks boys, this was a real plus.
With regards to the ground, this was owned by Lord Marshall who lived in the mansion Shabden, this being part of his Shabden Park Farm. He allowed the Football club free use of the field and I understand that when he died, it was a condition of his Will that stated that the Club should always have free use of the field.
After the War we carried on as usual starting up in 1946. One day Mr Kent, the farmer said to me “ You do not want to clean up the cow pats before each match and I do not want you chasing my cows so why not fence off what you need” – this we did!
There was a very large horse chestnut tree where the pay box is. We wanted to remove it and got the OK from the Council as long as we took out an Insurance policy and replaced it with three more trees. This we relayed to Mr Kent who said “You dare plant any more trees” – that saved us a job!
The tree in question was very large say 5-6ft in diameter at the base. We went round about 6ft away from the trunk and cut all the roots and left it standing about three weeks until we could borrow a tractor to pull it down. When we got the tractor and pulled it over we found there were no roots going down and it could have blown over anytime!
To raise money before the Second World War a football sweep was organised. I do not remember how much you paid but I do recall Bill Sparks from Outwood Lane calling on Friday evening with the ticket handwritten cut out of an exercise book. His cycle lamp was fuelled by acetylene gas (water dripping on carbide).
A letter dated November 1923 (see photocopy) from the Headmaster of Chipstead School who ran the football club asked the local builder Billy Matthews to transport the team to Merstham in his lorry for a sum not exceeding £1. As it was a short journey the lorry need not be too spick and span!
When starting up after the War we changed in a cow shed and used Tilley lamps due to the lack of windows. The one “luxury” was the hot water brought over in buckets from Mr and Mrs Pink’s lodge over the road. This “luxury” was for the opposition team, as we kept our mud baked on until we got home.
We eventually knocked down the cowshed and erected a Government hut which was purchased and transported from Hookwood near Gatwick. This consisted of flanged concrete blocks bolted together and now forms part of the dressing rooms. This operation was quite hazardous, the concrete sections were transported to Chipstead in Billy Matthews lorry. On the last load the prop-shaft broke when going up Reigate Hill. Much later we purchased two second hand sectional timber buildings from Givaudaun, a scent manufacturer in the Goldstone Road in Caterham. At this time the two cesspools were put in position. The southern one was full of flints and hand dug whereas for the northern one we borrowed a digger and then found it was in sand. If only we could have swapped them round. We got planning permission for four floodlights, these were galvanised pipes each with 2 halogen lamps and they were well used for training especially on Fridays when the youngsters had their turn.
In June 1946 Frank Stepney to the then MP Michael Astor re trying to get clotghing vouchers for football shirts as all clothing was still on ration after the war. He received a reply on House of Commons paper saying that the MP had enquired with the board of trade, but feared that there was little chance of football jerseys and shirts being being reduced in coupon value at the present time.
This was followed by a letter dated 16th September 1946 which read: Dear Mr Stepney I am enclosein a copy of a letter I have received from the board of trade, which I hope clears up up in your mind the matter of facilities given to cricketers for sports clothing; you will see that there is no question of priority, and perhaps you may care to write to 91 Victoria Street as suggested in the letter, to see if any assistance can be given to your Club with regard to the provision of some clothing.
Yours sincerely
M. L . Astor
CHIPSTEAD LEAGUE POSITIONS, TROPHY & VASE CUP RESULTS
1982-85 Founder members of Surrey Premier League
Surrey Premier League runner-up (on goal difference)
1986-87 Joined Combined Counties League
1989-90 Combined Counties League Champions
1990-91 Combined Counties League runner-up
1992-93 Combined Counties League runner-up (on goal difference)
1995-96 Combined Counties League runner-up
1998-99 Missed runner-up spot by goal difference
SEASON LEAGUE P W D L F A P POS
1982-83 SURR P 22 13 4 5 53 21 30 2/12
1986-87 COM CO 34 18 9 7 59 37 63 4/18
1987-88 COM CO 34 14 12 8 64 40 54 7/18
1988-89 COM CO 36 18 10 8 75 40 64 4/19
1989-90 COM CO 34 24 7 3 83 32 79 1/18
1990-91 COM CO 32 24 2 6 87 27 74 2/17
1991-92 COM CO 36 19 7 10 68 46 64 3/19
1992-93 COM CO 36 19 10 7 78 47 67 2/19
1993-94 COM CO 40 19 11 10 79 54 68 5/21
1994-95 COM CO 34 13 9 12 47 46 48 8/18
1995-96 COM CO 42 30 4 8 102 44 94 2/22
1996-97 COM CO 38 18 8 12 67 55 62 7/20
1997-98 COM CO 38 23 5 10 79 43 74 5/20
1998-99 COM CO 40 25 8 7 82 39 83 3/21
1999-00 COM CO 40 21 10 9 88 49 73 4/21
2000-01 COM CO 40 23 5 12 92 48 74 5/21
2001-02 COM CO 42 24 8 10 90 55 80 3/22
2002-03 COM CO 46 16 10 20 92 87 58 16/24
2004-05 COM CO-P 46 22 7 17 78 69 73 8/24
2005-06 COM CO-P 40 13 10 17 56 65 49 14/21
2006-07 COM CO-P 42 32 3 7 114 48 99 1/22
2007-08 RYMAN 1S 42 15 5 22 58 76 48 15/22
2008-09 RYMAN 1S 42 8 12 22 57 96 36 21/22
FA CUP RESULTS
CHIPSTEAD FIRST COMPETED IN THE FA CUP IN 1989-90 SEASON AS A SENIOR CLUB
1989-90 PRE BARTON ROVERS A 0-0
PREr BARTON ROVERS H 2-3
1990-91 PRE LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN H 2-3
1991-92 PRE CHICHESTER CITY A 3-1
1Q DOVER ATHLETIC A 0-6
1992-93 PRE EAST THURROCK UNITED A 0-1
1993-94 1Q CROYDON A 1-4
1994-95 PRE TONBRIDGE ANGELS A 1-1
PREr TONBRIDGE ANGELS H 0-3
1995-96 PRE HORSHAM H 0-4
1996-97 PRE CORINTHIAN CASUALS 1-1
PREr CORINTHIAN CASUALS H 2-4
1997-98 PRE WIVENHOE TOWN A 0-4
1998-99 1Q REDHILL H 2-0
2Q BEDFONT A 2-0
3Q DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE A 0-2
1999-00 PRE TONBRIDGE ANGELS H 0-5
2000-01 PRE ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX) H 0-1
2001-02 EP SLADE GREEN A 1-5
2002-03 PRE WHITSTABLE TOWN A 2-1
1Q THREE BRIDGES H 1-3
2003-04 PRE RINGMER H 1-2
2004-05 PRE HORSHAM A 0-3
2005-06 PRE BROCKENHURST H 4-2
1Q THREE BRIDGES A 3-1
2Q BROMLEY A 1-2
2006-07 PRE COLLIERS WOOD H 1-2
2007-08 PRE LITTLEHAMPTON A 2-32008-09 PRE HERNE BAY A 2-2PREr HERNE BAY H 2-01Q CHATHAM TOWN H 1-02Q DUNSTABLE TOWN A 3-23Q ATHERSTONE TOWN A 1-13Qr ATHERSTONE TOWN H 3-04Q TORQUAY UNITED A 1-42009-10 PRE BURGESS HILL TOWN A 3-21st Q DARTFORD H 1-6
F.A. VASE
1987-88 EP SOUTHWARK SPORTS A 1-3
1988-89 EP GODALMING TOWN H 3-0
PRE WHITSTABLE TOWN H 0-2
1989-90 PRE BEDFONT H 2-1
1 WICK A 3-2
2 DEAL TOWN A 0-1
1990-91 PRE RINGMER A 1-3
1991-92 PRE BURGESS HILL TOWN H 0-4
1992-93 PRE LANCING A 4-0
1 TONBRIDGE A 0-4
1993-94 PRE CHICHESTER CITY H 1-0
1 GODALMING & GUILDFORD A 2-2
1r GODALMING & GUILDFORD H 2-3
1994-95 PRE BURGESS HILL TOWN A 0-1
1995-96 1Q BECKENHAM TOWN H 3-1
2Q THAMESMEAD TOWN A 0-1
1996-97 1Q ASH UNITED H 2-1
2Q REDHILL H 1-2
1997-98 2Q LEWES A 5-0
1 EASTBOURNE TOWN A 4-1
2 BARKING H 2-1
3 FOLKESTONE INVICTA A 1-2
1998-99 2Q PORTSMOUTH ROYAL NAVY A 2-0
1 ARLESEY TOWN H 3-2
2 WINDSOR & ETON H 7-2
3 TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED H 2-2
3r TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED A 2-3
1999-00 1 GREENWICH BOROUGH H 5-2
2 METROPOLITAN POLICE H 1-2
2000-01 2Q HILLINGDON BOROUGH A 0-2
2001-02 2Q HASSOCKS A 0-3
2002-03 1Q HORSHAM Y M C A A 1-1
1Qr HORSHAM Y M C A H 3-2
2Q A F C NEWBURY H 1-3
2003-04 2Q B A T SPORTS H 1-2
2004-05 2Q PAGHAM H 3-5
2005-06 2Q BROCKENHURST H 1-2
2006-07 1Q SIDDLESHAM H 8-22Q ASH UNITED H 0-1FA TROPHY2007-08 1P TOOTING & MITCHAM H 1-11Pr TOOTING & MITCHAM A 2-11Q WORTHING H 1-32008-9 Prel LEIGHTON TOWN A 1-72009-10 1P HORSHAM YMCA H 3-11q BIGGLESWADE A 2-21q r BIGGLESWADE H 2-2 won on penalties2p DARTFORD A 0-3