History of Chipstead FC

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 club’s 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 until 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 a runners-up spot was gained on two occasions, with six League Cup Final appearances, 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. Two former Chipstead youth players - Leon McKenzie and Steven Sidwell moved on to professional clubs, &, more recently, Saidou Khan played for our 1st team, & is now with Maidstone Utd. The Combined Counties Championship winning squad contained no fewer than 12 players, who had represented the club at youth level

In 1998 Chipstead was able to purchase the freehold of the ground from the Local Authority. Thanks to a grant from the F.A. in 2001, 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. In May 2006 a covered standing area for 150 people was also erected

2006-07 was the club’s ‘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 upgrading. 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 Ryman League was achieved for the first time in 100 years

In the 2007-08 season Chipstead established themselves in the Ryman League finishing a creditable 15th. They also went on to win the Southern Combination Cup beating Ryman Premier side Ashford Town (Middlesex) 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 their history, eventually losing at Torquay United.
2010-11 saw Chipstead finished 10th being their highest position ever

2012-13 was a poor season for the club with no fewer than 4 managers - Mark Tompkins left the club after just one game; assistant Mick Read stepped in as temporary manager for a month, before the club appointed John Hamsher. Things seemed fine until January, when results took a dip. John decided to step down in early April, with vice-chairman Mick Ford taking over the reins for the final 3 matches

In 2013-14 Chipstead started the season with a new management team - Kevin Rayner, with Roly Martin as his assistant, and Mark Elgar as technical assistant. From August until the end of October 7 games out of 21 were won in all competitions, including losing both F.A. Trophy & F.A. Cup matches within eight days. Geoff Corner stepped aside as Chairman, with Mick Ford taking up the position. Mick's first task was to appoint a new manager in Steve Baker. A mid-table finish of 13th was a great turnaround for the club. Steve left the club in 2014-15, and was replaced by Simon Colbran

Following a poor start to the 2015/16 season, Simon resigned, and was replaced by Lyndon Buckwell. Unable to turn things around, Lyndon was himself replaced by Craig Tanner, who ultimately managed to save the club from relegation with a few games to spare. Craig then left the club during the summer

2016-17 saw the return of ex-Chipstead player Antony Williams to manage the 1st team along with his assistants, two of whom had played for the club in the past. Having former club players in management gave everyone at the club a lift, and they quickly got to work, and comfortably avoided relegation. They laid the foundations for the 2017-18 season, & remain at the same level to this day, although the powers that be put the club in the Bostik League South Central Division for 2018/19

This provided many new clubs in opposition, yet Chipstead held their own in the division, although Antony decided to step aside, as the season drew to a close – his two coaches, Rob Kember & Rob Smith stepped forward to take up the mantle & now lead the club into this 2019/20 season in the newly-named BetVictor Isthmian League South Central Division.
Following 2 curtailed seasons due to the pandemic, Kember and Smith remained in their management role. We finished 10th in the 21/22 season, our equally highest ever position in the Isthmian League. They are now continuing to build and strengthen the current squad for season 2022/23.
The end of 22/23 saw the departure of the management team , Rob Kember, Rob Smith and Alan Tait after 4 years in the role.
The club were quick to appoint Dean Sammut in his first managerial role following a brief spell at Burgess Hill in a caretaker role along side Lewis Taylor. Dean had been a coach for the first team over the past couple of years.He added to his team Lewis Taylor an experienced player and coach and Matty Males a past Chipstead captain. The squad is coming together and we looking forward to the new season , 2023/24.