AFC Croydon Athletic
 | |||
| Full name | AFC Croydon Athletic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Rams | ||
| Founded | 2012 | ||
| Ground | Mayfield Stadium, Thornton Heath | ||
| Owner | AFC Croydon Athletic 2023 Ltd | ||
| Co-chairmen | Danny Young, Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy | ||
| Manager | Keith Millen | ||
| League | Isthmian League South East Division | ||
| 2023–24 | Combined Counties League Premier Division South, 5th of 20 (promoted via play-offs) | ||
| Website | croydonathletic.com | ||
|
| |||
AFC Croydon Athletic is a football club based in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Founded by supporters of Croydon Athletic after it folded, the club are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Mayfield Stadium. They are affiliated to the London Football Association.[1]
History
The club was formed in 2012 by fans of Croydon Athletic F.C. after that club withdrew from the Isthmian League during the 2011–12 season and eventually folded.[2] Prior to their resignation, the club's owner Mazhar Majeed had been jailed following his involvement in the Pakistan cricket spot-fixing scandal, Majeed had been recorded admitting that he had purchased the club solely in order to launder money, and the club had been locked out of its ground by the local council due to unpaid debts.[2]
The new club joined Division One of the Combined Counties League for the 2012–13 season.[3] In their first season they finished eighth and won the Division One cup, beating Staines Lammas 5–0 in the final.[4] They finished seventh the following season and were runner-up in 2014–15, earning promotion to level eight of the pyramid. Rather than entering the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, they were transferred into the Southern Counties East League.[5] The season also saw them win the London Senior Trophy, beating Interwood 4–3 after extra time.[6] The first season in the Southern Counties East Football League saw them finish eleventh, their highest finish to date.
After four years at the club, manager Antony Williams left to join Chipstead in May 2016, and was replaced by Kevin Rayner.[7] At the end of his first season in charge he led the team to their highest finish of his reign of seventh. At the end of the 2020–21 season the club were transferred to the Premier Division South of the Combined Counties League.
In 2023 the club was bought by consortium consisting of Premier League footballer Wilfried Zaha, rapper Stormzy and former Crystal Palace head of care Danny Young.[8][9] In their first season following the takeover the club remained loyal to the Management team but it was obviously not working out. They appointed Jermaine McGlashan with the team in 17th place but he would see them finish fifth in the Premier Division South, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Jersey Bulls 2–1 in the semi-finals, they defeated Knaphill 2–1 in the final to earn promotion to the South East Division of the Isthmian League.[10]
The club settled into their new league and quickly saw it was going to be a test. After just 9 games of the new season it was agreed to part company with Jermaine McGlashan. Michael Kamara stepped up from Coach to be Caretaker manager in a run that would last two months whilst the club sought the right person. Kamara enjoyed some success with just two defeats and would take on the role of Assistant Manager permanently with the appointment of experienced Manager Keith Millen in November.
Ground
After its establishment the club were unable to continue playing at the former club's Mayfield Stadium, and so arranged to groundshare with Croydon F.C. at the Croydon Sports Arena.[11] In January 2013 the Mayfield Stadium clubhouse was destroyed in a fire,[11] but was rebuilt and the club moved to the ground in 2014, playing their first match there against Banstead Athletic on 15 November 2014.[12]
Club officials
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Danny Young |
| Vice-chairman | Paul Smith |
| Secretary | Paul Smith |
| Matchday Communication | Sean Ryan |
| Manager | Keith Millen |
| Assistant Manager | Michael Kamara |
| Coach | Harold Odeletey |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Elliott Hunt |
| Physio | Georgia Haskett |
Managers
- As of matches played 18 November 2024. All competitive matches are counted.[13]
| Name | From | To | G | W | D | L | %W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antony Williams | 29 May 2012 | 4 May 2016 | 166 | 86 | 17 | 63 | 51.81 |
| Kevin Rayner | 26 May 2016 | 18 May 2023 | 286 | 89 | 58 | 139 | 31.12 |
| Kevin Rayner & Lee Roots | 19 May 2023 | 13 September 2023 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.50 |
| Caretaker | 16 September 2023 | 11 October 2023 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 60.00 |
| Jermaine McGlashan | 11 October 2023 | 16 September 2024 | 48 | 27 | 4 | 17 | 56.25 |
| Caretaker | 16 September 2024 | 18 November 2024 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 35.71 |
| Keith Millen | 18 November 2024 | date | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Honours
- Combined Counties League
- Premier South Division Play-Off winners 2023-24
- Division One Cup winners 2012–13
- London Senior Trophy
- Winners 2014–15
Records
- Highest league position: 5th in Combined Counties Football League, 2023–24[3]
- Best FA Cup performance: First qualifying round, 2018–19,[3] 2023-24, 2024-25
- Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2018–19[3]
See also
References
- ^ AFC Croydon Athletic Football Club Southern Counties East League
- ^ a b Croydon Athletic FC revival plans get underway[permanent dead link] Croydon Advertiser, 13 April 2012
- ^ a b c d AFC Croydon Athletic at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Staines Lammas beaten in Final Middlesex Football Association, 7 May 2013
- ^ AFC Croydon Athletic join nineteen-team SCEFL next season Kentish Football, 27 May 2015
- ^ London Senior Trophy 2014–15 London Football Association
- ^ AFC Croydon Athletic have announced their new manager for next season[permanent dead link] Croydon Advertiser, 26 May 2016
- ^ "Club announcement: Exchange of contracts with new consortium". AFC Croydon Athletic. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Wilfried Zaha and rapper Stormzy are set to buy AFC Croydon". BBC Sport. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ @AFCCroydonAth (7 May 2024). "𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗗! Play Off winners! Yes, this is real! The Rams are going up! 🐏🐏🐏 ⏭️ Next stop, Step 4 football!" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b AFC Croydon Athletic in race against time to return to 'spiritual home' for new season Wirral Globe, 8 July 2014
- ^ Saga of the Rams David Bauckham
- ^ Hall of Fame AFC Croydon Athletic