Egham Town F.C.

Egham Town
Full name Egham Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Sarnies
Founded 1963
Ground The Runnymede Stadium, Egham
Ground Capacity 5,565
Manager Gary Meakin
League Southern League Division One Central
2015–16 Southern League Division One Central, 3rd

Egham Town Football Club is a football club based in the town of Egham, in Surrey, England. They play in the Southern Football League.

First Team

Manager: Gary Meakin Asst. Mgr: TBC

Secretary: Daniel Bennett

Youth Team

Manager:

Secretary: Joshh Henry

Staff

Chairman: Patrick Bennett

Director of Football: Colin Bartholomew

History

Egham Town's forerunners were a team called Runnymede Rovers who were established in 1877 and played in red and white - colours the present club have now adopted as their own. Rovers were reformed as Egham FC in 1905 and were founder members of the Surrey Senior League, claiming the inaugural Championship. The club had an unsuccessful six-year spell in the Spartan League between 1928 and 1933[1] before returning to the Surrey Senior League, in which they played until disbanding upon the outbreak of World War II. Unlike many clubs, Egham FC did not reform at the end of the War and it was not until a public meeting at the town's Literary Institute on December 9, 1963 that the present club came into being. The local council offered the use of part of a recreation ground for the new club to play on and this remains the club's home, although it is now an impressive ground for a club of Egham Town's stature. The former park has been developed into the Runnymede Stadium as it is known today. The ground has cover on all sides.

Having played in the Parthenon League in 1964-65 season, Town returned to the Surrey Senior League in 1965, and then moved back into the Spartan League, claiming the title in 1971-72. They were then elected into the Athenian League and captured the Second Division Championship at the first attempt in 1974-75 and finishing as First Division runners-up the following season. When the Isthmian League expanded in 1977, the Sarnies were duly elected but after finishing 6th in their first season success always eluded them. They have reached the fourth round of the FA Vase once in their history - the 1984-85 season. They narrowly missed promotion from the final season of the regionalised Division Two in 1990-91, when what was Divisions Two North and South was reorganised for the following season as Two and Three. Egham finished third in Division Two South with a tally of 87 points and 100 goals - both would have been good enough in almost any other season to secure one of the two promotion spots. In that season, they also had the best ever run in the FA Cup, reaching the 4th Qualifying Round before losing at Telford United. The 1991-92 season saw the Sarnies reach the Finals of the Surrey Senior Cup and Loctite Trophy but lose both. The club then went into a decline that culminated in relegation from Division Two of the Isthmian League in 1997-98.

For season 1991-92 the Club was promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League as part of a re-organisation of non-league football and in 1997-98 were relegated to Isthmian Division 3. That started badly with a 0-9 defeat at Camberley Town. We were switched to the Southern League in 2004, which proved disastrous, as the travelling and a small budget virtually guaranteed the final finish of bottom, with 22 points. In the 2005-06 season they played in the Isthmian League Division Two but as a result of the restructuring of non-league football the club entered the Combined Counties League Premier Division. Season 2006-07 saw the appointment of first-time manager and former Egham Town defender Jack McKinlay, who resigned early into the following season as some heavy losses in the early part of the season prefaced a season long battle against relegation. They did however, enjoy a league cup run to the semi-finals, where they lost to Bedfont Green. Despite pre-season optimism, the club continued to struggle during 2008-2009 with the loss through injury of the previous season's top marksman, Jamie Thornby, hitting them hard. This led to another change in management, this time with former player Steve Baker taking the reins. He steadied the ship, and the campaign ended with four straight wins and a final league position of 13th place with 56 points. Baker's first full season saw the club finish 4th after a long unbeaten run, which success gave the club byes for the first two rounds of the FA Vase. However, even with some fine wins, John Pomroy (who had joined the club at the start of the season from neighbours and rivals Chertsey Town) scoring 26 goals, and, at one stage early in season 2010-2011 returning to 4th position, it was felt by the Chairman that change was needed.

With a new management trio of John Hamsher, who had a playing history at a very high level, former player Wayne Noad, and well-respected youth coach Colin Bartholomew an increased emphasis on blending youth with experience for season 2011-2012 certainly paid dividends. The first team, aided by 31 goals from Dale Marvell, were only pipped for a 3rd-place finish on the last day of a season in which Egham registered, in an opening day 2-2 draw at Farnham Town, their 400th CCL Premier Division goal (from Marvell), and on the last day of the season, against the same opposition, their 500th, with a Marvell free kick. Just as eye-catching was the success of the brand new Under 18s, who were a revelation. with their capture of an historic debut season double of the Southern Youth League Central Section Championship and the League Cup, secured in an excellent match at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane stadium with a 3-2 win over South Park. Under Bartholomew’s watchful gaze, and superbly assisted by John Cane, several Under 18s played for the first team, all demonstrating an ability to bridge the gap between the two levels. Chief among these was striker Brendan Matthew, with 8 goals for the Firsts and over 30 for the Youth.

Season 2012-13 started with the club expecting to progress under the same management but after ten games Hamsher and Noad jumped ship to join Ryman One South side Chipstead, taking half a dozen players with them. The vacant managerial slot was taken by Lee Pasmore, who rejoined the club last season after spending some of his earlier career with the Sarnies but was badly injured in the opening game of season 2012-13 at Sandhurst Town. He called on the services of former boss Jack McKinlay, who was joined in his return by another former player, Neerav Patel. Thereafter the season just got better and better, with some fantastic performances against Windsor, Cove, Badshot Lea and a memorable 3-1 home win against eventual runners-up Guernsey seeing the Sarnies creep up the table before taking up residence in first place. Appalling weather disrupted every club’s preparations, especially those of the Channel Islanders, but Egham were relentlessly picking up points and set a club record of 14 straight home wins before collapsing inexplicably by 1-6 to relegation threatened Hartley Wintney. That gave Guernsey hope. They had to finish the season with four games in as many days after season-long issues with their pitch, but even though they managed a 12-point haul, including an 8-1 win over the same Hartley Wintney side which had caught Egham cold, the Championship was won on 4 May 2013 with a 1-0 win (Luke Muldowney, 79th minute) against Bedfont Sports. Among the wild celebrations there was also time to reflect on the loss, early in the season, of Club President Brian Askew, who had been involved with the club since its reformation and had held several positions throughout his time with his beloved Sarnies.

Season 2013-14 saw the club aiming initially to better their previous mark in the Southern League, which was achieved fairly comfortably. Despite the clubhouse, the pitch and the surrounding area being badly flooded for weeks on end the club spirit held and in a very competitive division the final finish of 11th, and a run to the Semi Final of the Surrey Senior Cup, left the Sarnies in a confident mood to tackle season 2014 – 2015. Even though the new season had started well, Manager Lee Passmore found that the pressures of home and work commitments were incompatible with the demands of management at this level and he resigned on 4 October 2014. Jack McKinlay and Neerav Patel, assistant manager and coach respectively, left with him. All three will forever be welcome at the club for their heroic efforts on and off the pitch. Continuing a club policy of trying wherever possible to promote from within the club the reins were handed to Luke Muldowney, the team captain, with the hugely experienced Richie Byrne assisting him. Unfortunately, after a bright start poor results saw the club slip down the table, and a third managerial set-up for season 2014-2015 was installed. In came Koo Dumbuya and Trevor Norris, both with considerable local coaching and managerial experience.

In September 2015, Egham Town appointed former Hillingdon Borough, Northwood, Wingate & Finchley, Burnham and Beaconsfield SYCOB manager Gary Meakin.[2]

Ground

Egham Town play their home games at the Runnymede Stadium, Tempest Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8HX.

The stadium has an official capacity of 5500, with 262 seats and covered standing for 3020.[3]

Honours

League honours

Cup honours

Records

References

  1. ↑ "Spartan League tables". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  2. ↑ http://www.eghamtownfcltd.co.uk/news/new-boss-takes-the-helm-for-the-sarnies-1487777.html
  3. ↑ "CCFL_League_Table". Combinedcountiesleague.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  4. 1 2 Egham Town at the Football Club History Database
  5. ↑ "Saturday Senior Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Epsom & Ewell Football Club". Epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  7. ↑ "Saturday Intermediate Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Retrieved 2013-04-28.

External links

Coordinates: 51°25′35.23″N 0°31′59.89″W / 51.4264528°N 0.5333028°W / 51.4264528; -0.5333028

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