CLUB HISTORY - PART 2

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THE 80's

The 1980/81 season saw the club reached the 5th round of the FA Vase losing to Basildon United. Four years later in the 1984/85 season, a league re-organisation saw the club enter Division Two South of the Isthmian League and one year later another fifth round FA Vase defeat, this time at the hands of Stevenage Borough.

Whyteleafe FC 1980s

In November 1986 Steve Kember joined the club as Manager having been associated with the club for some years previously when with Crystal Palace with whom he had won considerable success. In two successive seasons Kember engineered the club through to the third Qualifying round of the FA Cup losing to Woking in 1988/89 and Wokingham in 1989/90 after having held them to a 1-1 draw at Wokingham.

A highly successful in 1988/89 saw the club win promotion as runners-up in Division Two South to Division One. During this period the Whyteleafe youth team had a number of successes in the Southern Youth League and the won the League Cup in season 1989/1990.

Whyteleafe FC celebration in checks

Steve Kember resigned in July 1993 and returned to Crystal Palace as a coach and after several successful and well-publicised stints as Caretaker Manager he now acts assistant manager to Trevor Francis. Paul Hinshelwood briefly held the reins following Steve's departure and, following the resignation of his assistant Keith Wilkinson in October 1993, Lee Richardson became assistant manager and 1st team coach.

THE RICHARDSON YEARS

August 1994 saw Richardson appointed manager. This was a very popular appointment, as Lee had been associated with the club on and off since 1975 playing in excess of 400 games for the club, and whilst he spent time at various other clubs in the area, he always returned to the 'Leafe. The 1995/6 season saw the reserves win the Southern Division of the Suburban League, under the guidance of Bernie Donnelly, who is now assistant manager.

Assistant Manager Bernie Donnelly
and Lee Richardson

November 1993 saw the sudden death of President and past Chairman Fred Ovenden. Tony Lidbury was confirmed as President and Paul Owens took over as chairman. In 1995 Club Patron and founder, Harold Cowie, passed away and he will always be remembered through the 'Cowie' Clubman of the Year Trophy.

Action versus Abingdon
with Nigel Golley, Neil Hopkins (5) and Dean Howland

In the past, the club ran junior teams on Sundays and in 1996 this was resurrected with Mark Coote becoming Youth development officer and Graham Douce, Youth and Junior Secretary. Season 1998/99 proved to be very mixed, with the club achieving good cup results losing to Welling United in sight of a first round visit to Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup, and winning through to the last 32 in the FA Trophy going out to the eventual winners Kingstonian in front of a record home crowd of 945. But a season of chronic injury saw 'Leafe struggle to survive in the league and avoided relegation by winning the last game of the season.

However, 1999/2000 proved the most momentous in the club's history. For the first time ever the club reached the 1st Round proper of the FA Cup when a crowd of 2,164, easily beat the previous season's record in a match which saw them hold league opponents Chester City to a 0-0 draw before going down 1-3 in a replay at Chester.

An imposing new stand was built at the top end of the ground just in time for the big match thanks to a superb effort from all involved with the club.

The new stand opened in time for
the FA Cup clash with Chester City

The 2000/01 season which ended in disappointment when 'Leafe's promotion hopes were blighted by end of season fixture congestion, primarily caused by the winter's atrocious winter. However, having successfully undertaken a programme of continued ground improvement and not without considerable hard work by supporters and club management, the club achieved the much sought after 'A' grading of their ground. Paul Owens' seven years as chairman ended in 2001 and Tony Lidbury replaced Paul for his third period of office as Chairman. In addition, local businessman and Birmingham City chairman, David Gold, gladly accepted the rôle of Whyteleafe FC's Club Patron.

2001/02 brought troubles in its train. Following the promotion battles of the previous two seasons, the 'Leafe's form slumped and despite a promising start early exits from all cup competitions was followed by a 20th place in the league. A further re-organisation of the Ryman League saved the club from its first relegation.

During the 2002/03 season, Tony Lidbury gave up his seat as Chairman for the third time as, local businessman and the club's former Youth Development Manager, Mark Coote was appointed in his place. Mark's business acumen, enthusiasm and business contacts are hoped to prove invaluable to the club future security and development.

Despite disappointment in cup competitions and uncomfortable defeats by several teams low in the league, the 2002/03 season was a success. 'Leafe defeated many of the top sides and finished in fifth place, their highest ever in the Ryman League.

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