illustrated version

FORMATIVE YEARS

Prior to the Second World War there were several teams that competed locally using the Whyteleafe name notably Whyteleafe Junior FC and Whyteleafe Albion. Whyteleafe Albion competed for many years but the club folded several years before the Second World War. A new club, simply called Whyteleafe FC, was formed in 1946.

The new club commenced Junior football as members of the Caterham and Edenbridge, the Thornton Heath & District and the Croydon Leagues. Of these early years season 1951/52, was the most successful, with a strong 'Leafe line-up becoming Thornton Heath League champions, winners of two local charity cups and runners-up in both the Surrey County Junior Cup and the League Cup.

Two years later they progressed to the Surrey County Intermediate League (Eastern Division) and were Division 1 champions in 1955/6. 1958 saw the significant transition from 'Junior' to 'Senior' status and entry into the Surrey Senior League. This change required the club to move from the New Barn Lane School ground which was inadequate for senior football and with a dynamic committee under the leadership of Secretary Dick Baxendine, the club purchased approximately four acres of farmland in nearby Church Road, where the club still play today.

The original stand at Whyteleafe's old ground is still used by New Barn Lane School and is clearly visible from Valley Road about half a mile north of the current ground.

NEW GROUND, NEW START

Many man hours of voluntary work was required by the committee and the members to raise the funds to not only purchase the land but to finance the change of the ground to a football pitch, as well as convert the existing Farm buildings into a clubhouse with bar and dressing rooms. The original scheme was to include a running track and a cricket table, but these proposals did not prove viable.

Play commenced on the ground in season 1959/60, and in the early sixties the club gained minor rewards with the reserve team playing under the guidance of former Crystal Palace hero Roy Greenwood.

THE 60's AND 70's

The next success came as the 1960s drew to a close which saw 'Leafe as Surrey Senior League Champions and runners up to Bracknell Town in the League Cup. These successes came under the guidance of manager Tom Sweetman with Les Brown the former Wimbledon and Guildford City amateur international as player-coach. Les later went on to become manager briefly.

In the 1970s the floodlight training area and stand were built and in 1975, after seventeen happy years with the Surrey Senior League, the club moved into the London Spartan League, where the best they achieved was third place on two occasions in the six years of their membership. In 1981 the club joined the Athenian League and it was at about this time in the early 80s that the main pitch floodlights were installed and the dressing rooms were moved to a new location on the top bank enabling the clubhouse to be extended.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

MANAGERIAL CHANGES

But success was short-lived and the following season proved a great disappointment for Whyteleafe. Early promise soon foundered and the team's form fell away. More early cup exits did nothing for morale and the team hit their lowest ebb at Bracknell at Christmas where they suffered a heavy defeat that prompted Richardson's resignation.

Stuart Massey returned to the club in the New Year at 1st team manager having made great strides in his first managerial post at Chipstead. Performances improved in the latter part of the season but luck was against them and the improving team rarely achieved the results they deserved.

Points continued to seem hard to come by, only sporadically did Whyteleafe show the kind of form Stuart wanted and he finally resigned in October 2006. After a spell with chairman Coote picking the team, former Crystal Palace striker Dave Swindlehurst joined the club in December.

'Leafe continued to struggle to put together any kind of run for the remainder of the season, though Swindlehurst instilled just enough discipline to lead the team to safety. His second season saw improvements that led to a comfortable mid-table position and the club's first cup final in 20 years. Having seen off Ryman Premier Division AFC Wimbledon and Blue Square National (Conference) professional side Woking in previous rounds, Whyteleafe took the field against an ambitious and on-song Merstham side at Met Police's Imber Court ground on 6th May 2008. Despite going ahead on two occasions, the team were unable to prevent Merstham from forging ahead in extra time and winning the trophy at the death.

The cup final proved to be the last of Swindlehurst's reign. Frustrated by the club's limited resources and lacking the resolve to motivate a team without outside financial backing, Swindlehurst walked away.

THE RETURN OF MASSEY

Stuart Massey was re-appointed Whyteleafe manager ahead of the 2008/09 season having spent the intervening 20 months with Ian Hazel as Assistant Manager at Sutton United and briefly as caretaker manager at Gander Green Lane. Following the appointment of Ernie Howe to the full-time post, however, Stuart followed Hazel to Leatherhead where again he was content to assist. Massey ensured his name was first in the when the post became available and spen the next two seasons at the helm.

The club certainly had its successes in the time, each season giving a sprinkling of eyebrow raising wins against league title chasers and the side beat both promotion winning Folksetone Invicta and Croydon Athletc on their own grounds in 2010.

ALL CHANGE AGAIN

The winter of 2009/10 was hard one and snow and ice led to numerous Saturdy postponements which impacted hard on the club's finances. More belt tightening left Massey unsure of his future commitment and Chairman Coote invited Nicky English to take over as 1st manager in the summer of 2010. English had managed junior sides at Whyteleafe in the past but gained tremendous experience managing 1st team football with AFC Wimbledon (as caretaker boss in 2004) and latterly at 'Leafe's neighbours and rivals Chipstead.

English elevated Danny Oakins and Gareth Graham to player-coaches and hopes to build a positive and sprited team for the future despite the club's financial limitations.

illustrated version