Walton and Hersham F.C.

History

For a detailed list of season standings, see List of Walton & Hersham F.C. seasons.

1945–1963

In 1945, after World War II, Walton F.C. amalgamated with Hersham F.C. to form Walton & Hersham. The club joined the Corinthian League, winning it first in the 1946–47 season and then again the following two seasons. They won the Surrey Senior Cup in the 1947–48 season. They were elected to the Athenian League for the 1950–51 season and won the Surrey Senior Cup again.

Walton & Hersham reached the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals in 1951–52 and in 1952–53. They achieved their all-time record crowd when ten thousand spectators turned up to watch an FA Amateur Cup tie with Crook Town. The team included defender C. R. "Jack" Neale who represented Great Britain at the Olympics and the club's record goal-scorer Reg Sentance.

Walton & Hersham reached the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in 1957–58. They won the Surrey Senior Cup for a third time in 1960–61 and retained the trophy the following season.

1963–1994

The Athenian League expanded in 1963 and Walton & Hersham were placed in the Premier Division. A period of mid-table football followed until the 1967 appointment of Allen Batsford as manager heralded a new era of success. In 1968–69 he won the Athenian League. This was followed by two successive visits to the FA Cup first round proper (in 1969–70 and 1970–71) and the Surrey Senior Cup was won again in 1970–71.

Walton & Hersham were elected to the Isthmian League in 1971. The 1972–73 season is statistically their greatest ever. They won the Surrey Senior Cup, came runners-up in the league, reached the FA Cup second round proper for the first time and, most prestigiously, won the FA Amateur Cup, defeating Slough Town at Wembley Stadium. They set a unique record by winning the competition without conceding a goal. Players including Dave Bassett, Willie Smith and Roger Connell became regulars in the England amateur international team. In 1973–74, the club reached the FA Cup second round proper again, having beaten Brian Clough's Brighton & Hove Albion at Goldstone Ground 4–0. Following the defeat Clough almost got into a fight with comedian Eric Sykes, who was associated with Brighton & Hove Albion at the time and was laughing about the result to a friend during a phone call.

In 1974, Batsford left to manage Wimbledon and took players with him. Walton & Hersham were relegated in 1975 and, although they reached the FA Cup first round proper again in the 1975–76 season, they went close to extinction in the late 70s. They inspired the name of punk band Sham 69 (who formed in 1976), as they derived it from a piece of graffiti which read 'Walton & Hersham 69'. Despite briefly having Sir Stanley Matthews as President, the club endured a lean period throughout the 1980s.

1994–present

Walton & Hersham were promoted to the Isthmian top flight in 1994 (and reached the FA Cup first round proper that season), although relegation followed in 1996. They were promoted again the following year but relegation followed again in 2000. After a spell in the Isthmian League First Division, they appointed long-serving player Alan Dowson as manager and he led them to a successful 2004–05 season, with promotion secured as runners-up.

After the resignation of Alan Dowson in October 2006, former Gillingham first-team coach Bobby Paterson took over after a long search for a new manager. Walton & Hersham were relegated that season and Paterson's contract was terminated. The assistant manager Les Cleevely—the former Carshalton Athletic player/assistant manager for whom he made over 500 appearances—took over. Former Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis became a member of Walton & Hersham's board of directors. After a mid-table finish to the 2007–08 season, Les Cleevely became the academy coach while Jimmy Bolton took over to become the manager. At the beginning of March 2009, Jimmy Bolton was replaced for the rest of the season by Matt Elverson as caretaker manager. During the 2009 off-season, John Crumplin was appointed manager although his reign only lasted until September 2010. Chuck Martini was appointed soon after.

At the end of the 2015-16 season Walton & Hersham were relegated to the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division. The club confirmed Simon Haughney as first team manager on 22 June 2016, with former Guyana international Howard Newton as assistant manager.

Stadium

Walton & Hersham play their home games at the Sports Ground, Stompond Lane, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 1HF.

Current squad

As of 28 August 2016.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Coaching staff

As of July 2016.

Achievements

Corinthian League:

Winners (3): 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49Runners-up (1): 1949–50

Athenian League Premier Division:

Winners (1): 1968–69Runners-up (3): 1950–51, 1969–70, 1970–71

FA Amateur Cup:

Winners (1): 1972–73

Surrey Senior Cup:

Winners (6): 1947–48, 1950–51, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1970–71, 1972–73Runners-up (5): 1946–47, 1951–52, 1969–70, 1973–74, 2004–05

London Senior Cup:

Runners-up (1): 1973–74

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.