Egham Town F.C.

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

History

The club'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 1927-33 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.

The Club was promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League as part of a re-organisation of non-league football but were switched to the Southern League in 2004, which proved disastrous. In the 2005-06 season they played in the Isthmian League Division Two but as a result of the restructuring of non-league football they now play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division. Season 2006-07 began promisingly, but more managerial upheaval and injuries to key players saw the club finish a disappointing 10th with 58 points. The following season the same number of points were accumulated, but a couple of heavy losses in the early part of the season led to 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, and crushing defeats to local rivals Chertsey Town and Molesey 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 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 greater emphasis on youth development. The club was in seventh place when Steve Baker was replaced by John Hamsher. John Pomroy, who had joined club at the start of the season from neighbours and rivals Chertsey Town, notched up 26 goals. Season 2011-2012 starts with the club already making clear the new policy of mixing youth with more experienced players. There is also a new website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/eghamtownfc. Egham made a good start to the 2011-12 season - buy new year they were in 4th position only losing once.

Grounds

Egham Town are based in 5,565 seater stadium "The Runnymede Stadium" in Egham.

External links

• Egham Town official site
  • Club History from that site
• Images of the team in action
• Egham Town at the Football Club History Database