Crowborough Athletic F.C.

Crowborough Athletic Football Club is a football club based in Crowborough, East Sussex, England. Affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association, the club are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Crowborough Community Stadium.

Crowborough Athletic
Full nameCrowborough Athletic Football Club
Nickname(s)The Crows
Founded1894
GroundCrowborough Community Stadium, Crowborough
Capacity2,000 (150 seated)[1]
ChairmanMalcolm Boyes
ManagerSean Muggeridge
LeagueSouthern Combination Premier Division
2022–23Southern Combination Premier Division, 6th of 20

History edit

The club was established in 1894 and initially played in leagues in the Tunbridge Wells areas.[2] In 1974 they joined Division Two of the Sussex County League.[3] In 1977–78 the club won the Division Two Cup.[4] They remained in Division Two until being relegated to Division Three at the end of the 1983–84 season. After finishing as Division Three runners-up in 1986–87, the club were promoted back to Division Two. In 1992–93 they won Division Two, beating title rivals Stamco 3–2 on the final day of the season with Stamco having only needed a draw to win the title,[4] and were promoted to Division One.[3] They remained in Division One until finishing bottom of the division in 1995–96, at which point they were relegated to Division Two.

In 1998–99 Crowborough were relegated to Division Three. Although they were promoted back to Division Two in 1999–2000 having finished only fourth, they were relegated to Division Three again the following season.[3] In 2001–02 they won the Division Three Cup,[4] and in 2003–04 the club were Division Three champions, and after winning Division Two the following season, they returned to Division One.[3] The 2006–07 season saw them win the League Cup.[4] In 2007–08 they won Division One and were promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League.[3] However, after the majority of the team left following the withdrawal of financial support from a major benefactor, the club finished bottom of the division in their first season in the league and were relegated back to the Sussex County League. In 2014 the club were transferred to the Southern Counties East League, and became members of the Premier Division in 2016 when the league gained a second division.[3]

Ground edit

The club has played at the Alderbrook Recreation Ground since the early 1950s.[4] Redevelopment saw a new stadium created in the recreation ground, named the Crowborough Community Stadium. The ground currently has a capacity of 2,000, of which 150 is seated.[1]

Honours edit

  • Sussex County League
    • Champions 2007–08
    • Division Two champions 1992–93, 2004–05
    • Division Three champions 2003–04
    • John O'Hara League Challenge Cup winners 2006–07
    • Division Three Cup winners 2001-02, 2003–04
  • Mid-Sussex Senior Charity Cup
    • Winners 1951–52, 1953–54[5]

Records edit

  • Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 2008–09[3]
  • Best FA Trophy performance: First qualifying round, 2008–09[3]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round, 2007–08[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p775 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
  2. ^ Crowborough Athletic Nomad Online
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Crowborough Athletic at the Football Club History Database
  4. ^ a b c d e History Crowborough Athletic F.C.
  5. ^ League Honours Mid-Sussex League.

External links edit

51°2′31″N 0°9′56″E / 51.04194°N 0.16556°E / 51.04194; 0.16556