At Home With The Crows…
Next Up: 'The Curfews' of Chertsey Town FC
Crows v Chertsey Town FC
Kick Off: 3pm Saturday 9th March 2013
Evo-Stik Southern League Central Division 1
So….. after limping out of the cup on Tuesday night we are back to that little place we all call home and another league game to wet the pallet. So onto Chertsey, another club struggling a little this season. Please let it be better than North Greenford United, please, please, please.
So what can I tell you about Chertsey then? Well, the town is in the Borough of Runnymede, cue quaint pictures of scenes from Midsommer murders, not the butchering part but the scenes of rolling countryside. Sorry to disappoint fellow Crows, but this is not the case. Although a lovely town, before I met the now ex Mrs Jez I did partake on many a “pulling” trip in said town. All to no avail! Some women have no taste!
One of the most striking landmarks of Chertsey is the ancient stone bridge (first stone was laid by Bruce Forsyth allegedly!) This was built between 1783-85 by James Paine.
Famous people of Chertsey include baby faced Chesney Hawkes of Vanish removal product fame, Rufus Hound the comedian and sometimes comical in goal Rob Green of QPR and England.
On the music front Vince Clarke of Yazoo and Erasure fame is from these parts. In fact, most of the Erasure material was written here! So “Gotta get me out of here” an early Erasure track most be drawn on his feelings about the place then?
HISTORY
Records show that Chertsey FC was formed in 1890 when they joined the West Surrey League. Their first ever trophy was the Surrey Junior Cup in 1897.
In 1919, the club joined the Surrey Intermediate league and stayed there until the outbreak of War in 1939. After the War, the Curfews joined the Surrey Senior League. They were not very successful until winning the Championship in 1960. So a bit like Rochdale FC then?
The club then took to League hopping and joined the Spartan League in 1967, again a pretty unspectacular time for almost 20 years. They also dabbled with the Athenian league before promotion into the Isthmian League Division Two (South) was secured in 1984. Instant relegation followed and the Curfews found them in yet another new league, this time the Combined Counties League.
Their stay here was brief, securing the runners up spot behind British Aerospace (who flew to the title, get it? Flew? Never mind), falling just 3 points short of the title.
The club was initially rewarded with good league positions but not high enough for further promotion. The worst season after returning to the Isthmians came when the two Division Twos were split in 1991 and a place in the new Division Three had to suffice. This position was quickly rectified with a runner’s up slot in 1992. The club also reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase, emulating a similar performance in 1987–88. One year later, 102 points and a runner’s up promotion place to Division One was nailed. The League Cup was also secured together with the Carlsberg Trophy in the same campaign along with the League Charity Shield.
Only one campaign was required in Division One before further promotion, to the Premier Division was secured behind Boreham Wood and Worthing. The first season in the Premier Division was one of consolidation with nine points to spare but the second was far more difficult. Although a late rally was experienced, it proved insufficient to avoid the drop to Division One. Two subsequent Division One campaigns saw the side comfortably occupy positions just over the half way mark each time but the third proved too difficult after a very poor first half of the season. Improvement was made but not enough to stave off relegation to competition in Division Two.
Relatively respectable positions were attained for the next two seasons and then a return to Division One, taking a place in the revised south section in the Isthmian re-organisation. The side was not able to compete at this level and suffered relegation to Division Two in 2003. After a slow start, a serious challenge was made the following season but the club had to settle for a position just outside a promotion place. A similar situation was created over the next two seasons with the side finishing in sixth place on both occasions. However, with the dissolution of the division, the club was allocated to the Combined Counties League in 2006.
In the 2010–11 season, Chertsey Town finished second in the Combined Counties League Premier Division with 90 points, 3 points behind the league winners Guildford City. However, owing to problems with Guildford City's ground, Chertsey Town were promoted into the Southern League Division One Central in their place. After a very encouraging start to the Southern League campaign, manager Spencer Day (Of saving Aldershot from oblivion and then didn’t fame) left Chertsey Town for Farnborough FC and took no less than 7 of the current 1st team squad with him.
Managerless Chertsey Town then suffered a 7–0 away thrashing by eventual champions St Neots Town before captain David Johnston was announced as 1st team manager. The team was quickly rebuilt with players from lower leagues and the target of securing Southern League status was confirmed after beating Bedworth Town 1–0 at home with 5 games remaining.
Their Season So Far
Currently lying 4th from bottom with just 21 points to their name. It is pretty grim reading if you are a Curfews fan, 6 wins, 3 draws and 22 defeats so far this campaign. They have found the new 35 times but have picked the ball out on 75 occasions. So an easy win for the Crows at GW on Saturday. Do not be so sure after last Saturday’s struggle at NGU. Last time out saw Chertsey Town secure a 1-0 victory at home to Fleet Town, previous to those precious points saw a 4-1 defeat to North Greenford United. They did win 4-1 at Leighton Town, but at the moment, everyone is beating them!
Ones to Watch
Striker and Fans favourite John Pomroy is a legend at the Curfews. He is their all time leading scorer with over 200 goals in the blue and white striped shirts. Pommers is a classical striker and very dangerous on the ball. Former clubs include Fulham, Aldershot and Bagshot Lea (Yep, never heard of them either!)
Partnering John up front, I would imagine we will face Mark Knight who has 8 league goals to his name so far this season. Knighty seems to have a habit of scoring in pairs, so we will need to watch out for this!
Club Captain Tom McGarry is a superb ball winner. A defender with the heart of a Lion. Highly regarded by all at Chertsey Town and carried out a clean sweep of their player of the season awards in 2011. Previously with Farnborough, Cove and Camberley.
The Gaffer
Former club Captain David Johnston joined the club as a player in July 2011. He was soon Captain and when Spencer Day left to take over Farnborough, became the clubs new manager. Johnno is having to rebuild this team as Mr Day took most of the first team squad with him to Farnborough! Former clubs include, Farnborough (Surprise surprise!), Ash United and Cove FC.
Have We Met Before?
Three times in the league so far. We secured a 2-1 win at Chertsey in October courtesy of a Tom Malins shot (Nope, not a header this time!) and a Matt Standen strike. We have never met in cup competitions. So that pleasure is to come!
Jez Izod
