- Season 2011/2012
- The Club
Latest Info from the Arena
Goalless but exciting.
After 90 minutes at the Arena today it finished goalless. But it was far from doring. Croydon were a slightly better team on the day although Windsor threw everything at them.
Big Keep Francis was on fine form, left back Dammy Bada looked like a promising youngster. Danny Davenport and Billy Lippett were strong in the midfield. But Man of the match was Terry Fennessey. Today Terry was booked, but that did not stop his chasing back, and frequent crosses into the box. Well done Terry.
Due to Monday nights civil unrest in Croydon, the Croydon FC felt it would be potentially dangerous for opposition players and officials to travel to the Arena an therefore with the permission of the League the game was postponed.
That made Saturday's game at home to Sandhurst the Trams first home game of the season and alas it didn't end well. The team lined up as follows: Rose, Cecil.M, Delandro, Cecil.J, Pit.J, Davenport, Smith, Marriott, Morgan, Fennesey. Subs: Doherty, De Almeida, White Boothe Goddard.
Sandhurst took the lead in the first half, and added to it in th esecond. Rose, Croydon's keeper, saved a penalty in the 67th minute.
John and his management team have a long season ahead, but we feel he is the man to take the club up the league table.
The season kicked off today with an away game at Hanworth Villa. Sadly the Trams new look side suffered a 0-4 defeat. More to come.
The Pre season programme for Croydon FC:
28-Jun-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
30-Jun-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
02-Jul-2011 - T.B.A.
05-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
07-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
09-Jul-2011, Internal Trial Match, at Ryelands Playing Fields 3pm.
12-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
14-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
16-Jul-2011, Friendly: vs Farleigh Rovers at Warbank Sports Club. 3pm
19-Jul-2011, Friendly: vs Colney Hall at Warbank Sports Club. 6.30pm
21-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
23-Jul-2011, T.B.A.
26-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
28-Jul-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
30-Jul-2011, Friendly: vs Warlingham atWarlingham Sports Club. 3pm
01-Aug-2011, Friendly: vs Croydon Athletic at Croydon Sports Arena. 7.30pm
04-Aug-2011, 19:30 Training at the Arena
06-Aug-2011, Season Start, First league game. T.B.A.
SMITH'S SOCCER SCHOOL has new course available CLICK HERE
or Visit Aaron's website HERE
Croydon FC are delighted to announce the appointment of John Fowler as 1st team manager.
John brings a wealth of experience in local football and is backed by a first rate team that consists of Dean Davenport – assistant manager – Lloyd Groves – coach – Mark Cecil – player/coach and former Dulwich and current Charlton scout – Andrew Tucker as head scout.
All at Croydon wish John and his team a long and successful association with the club and endorse his desire to see the Trams re-assert themselves as a major influence in local football.
John has been kind enough to provides the following answers to questions we have set him:
Firstly can I thank the Croydon FC committee for giving me the opportunity to manage the club, it's been a busy two weeks putting things into place and I'm pleased to announce that my management team will be made up of
Dean Davenport assistant
Lloyd Groves coach
Mark Cecil as player/coach
We are also waiting on two other positions so as you can see the ball is rolling.
I would like to get everyone in the club from the committee to the management team pulling together and moving the club in the right direction.
Why did you choose Croydon FC?
We as a management team know that the task in front of us isn't going to be an easy one, but we are all determined to get Croydon FC back on the football map and try to get some stability back within the club. When you think back to not long ago when Croydon was the highest standing local based team, compared to were the club are now! Being a local lad who once played for the club would like to see the club move in the right direction.
What do you feel the future is for Croydon FC during your reign as manager of Croydon?
With the team that I have known for many years and trust behind me I think that in time we can set out and achieve our goals step by step. As you may be aware I have had some experience in the CCL League with Chipstead FC I was then assistant to Nicky English and went on to win the league and get promoted I'm not saying that's whats going to happen now! But I have been in this league before and have some knowledge of the teams and what is needed player wise to compete in this League.
Do you have your sights set on certain players or are you awaiting the trials?
At the present time pre-season is going to start on the 28th June and player wise is going well, not wanting to say too much but the response we have had has been a good one and hopefully we will have a team that is ready and will give 100%. We have some good youngsters mixed with some older heads, and with the lads already with the club from last year who want to come back the early signs look good. We have been up front with all the players we have contacted with regards to having no budget, so hopefully the lads who do join, join for the right reasons!
What is your pre season program?
With no games in place when I agreed to take the managers job its has been hectic trying to arrange fixtures with many teams already booked up with pre-season games it's been quite a hard task to get games., we have called on clubs and managers with whom myself and Dean have played for or been associated with and can I say every club who we have spoken too have been first class and helped us out in a big way in trying to accommodate us so thanks to them the pre-season programme is as follows
Farleigh Rovers FC ( Away Sat 16th July )
Coney hall FC ( to be confirmed )
Warlinghan FC ( Away Sat 30th July )
Whyteleafe FC ( to be confirmed )
Croydon Athletic FC ( Home Mon 1st August 7:30 ko )
You played for Croydon FC in the 1993/1994 season what are your memories of the club from that era?
Good memories, it was the start of the Ken Jarvey era. We had some great lads in the team at that time including my assistant Davers. I also had a spell at the club under Dave Garland before moving on to Hampton and Richmond.
When you left Croydon you joined Croydon Athletic (?) Why the move?
When I left Croydon, I believe I went back to Whyteleafe? My memory is not that good any more! Must be the age! I can not really remember the reason why.
Lastly can I say that we as a management team will try our best to stabilise and make Croydon FC work, if we can put a hard working team together with no budget. A team that wants to play for each other strive to win more games than they lose and have a good cup run, then we would have progressed and that's what we as a management team want, we are not going to shot ourselves in the foot by saying we are going to win the league! Realistically it would be nice but it's not going to happen at this stage, stabilisation and a good table finish is what is needed and that's our goal.
John Fowler
End of Season 2010/2011:
"Despite this defeat against a very worthy Mole Valley side, results elsewhere mean that it can be confidently predicted that Croydon will not be relegated to Division One of the Combined Counties League next season.
As is ever the case in these matters, the final position will not be confirmed until much later in the summer but as an interim guide it would appear that, short of miracles next Saturday, only the Bookham are likely to be relegated from our Division and even then they may be reprieved if there is no relegation from the Southern or Isthmian Leagues.
As Worcester Park, who haven't got the appropriate ground grading for promotion will finish in the top 3 of Division One – only 2 clubs will be promoted. As the Premier Division is 1 club short – due to Bedfont Sports late withdrawal from the league, that means only 1 side will be relegated. At the top Guildford are Champions but they have failed their ground grading and are appealing against that decision, however runners up Chertsey are sure of promotion if Guildford's appeal fails.
Bookham could catch the Trams if they beat Guildford next Saturday by an enormous margin but they would still required Croydon to lose by a cricket score at Chessington & Hook. To confuse matters even more, due to clubs folding higher up the pyramid, it is unlikely that any side will be relegated from above – making the bottom club safe as well. The only fly in the ointment from a Croydon perspective is a sideways move into the Combined Counties League, but my sources say this is a very remote possibility."
