C O M M E N T S
/  H I G H L I G H T S

L

Sutton & District League Premier Division CHAMPIONS!

1st out of 10

EHC

reached semi final - held over to next season

LHS

W

Leatherhead Rose

1-0

at Ashtead

SJC

F - replay

Caterham Mental Hospital

1-2+

at Dorking

Surrey Junior
Cup Finalists - Losing 1-2 aet to Caterham Mental Hospital in 1922/23 at
Pixham Lane Dorking

This was a
replay, following a 1-1 draw a Sutton.

Leatherhead
Hospital Challenge Cup Winners in 1922/23 - beat Leatherhead Rose 1-0 at
Ashtead. Att 2,150.

President

Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. Lord C.B.E.

new

Chairman

G.E.Elmslie

Has a shop in High Street, Epsom.

Secretary

Len (E.L.) Miller

Ivanhoe, Chase Road, Epsom

Len's address is currently inhabited (2007) by
Mary Beadle, daughter of Ernie Watkins the post war legend.

Treasurer

Committee:

Home Ground:

Grounds of Horton Hospital

27/5/22 Sutton
& District League Presentation - Hugh Bradley, Secretary

June 22 Ernie
Sperring, Billy Green, Reg Sperring, Reg Coleman, Jack Parr all play for
Epsom Rovers C.C. this summer.

14/6/22 SCFA
41st AGM at Holborn Restaurant, London

21/6/22
Presentation at Federation House of the first ever Epsom Hospital Cup to
Epsom Brotherhood, who defeated Epsom Juniors

in the final.
Players receiving medals were: Reg Sperring (capt), Ernie Sperring, Jack
Parr, V Matthews, T Johnson, Charlie Aldridge,

CE Holliday,
Fred Keeling, Harold Keeling, J Coppen, R Coleman, S.Collis (probably-not
clear in paper). Reg Sperring was also the

Club Secretary
last year says Herald. Medals presented by FG Beaumont (Epsom Brotherhood
President).

23/6/22 Sutton
& District League AGM - Hugh Bradley, Secretary. Agenda too long that
meeting had to be adjourned until the

following
Friday! Epsom Juniors are in league, along with their reserves. Also Ewell
and Ewell Reserves are also in league.

It was
rumoured at the meeting that Hugh Bradley may have to work in the Midlands
but that didn't happen.

Both Epsom
Juniors and Ewell first teams are placed in the Premier Division

Brighton
Railway, Carshalton Athletic, and Sutton United Res resign from league, and
are replaced by Banstead Hospital,

Benhilton
Athletic, Ewell and Leatherhead.

League
Handbook from 1922/23 states the following:

Secretary and address

Colours

Ground

Ashtead

T. Birchall - "Kingswood", Skinner's Lane, Ashtead

Red and White Stripes

Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead

Banstead

Stanley Baker - High Street, Banstead

Green jerseys White knickers

The Cricket Field, Banstead Village

and Institute Field

Banstead Hospital

A.Ladbrook - Banstead Mental Hospital, Sutton

Blue and White stripes

Banstead
Mental Hospital, near Belmont station

Belmont

G.R.Lowe - 42 Kings Road, Belmont

Navy Blue jerseys with white cuffs and

Banstead
Downs (2 mins Belmont Station)

collars, white knickers

Benhilton Athletic

H.W.Cox - 93 Westmead Road, Sutton

Blue and Red stripes, white knickers

Sutton Recreation Ground

Epsom Brotherhood

Harry (H.W.) Boxall - 70 Miles Road, Epsom

Blue and Gold, white knickers

Brotherhood
Sports Ground, East Street, Epsom

Epsom Town

Len (EL) Miller - "Ivanhoe" Chase Road, Epsom

Oxford and Cambridge Blue vertical stripes

Horton Mental Hospital, Epsom

Ewell

H.Sneesby - 10 Oakdale Road, West Ewell

Blue jerseys, white knickers

West Street, Ewell Village

Leatherhead

A.E.Sayers - Hill Top, Leatherhead

White shirts, blue knickers

Recreation
Ground Forty Foot Road, Leatherhead

Old Suttonians

P.L.Cooper - 1 High Street, Sutton

Red and Black Quarters

Sutton Common Road, Sutton

West Ewell

F.G.Slade - 101 Horton Hill, Epsom

Red jerseys, white knickers

Chesterfield Road, West Ewell

June 22
Wallington FC Annual dinner refers to the need for a private ground, and that
30 years ago they were known as the Harcourt

Club,
presumably because they played at Harcourt Road, where I used to live!

AGM details
unknown but presume it was in July 1922.

July 22 Change
of club name from Epsom Juniors FC to Epsom Town FC. Club retains its junior
status.

14/7/22
Secretary EL Miller writes to Herald. "It may interest your readers to
hear that the above (Epsom Town F.C.) is the newly

adopted name
of the late Epsom Juniors Football Club. “The club desires me to make it
clear that this change of name is not an

endeavour to
belittle other clubs in the town, but merely to attract other and stronger
players with the object of soon being in the

position to
form a club worthy of representing a town like Epsom."

Col Lord has
accepted the presidency of the club and JG Beaumont the President of the
Epsom Brotherhood has written wishing the

club a successful
season.

July 22 Epsom
Hospital Cup draw sees Epsom Town v Cheam in first round. Some clubs have
byes to qf, but not these two.

Inaugural
Leatherhead Hospital Shield first round draw - QF Epsom Brotherhood v Epsom
Town. Draw held at Leg of Mutton pub in

Ashtead by Mr
Merriman who promised the shield and is also Treasurer with Sir Rowland
Blades as President. A sf would see

Epsom Town v
Great Bookham or Gillett-Stephens.

4/8/22
reported that nearly 40 applications for playing membership have been
received, and this is continuing to increase. The club

are
considering a Wednesday section as there are maybe too many for the two
regular teams! A prominent local sportsman

(unnamed)
writes to say that he has been watching for a long while and hopes that the
sportsmanship of the club will continue as

strongly as
ever. "It was the Juniors most valuable asset."

Aug 22
Reference to Metrogas F.C. being hit with various fines and suspensions by
the F.A. for illegal payments to Amateur

players. Other
clubs are to be investigated, and Tooting Town have trouble in a year or two.
Many Metrogas officials are banned

for periods of
a few months to life. Metrogas played in the Old Kent Road, but presume this
has been long covered by development.

Aug 22
Reference to the Brighton Railway presentation evening which stated that
future player E Olley received his Surrey County

Junior Badge,
but not sure if he played for them, as another player was mentioned as
actually playing for Surrey Juniors. Olley was

a member of
the Surrey Junior Cup winning side of 21/22, along with brother F Olley,
while T Olley was the club Secretary.

Aug 22
Burberrys played at New Malden.

26/8/22
reference to a team called Epsom Wednesday Juniors who beat Hook Road 4-3 on
26/8. F Greenfield (2), H Parr, and

R Thornton
were the scorers.

Aug 22 Future
player Les (LW) Urpeth at Woking would be there for a while.

Aug 22 Herald
writes that there is criticism of the new name of the club, and that they
should not have a "Town" title unless it is

the premier
team in the area, and up to this point, the Juniors have not shown themselves
the superiors of Epsom Brotherhood.

Epsom Town
have again secured the
service of "Horton Sports Field". It appears that they may have
moved there mid-season 21/22.

1/9/22
Reference to Epsom securing the use of a good ground at Horton. The tone of
the report suggested that it could have been

their first
season there. Also reference to their keenest rivals being the Epsom
Brotherhood FC who now have a sports ground

themselves.
"Club formed some years ago by a number of lads who have stood by each
other until they are no longer juniors, so they

have decided
to rename the club, which henceforth will be known as Epsom Town FC"
says Advertiser.

Herald refers
to Epsom Brotherhood and Epsom Town being the best two teams in Epsom.
Brotherhood's ground now has a

corrugated
iron hut, and there are two pitches there.

1/9/21
reported in Herald that "as was the case towards the end of last season,
the club has secured the use of the Horton ground,

one of the
best in this part of Surrey". There is no charge but collections are
allowed for important games. All players are young - a

valuable
asset! Practically all of the players are returning that were in the team
last year including WH Barton (centre-forward) who

went to play
for Ewell for a bit but has now returned.

Also reference
to other clubs in Epsom being Epsom St Barnabas, Epsom Athletic, and Queen
Mary's Convalescent Centre

which is at Woodcote.

2/9/22 Epsom
Town trial match. Only a quarter of an hour was possible because of the
rain!! Nearly all players present were new

ones. Hale did well.

Sept 22
Benhilton Athletic formed this year after Sutton United declined to retain a
third team.

Sept 22 future
player WH "Bronk" Challis playing for Epsom Athletic, and got HT on
16/9 v Kingston Invicta. Junior Football.

Also in the
team is Jack Pearman future Ewell and Epsom Town player. Epsom Athletic were
playing at Epsom Recreation Ground.

Sept 22 Reg
Stimson at Woking Reserves

Sept 22
Mitcham Wanderers are playing at Park Place.

16/9/22
Opening league fixture of the season sees Epsom Town defeat West Ewell
Athletic 4-0. Epsom started with ten men

for the first
15 minutes, but Parr scored the opener shortly before this from Holliday's
pass. Aldridge then took the field as the 11th

man, and Epsom
were 2-0 up at HT after Barton's easy goal. Aldridge scored twice in the
second half for an easy win and his first

was a
"daisy cutter" from a Pentycross pass. West Ewell injury to Burrage
in mid 2nd half. Passenger, but still put in a good cross

in the last
minute that led to an easy miss from the West Ewell forward. Future Ewell
player Doel played for West Ewell.

Sept 22 Future
official DWG Jones proposes Sunday games at a meeting of the Ewell Parish
Councillors, which was accepted 6-5

after an
amendment that the matches had to be after 1pm.

23/9/22 Epsom
Town win friendly v Mitcham Comrades 10-1. A fairly even start but Pentycross
scored after 23 minutes, and Parr

made it 2-0
after 25. HT 4-1. Second half was easy, and players scored regularly.

27/9/22 Epsom
Wednesday 3-1 Leatherhead Caddies (Fr)

30/9/22
Defeated Benhilton Athletic 3-0 in league game. Pentycross scored first after
24 minutes of an even game., but a few

minutes later
Barton bundled the keeper and ball into the net for the second goal. Shortly
afterwards, Benhilton were awarded a

penalty for
handball, which was put wide by Gilbert. Then Parr was tripped at the other
end and Barton scored a penalty for Epsom

to make it 3-0
at HT. Not much happened in the second half although the game was very fast
and clean. Coppen was the best player

at right back
say papers. The penalty was twice taken for encroachment. This happened a lot
this year and I wonder if it was a new

rule this
season. A fast clean game in which Coppen excelled.

Oct 22 D.Day
joins club from Epsom Brotherhood. Had been there for a few years and one of
their better players "tower of strength".

Oct 22 future
player G.Carmichael joins Tooting Town

4/10/22 Sutton
Wanderers 4-1 Epsom Wednesday @ Sutton Rec.

7/10/22
Appears to be no game for Epsom Town this day. They were due to play Cheam in
EHC but they requested a postponement.

14/10/22
Reference to "the new" Leatherhead Hospital Shield Competition
beginning today. Epsom were entered in it. Only 8 entries.

14/10/22 Epsom
defeat Walton Heath 5-0 (A) in SJC 1 despite Charlie Aldridge colliding with
an opponent and fracturing his

collar bone in
the second half. "Out for some weeks". Injury was at 4-0. An Epsom
supporter rendered first aid and Aldridge was

then taken to
the surgery of Dr Binney.

Also Gillett
Stephens beat Great Bookham 6-2.

18/10/22 Epsom
Weds 1-2 Sutton Weds @ Epsom. HT 1-0 and Epsom mispen second half at 1-2.

21/10/22
Leatherhead 1-3 Epsom St Barnabas in Epsom Hospital Cup 1 played at West
Street.

21/10/22 Epsom
Town draw 0-0 with Old Suttonians in S & D League. An even game. Old
Sutts elected to kick against the slight

slope. After
75 minutes the Epsom centre-half was injured. 10 men.

25/10/22 Epsom
Wednesday 1-2 Leatherhead Wednesday.

28/10/22
Representative game at Epsom Brotherhood FC v last season's champions
Banstead. Ernie Sperring, Reg Sperring,

Barton, and
Jack Parr were all selected, and Epsom's game that day at home to Leatherhead
did not take place.

Also Fred
Watts (future Epsom Town player - Epsom Brotherhood) and T Edwards (future
Epsom Town player - Ashtead) were

also selected
but Edwards never showed. S & D League won 4-0 despite being one short
and having to bring in Hugh Bradley the League Secretary and "who

has had
nothing to do with football for some time" other than administration. He
did well, as did Jack Parr who scored the best goal

of the day.
Barton (also scored) and Fred Watts did fairly well on the right wing.
"One of the finest matches yet played at Epsom"

Ernie Sperring
was outstanding "His display was a flawless one".

Epsom
Brotherhood FC played at East Street at the Brickworks ground.

Mill Green
Rovers played at Beddington Corner.

Oct 22 West
Ewell Athletic withdraw from Sutton & District Premier Division. Results
removed including a 4-0 win for Epsom Town

and a 3-0 loss
for Ewell. The reserves continue in Division 2 for a while, but would
withdraw later in the season, affecting Epsom

Town Reserves.
Herald advises that Burrage may go to Epsom Brotherhood and Jaycocks will go
to Epsom Town while Ewell may benefit too.

Nov 22 Future
player F Mellish still at Dorking this year. Suffered minor motorcycle
accident in Dec 22. T Edwards at Ashtead still.

1/11/22 Epsom
Town FC hold a "largely attended and very successful dance" at the
Co-operative Hall on Wednesday evening.

C Holliday was
the M.C. and Glenister's Band provided the music.

Nov 22 Charles
Pettett the future Chairman becomes Hon Secretary of the Hollies Club.

4/11/22 Epsom
Town defeat Epsom St Barnabas 2-0 in Surrey Junior Cup second round tie.
"More in sorrow than anger, Epsom

knocked Epsom
St Barnabas out of the cup. "These teams are credited with a very kindly
feeling towards each other and an

attachment has
sprung up, which is alleged to have far greater warmth than the attachment
either has for Epsom Brotherhood."

Not a game to
write home about, and a bit too friendly for a cup tie. Poor standard as
well. Whilst Epsom Town were favourites, they

could have
lost had St Barnabas took their chances. Result was fairer to say as 2-1, as
a poor backpass almost certainly crossed

the goal line
during the match, but wasn't given. The ground was uneven and the Urban
Council hadn't restored it to its pre-war

condition.
Pentycross and Barton scored, and HT was probably 1-0 but not totally clear.
Gow (earlier Epsom teams) and former player Calcutt played for ESB.

11/11/22 Epsom
Town defeat Belmont 1-0. (NR)

17/11/22 Sir
Arthur Glyn is criticised for his support of DWG Jones idea of Sunday
football by none other than Hugh Bradley, in his

capacity as
Sutton & District League Secretary. His letter is read out at the West
Ewell Social Club AGM (why?) advising that any

players that
play on a Sunday would not be recognised by the FA, and would become
ineligible for Saturday football across the area,

including of
course, the Sutton & District League. Sir Arthur disagrees, but Bradley
goes further and writes to the Epsom Advertiser,

advising all
players of the consequences of Sunday football. The FA also then confirm this
with a new rule. This would have

ramifications
at Amateur Cup level in a few years time, and no doubt in other areas across
the country.

18/11/22 Epsom
Town defeat Leatherhead 7-1 in a League match at Horton. Pentycross scored
after 5 and 7, and Tratthen made it

3-0.
Pentycross got two more before HT which was 5-0. A more even second half.
Barton scored, then Leatherhead scored from a

twice taken
penalty for encroachment. Ernie Sperring had saved the first one. Barton then
scored a seventh goal.

22/11/22 Epsom
Weds 1-3 Ashtead

24/11/22
Picture of Reg Marlow in Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail as a member of
Sutton Wednesday team.

25/11/22 A
fine sparkling game in Surrey Junior Cup saw Epsom Town 5-3 Epsom Brotherhood
at Horton. Some spectators caused

play to be
suspended for a few moments. Percy Standen and Fred Watts (both future
players) played for Epsom Brotherhood.

Reference to
Epsom's new "will o' the wisp" outside left A Tratthen. "Is a
rare find for a junior team". "Has the elusiveness of an eel"

"There
can be no better goalie in Surrey junior football than Ernie Sperring".
First 20 minutes was all Epsom Town, then it was more

even. HT was
1-1 after Wesson scored when the ball hit him from a corner, but Fred Watts
equalised. Tratthen and Barton made it

3-1, then 3-2,
before Pentycross scored again with a fine individual effort. EB made it 4-3,
but Barton scored with 15 minutes left.

The last 15
minutes was largely Epsom Town's and the Brotherhood goal had some narrow
escapes.

Picture of
game at Horton in Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail 1/12/22 Page 8.

25/11/22 Team
Photo taken this day. Copy taken from Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail.

Dec 22 Future
player E Olley selected for Surrey v Sussex @ Lewes between 2nd and 16th Dec
1922. It was his third selection of

the season say papers.

2/12/22 Epsom
Town win 2-0 at Sutton Rec v Benhilton Athletic. Barton mispen (BAR), but HT
was still 1-0. Parr and Barton scored

for Epsom
Town, not Parr (2) as stated in a Benhilton report in Advertiser.

Dec 22
Reference to West Norwood being without a ground "still".

9/12/22 Epsom
Town 0-1 down to a Standen penalty, then 0-2 after 15 minutes. Parr made it
1-2 then 2-2. HT 2-2. Still not bad

for Epsom Brotherhood as they had played the half with ten
men, and future player Fred Watts was also injured and off for 15 minutes,
but Barton from a Pentycross

pass and Parr
again made it 4-2.

Dec 22
Archibald Tratthen has lost his job, and is returning back to his home at
Grangetown, Durham. The club are hoping to find more

work for him,
and he does return later in the season.

16/12/22 first
recorded instance of Epsom Town playing against Ewell (so far). This game was
in the Surrey Junior Cup 4th round, which

was the group
final - last 32. Game was played at West Street.

Herald says a
dull day and a dull game, as Ewell put up a disappointing display and
deserved to lose. The pitch at West Street is in

a tufted state
and there has been some "unlovely lopping of the trees round the
ground." Largely due to neglect during the war, so

Ewell
definitely didn't play through the war. No real surprise there, as very few
clubs did.

Tratthen had
left the club and D.Day was unavailable through work so Jaycocks played at
outside left and may develop, whilst

EC Phyall at
right half was moderate. Both debuts. Epsom Town went up the slope in the
first half but they were 2-0 up early after

goals from
Parr. A penalty for Deaton reduced the scoreline, but Parr and Barton made it
4-1 at HT. Parr got his fourth and Epsom's

fifth in the
second half, whilst Deaton got another near the end on a breakaway. 5-2 to
Epsom Town.

22/12/22
reported that Hugh Bradley has resigned as Sutton & District League
Secretary as his business now takes him to the

Midlands for a
part of every week. He was "the real founder of the league."

23/12/22 Epsom
Town win 3-0 at Banstead (NR)

26/12/22 Epsom
Town win 4-1 at Ashtead this day (NR)

26/12/22 A
"walking match" of football at Carshalton Athletic between
Carshalton Ex-Services Mens Club and the Services Rendered

Club of
Croydon takes place this day.

30/12/22 There
were pools of water all over the Brotherhood pitch as Epsom Town visited for
this first round match (quarter-final) in

the first ever
Leatherhead Hospital Shield. Only the wing men could find turf!. "Wading
through mud and water". Both teams were

willing to
play though. Epsom Town were well on top and deserved to win 2-0. Fred Watts
played for EB. HT unknown.

Picture of
game at Horton in Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail 5/1/23 Page 8.

3/1/23 Epsom
Weds 1-4 Sutton Wanderers. HT 1-3

Jan 23 A
spectator writes in to Herald and is critical of Brotherhood supporters who
are not taking their defeats well to Epsom Town.

Jan 23 Leyland
Motors playing on ground of Old Kingstonians this year.

6/1/23 Epsom
Town beat Ewell 7-1 in League match at Horton. Ewell were a player short
throughout. Aldridge 1-0 after 7 minutes,

and then
Barton scored after 20 minutes from an overhead kick.. HT 2-0. Parr got the
next two, then Day and Barton before a

consolation
from Ellis, then Day got the seventh. Pentycross had hit the post in the
first minute.

Poem printed
in Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail says:

The most censorious never expected a win for
Ewell

But thought they would make a well fought duel

Now fate - and Epsom Town  - were cruel

They ran around the Ewell eleven

For Ewell got one goal - Epsom seven!

They don't deserve to go to heaven.

10/1/23 Ewell
Weds 2-7 Epsom Weds. Tinker HT.

12/1/23
reported in Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail "Notes from
Secretary". Confirming the foundation date of the club

as March 1918
and explaining the circumstances. Written by EL Miller who was the original
Secretary. Copy taken

"In March
1918, the Epsom Juniors Football Club first saw the daylight. It was the
outcome of a discussion between three

schoolboys who
wished to form a cricket club and it started as such, among its members being
Mr H Absalom and

Mr C Bance
(now of the St Barnabas FC), Mr C (E?) Sperring, Mr R Sperring, and myself
who have still remained faithful.

In our first
season we had 11 members, and won six out of the eight games which we played.
When the football season

arrived we
decided to start a football club and use the Epsom Recreation Ground as our
Headquarters. Out great rivals

were St
Martins Guild, whom after two attempts we beat 4-0, and so became, as we so
proudly termed it in those

days "top
dogs". Flushed with this success, we next year entered the post war
Surrey Junior League, and although we

lost every
game except one, and having only 12 men signed on, we never missed a game,
played a man short, or

played an
ineligible player. Our average age was then between 16 and 17. This League, I
might say, gave us the

experience we
needed, and which has stood us in such good stead since. It was during this
season that H.Keeling,

J.Parr,
C.Aldridge, R.Aldridge, RW Calcutt, P.Weller, and SH Collis, now all well
known local footballers, joined us.

Although
finishing bottom of the League, we were not disheartened, and next season
applied and were elected to the

First Division
of the newly formed Sutton and District League, but only met with partial
success, and next season had

difficulty in
gaining admission to the same division. Again we could not do right, and met
with numerous accidents to

players, and
finished in the bottom half of the League. This brings us to the present
season. Determined that we should

at last meet
with success and bring Epsom's name forward from its obscure position in the
football world, we changed

our name and
shouldered the burden of the Epsom Town Football Club. We cast about to
vastly strengthen our team,

and enlisted
such players as Barton, Pentycross, Day, Wesson, and Tratthern, all
first-class junior players. Capable

reserves for
the first team were found, and both teams are at present going strong."

He also
advises a club dance on 17th January at Co-operative Hall, East Street, Epsom
where they have engaged Glenister's Band

from 7.30 to
12pm. Tickets 2s 6d each from Secretary, or J.Pace 22 Providence Place, or HR
Keeling, High Street, Epsom.

13/1/23 There
was no game for the first team. Epsom Town write in the Sutton & Epsom
Mail "an apology to supporters" for the

postponement
of their Epsom Hospital Cup tie v Cheam. No reason given for the postponement
in the paper on 19/1/23.

A reserves
game was hastily arranged with Hackbridge, but on the day, they were fog
bound. This tells me that the Epsom v Cheam

game was
postponed before the Saturday and was therefore not weather related.

17/1/23 Epsom
Town Dance at Co-operative Hall. C Holliday was again M.C. It was
"numerously attended and very successful".

The
Co-operative Hall was in East Street. Glenister's Dance Band were present.

20/1/23 Epsom
Brotherhood lose 14-0 to Wimbledon Strollers in a friendly!

20/1/23 Odd
incident in SJC 5th round tie v Wallington, where a shot from full back
J.Coppen was caught on the goal line by a

player, but
because the game had only been going a few minutes, and the keeper wasn't
wearing a distinctive jersey, no-one

noticed at
first, and it was assumed that it was the keeper who had saved it. The
referee thought so to, until after the goal kick, when

he realised
his mistake and awarded a penalty, which was scored after 9 minutes. Epsom
went on to win 6-1.

Both sides
were having good seasons, and Epsom were still unbeaten after the game. A
five goal win was a bit harsh says Herald.

Epsom's
shooting was just significantly better than Wallington's. HT 3-1. Parr and
Pentycross were good, while Barton whilst slow,

is a good
tactician. Wallington were wearing white and the keeper was wearing grey.
Soon after Epsom's goal, Wallington

equalised,
with an error from Ernie Sperring, who should have saved the low shot, but
slipped as he was going down. Parr scored

Epsom's second
after a cross from Wesson who beat two players before crossing. Then Reg
Sperring scored with a long range

effort (33).
Second half against the wind, and Epsom scored from three breaks. Parr got
two more again after work from Wesson in

both cases,
while Pentycross got the one in between following good work from the left
wing. Wesson gets his crosses in early.

Harold Keeling
had a great game. Aldridge still struggling after his injury. In second half
the referee gave a free kick against

Aldridge for
offside despite both him and the ball being in their own half, and the free
kick was also taken from there!

20/1/23 Team
Photo taken this day. Copy taken from Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail.

20/1/23 Future
Epsom Town player WH Challis scores HT for Epsom Athletic in a 5-1 win over
Sutton Cong in S & D Lge. HT2-0.

24/1/23 Epsom
Weds 6-5 Sutton Albion. Scorers: Pratt (2), Smith (2), Massey and Budd.

26/1/23 Epsom
Town write in to the Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail asking for
donations. Paper says that "Epsom ought to have a

senior team."

27/1/23 Epsom
Town suffer their first loss, 2-1 at Epsom Brotherhood. "A large
attendance" and an even game.

1-0 to Epsom
Brotherhood after 25 minutes (Bowes), and HT was 1-0 to them. Parr equalised
after 60 minutes but an 88th minute

winner for
Moir handed Epsom Town their first league defeat.

Future Epsom
Town players Percy Standen and Fred (CF) Watts played for EB this day.

31/1/23 Sutton
Wanderers v Epsom Weds. Provisional.

1/2/23
Reported that Hugh Bradley was replaced by P Hornbrook as Secretary of Sutton
& District League.

He would hold
the position until future Epsom Secretary Sid Basford took over. Bradley then
replaced JJ Goossens,

(future
Chairman of Sutton United), as Chairman of the League.

reported on
2/2/23 that Epsom Town beat Croydon M.O. 2-1 at Croydon but were missing four
players. Not convinced yet that this was an Epsom Town game,

especially as
firsts and reserves both played on 27th January. Almost certainly Epsom
Wednesday.

Feb 23 J.Bance
and F.Mellish are at Dorking

3/2/23 Epsom
Town v Banstead is p-p for the SJC QF tie v Crusaders at Raynes Park.
Crusaders are a famous old name from Victorian days.

Epsom Town win
2-0, and A Tratthen has returned to the side.

Crusaders have
been in existence for 25 years and "are a formidable lot". They won
the Southern Suburban League last season.

They play at
the London Playing Fields at Raynes Park, although originated from the
Clapham area. "A fair number of spectators"

and an even
game with Ernie Sperring having more to do of the two keepers. Luckily he was
at his best. Parr scored early from a

Barton pass
and hooked the ball into the net off of the post, and Epsom Town settled a
bit from that point.

Ground was
very heavy and sticky. A gruelling game. Epsom were less used to these
conditions than the home team, but gradually

got into the
game. HT 1-0 up. Slightly uphill in second half, but had the wind behind
them. All players did well. Barton scored the

second from a
Wesson cross.

Feb 23 Tim
Coleman the Amateur International and future Coach is at Dulwich Hamlet

10/2/23 A
record attendance was hoped for, as Epsom Town played Gillett-Stephens, the
Bookham works team in Leatherhead

Hospital
Shield SF. Epsom won 5-0, although it was only 1-0 after 70 minutes when G-S
suffered an injury. 10 men. Hard fought

match. Other
semi is between the two Leatherhead sides. Reference to Fortyfoot Road having
"an exceptionally big slope".

17/2/23
Friendly win for Epsom Town by 2-0 over Wimbledon Strollers at Horton. J
Coppen penalty after 15 minutes, then Wimbledon

suffered an
injury before HT. 10 men. Pentycross got a second goal towards the close.
" A splendid performance."

17/2/23
Leatherhead Rose beat Leatherhead 4-1 in the Leatherhead Hospital Shield and
will meet Epsom in the Final.

2/3/23
reported that Crusaders have protested about the eligibility of A Tratthen,
but this appeal is dismissed at an SCFA hearing, and Epsom Town go

through to the
semi-final, where they will play Westcott at Dorking F.C., Pixham Lane. Also
reported that Harold Keeling is out for

the rest of
the season with an injured muscle. We will play the winners of Thornville or
Caterham M.H. in the Final, as this is the other Semi-Final.

3/3/23 Ewell
1-3 Epsom Town. Ewell keeper Heaseman injured early. 10 men. Pentycross and
Parr scored. Ewell's goal came from the penalty spot.

3/3/23 former
Epsom player in an earlier incarnation, Arthur "Alby" Holt scores
HT for West Norwood in their 3-2 win at Leytonstone in the Isthmian League.

10/3/23 Surrey
Junior Cup SF against Westcott is held at Dorking F.C. in front of nearly
2,000 people. Both the large and small gates

at Pixham Lane
will be open! K.O. 3.30, but gates only opening half an hour before this.

Epsom Town won
3-0 and were the better side, although the Westcott keeper was knocked out
"for several hours" and ended up

in hospital.
Westcott changed to green and white (their pre-war colours) as there was a
colour clash. Epsom had a fortunate early

penalty, then
Day headed in number two, from a corner, but in doing so, took the keeper out
too. He was allowed home the next day!

Herald says
more than 1,500 attended. First appearances at this stage for either club.
Westcott keeper was W.Gravett, and he was

injured as the
second goal was scored when Day headed in a Tratthen corner. Coppen had got
the first with a penalty for handball.

HT 2-0.
Westcott improved when down to ten men, but Reg Sperring scored on 49 minutes
from long range, and the game was over.

Pentycross had
a good game, although the Herald remarked that none of the three goals were
scored by a striker.

10/3/23 Surrey
Minor Cup SF @ West Street saw Cheam beat ChristChurch (Gipsy Hill) 3-1. HT
0-0. Reporter thanks the Ewell

Secretary for
the use of the ground.

17/3/23 Epsom
Town defeat Banstead MH 3-0 at Horton. They lost the toss and were against a
strong wind in the first half which

finished 0-0.
Then Tratthen's shot was half saved and Parr scored, then Pentycross got two
more, the first from a Parr pass, and the

next from a
solo run. Reg Sperring played a great game says Herald.

March 23
reference to WJ Keeling's shop in the High Street. Telephone Epsom 453.
Harold Keeling is now fitter and is to play

for the reserves next
week.

24/3/23 In
Final of Surrey Junior Cup at Sutton United, Epsom draw 1-1 with Caterham MH.
Epsom had led at HT but were pegged

back in the
second half. In the last 15 minutes, Epsom's goal had many narrow escapes,
and there was "brilliant goalkeeping" from

Ernie
Sperring. The match attracted a large crowd including SCFA Secretary Mr
Wilson, and the Epsom Club President,

Lieutenant-Colonel
JR Lord was present too. It looks like extra time was not played, and a
replay was required at Dorking on 7/4/23.

"A big
crowd at the Sutton sports ground". Epsom were tired and overplayed at
times, but still led. Ground was in very good condition

in a match
that was interesting from start to finish. Some excellent work on both sides.
Epsom were the winners "on points" in the

first half,
and Barton scored from a Wesson corner. Day only just missed shortly after.
Ernie Sperring still had work to do, and was

at his best
again. Pentycross hit the post, but the ball came out again. The County
Secretary said at half time that "Epsom have

played a good
game", but the second half was much tougher. Epsom were "a worried
and struggling lot, and only pluck and luck

kept them from
being beaten". Caterham equalised early on in the second half, after
Sperring had parried a shot from the right wing.

From this
point Caterham had most of the game, and missed two fairly open goals from
close distance. Epsom will have to improve

if they are to
win the replay. There was no better player on the field than Day, but Barton
has struck a patch of indifferent form.

Reg Sperring
struggled in the second half after taking a knock to the body in the first
half, and Phyall's curly head was involved

regularly.
"The Epsom defence came perilously near to a floundering state in the
last quarter of an hour".

The gate from
this match was £48 which is to be divided into thirds (after expenses).

March 23 The
Epsom Town Club has an annual prize giving. Future Chairman Charles Pettett
(comedian and tongue twisters) was

present at the
gathering.

30/3/23 On
Good Friday, Advertiser say that Epsom defeat Cheam in the Epsom Hospital Cup
SF, but early next season, it refers to

an outstanding
semi against Epsom Brotherhood which was won 8-1 on 1/9/23. This must have
been a QF.

Herald
confirms that this was a first round tie, and they are now in the QF. Epsom
Town win 5-1. R Coleman scored midway through

the first
half, then Jack Parr got the second. HT 2-0. Coleman, Parr, and Billy Green
made it 5-0 before a late penalty for Cheam as

Epsom Town dominated.

31/3/23 Epsom
Town beat Ashtead 7-1. The League reports this as 2-1 and remains this way in
the League table, but Epsom

definitely
score seven. Ashtead started one short for the first ten minutes, and Epsom
were 3-0 up early through Parr, Sperring and

Barton. Then
3-1, but Coleman and Barton made it 5-1 at HT. Just before HT Ernie Sperring
was injured and carried off. 10 men with

Fred Keeling
taking his place. In second half Killick for Ashtead was injured and Ashtead
were also down to ten. Then Barton got two

more goals.
Before the finish, G Puddock and J Coppen also had to leave the field
injured, and Epsom were down to 8! Ashtead then

got a penalty
but the penalty from Tom Edwards (future player) was well saved by Keeling.

April 23
reported that former pre war Epsom player Syd Skinner has joined Sutton
United. Formerly with West Norwood.

2/4/23 On
Easter Monday at Ashtead FC, Epsom Town win the Leatherhead Hospital Shield
with a 1-0 win over Leatherhead Rose.

The trophy was
presented to Reg Sperring by Lady Blades, while local MP Sir Rowland Blades
also congratulated the winners.

Admission was
6d adults and 3d for children. Attendance 2,150 receipts £56. Goal scored
just before HT during a melee, but it was

awarded to
Pentycross. Ashtead were at Woodfield Lane back then, apparently sharing with
the cricket club, but not certain.

The trophy was
supplied by HM Merriman, and it now sits in the window of Mr Elmslie's shop
in High Street, Epsom.

Leatherhead
history book says the goal was hotly disputed as to whether the shot from
Pentycross after 43 minutes actually crossed the line.

"A large
crowd" said Herald, but it doesn't confirm any figures. The goal didn't
reach the net, but had definitely crossed the line before

the keeper
threw it back out. Play was fairly even, and Parr and Tratthen missed chances
before the goal came. Parr shot, and the

keeper didn't
hold it properly and Pentycross forced it over the line. Ref was in a good
position says Herald. Leatherhead Rose hit

the bar in the
second half. "The members of the winning team, without doing anything
remarkable, all gave a good display,

particularly
the brothers Sperring.

The
Leatherhead Hospital Shield is on display in Leatherhead Museum. It is big!
Pictures taken.

The local
papers refer to a silver trophy, but it is definitely a wooden shield.

7/4/23 A
special train and several motor coach parties went from Epsom to Dorking for
the replayed final of the Surrey Junior Cup

against
Caterham Mental Hospital. Extra time was required, as the crowd had "an
afternoon of thrills and enthusiasm".

DB Pentycross
had scored from long distance, which was the feature of the match, but Epsom
lost 2-1 in extra time. Paper says

both
Caterham's goals came from corner kicks, but that is the only description, so
not sure if they were actually direct from them.

Even though
game was played at Dorking, and was advertised, there was no report in the
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser!

History was
made with the running of a special train, says Herald. "Epsom football
enthusiasm has never hitherto reached such a

standard as to
compel the concession of special travelling facilities by the railway
authorities."

Caterham
started stronger than Epsom but without breaking through, and game was very
even for a while afterwards. Epsom had

done their
homework and were concentrating more on shutting down the Caterham wingers.
HT 0-0. Pentycross had drifted to the

left wing and
shot from there. "At great pace the ball travelled straight for the
centre of the goal and passed through the goalkeeper's

outstretched
arms and into the net." Many hearty handshakes from his team mates! Just
when it looked like Epsom would win, a

scrambled goal
came from a corner "a rather wretched affair from Epsom's point of
view". Epsom nearly regained the lead, but it

went to extra
time. Caterham scored in the first fifteen minute period through their bald
headed centre-forward. "Report hath it that he

was once a
player in a first-class professional club". "Throughout the game he
played with cleverness and judgement". Horrocks

scored, quite
unmarked from a corner. The match was entirely free of any ill temper.
"Both sides can look back upon the two fights

with feelings
of great satisfaction."

Illustrated
Sutton & Epsom Mail was very critical of Epsom's performance, yet the
enormous report of the game in the same paper

said that
"it was one of the finest games seen for many a day" at Dorking.
Several charabancs travelled along with two train loads

and many cars,
all with their light and dark blue colours. Caterham chose to defend the
Railway End at Pixham Lane.

Referee was
S.S. Dendy (Croydon). Linesmen were AT Lambert and AF Gadd.

Caterham were
known as the Kruschens and played in Claret and Blue.  FULL REPORT IN
Caterham Weekly Press P12 14/4/23.

13/4/23
reported that A Tratthen has now returned home again and Harold Keeling is to
have a go at centre-forward in place of

Barton, who has lost
form.

14/4/23 A 3-1
victory on the ground of Old Suttonians saw Epsom Town clinch the League
title with three games left according to

Advertiser,
but Herald said they needed a point to be mathematically certain. Goal
Average was far superior to any other teams

though, but
title was officially clinched a week or two later. (NR)
Epsom's goals were F 45 A 11 while nearest
rivals Benhilton were

F45 A24 and
two points behind with one game left.

21/4/23 Projected Line Up for game v Banstead MH (A) is:
W.Mitchell, J.Coppin, A.Keeling, EC Phyall, D.Day, R.Sperring, H.Wesson,
D.Pentycross, H.Keeling,

J.Parr, R.Coleman.

21/4/23 Epsom
lose 1-0 at Banstead Mental Hospital in Sutton & District League, but
Epsom did not have the services of Ernie

Sperring, as
he had been selected for the Sutton & District League representative side
to play a friendly against Sutton United's

first team,
which ended 1-1, although neither side was at full strength, partly due to
Banstead MH withdrawing three of their players

from the
league side to play v Epsom instead! In fairness, Reg Sperring and DB
Pentycross also withdrew. (NR)

All that is
known about the game is that 4 reserves played but Day missed the game
because he thought it was at Horton! John Coppin

also missed
the game with a poisoned hand.

21/4/23 Sutton
United 1-1 Sutton & District League. Sperring played a good game as did
future Epsom players CF Watts and Joe Burrage. Sperring

made saves
worthy of Scanlan (the Sutton first team keeper). HT 1-1.

21/4/23
Leatherhead v Banstead in S & D Lge refereed by Future Secretary Sid
Basford.

Future player
EJ Olley plays for Surrey Juniors v Middx Juniors. "The most outstanding
player and the success of his side"

21/4/23 Sutton & District League with Ernie Sperring
in the line up draw 1-1 with Sutton United at Gander Green Lane. A future
Epsom player Joe Burrage, currently

with Epsom
Brotherhood, also plays.

27/4/23
Secretary L Miller puts in an appeal to the Herald asking for more support
and more players.

28/4/23 Epsom
Town v Banstead league match doubles as the Epsom Hospital Cup QF. Epsom Town
win this match 1-0 with a

goal from Reg
Sperring, who is then injured and a passenger. John Coppin remains out with
his poisoned hand.

May 23 DWG
Jones resigns as Chairman of West Ewell Social Club "Few men, if any,
know more of the Social village life than he

knows".
There is reference to him having entered Ewell about ten years ago, but from
reports, you'd think he'd been there all his life.

28/4/23
Leatherhead Rose defeat Epsom St Barnabas 2-0 in EHC SF and will play Epsom
in final next year, although Epsom hadn't

yet negotiated
the semi final v Epsom Brotherhood. Herald is critical and asks why this game
couldn't have been played at either

Epsom ground.
An attempt was made to play it at Ewell on 12/5 but this failed, and
eventually is was to be held at Ashtead next

September.
Herald says that the hospital will lose financially as a result, but I can't
see how.

5/5/23 Sid
Basford also referees Leatherhead v Epsom Town in Sutton & District
League at Forty Foot Road. Lost 1-2 in the

final game of
the season. (NR)

Future
opponents Millwall United listed as playing at Lockes Sports Ground in
1922/23. Are they still there in 1927/28?

Reserves:

Sutton & District League Division 2

Position

6th out of 10

League
Handbook from 1922/23 states the following:

Secretary and address

Colours

Ground

Belmont

G.R.Lowe - 42 Kings Road, Belmont

Navy Blue jerseys with white
cuffs and

Banstead
Downs (2 mins Belmont Station)

collars, white knickers

Brocks Pyros

J.H.Spiller - 11 Council Houses, Collingwood
Road,

Red and Black stripes, white
knickers

Brocks
Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane

Sutton

Burgh Heath

A.H.Whittington - 4 Memory Cottages, Burgh
Heath

Black and Amber

Behind
church off main road, Burgh Heath

Carshalton Hill United

R.Hunt - 34 Cranfield Road East,

Royal Blue Jerseys, White
Knickers

Wrythe
Lane Recreation Ground, Carshalton

Carshalton on the Hill

Chamois Athletic

W.Barham - 16 London Road, Beddington Corner,

Claret Jerseys, Cambridge
sleeves

Mitcham Common

Mitcham

Cheam Village Athletic

P.W.Garner - 2 Dersingham Villas, Strathearn Rd

Royal Blue Jerseys, White
Knickers

Malden Road, Cheam

Sutton

Epsom Juniors

Len (EL) Miller - "Ivanhoe" Chase
Road, Epsom

Oxford and Cambridge Blue
vertical stripes

Horton Mental Hospital, Epsom

Hackbridge United

J.C.Sullivan - 6 Dibbin's Cottages, London
Road,

Pale Blue Jerseys, White
knickers

Nightingale Road, Hackbridge

Hackbridge

Leatherhead Reserves

A.E.Sayers - Hill Top, Leatherhead

Navy and Sky

Recreation
Ground Forty Foot Road, Leatherhead

West Ewell Reserves

F.G.Slade - 101 Horton Hill, Epsom

Red jerseys, White knickers

Chesterfield Road, West Ewell

Woodcote United

D.E.Clarkson, 9 Bute Gardens, Wallington

Navy and sky blue jerseys,
White knickers

Stafford
Road Recreation Ground, Wallington

Sept 22 Burgh Heath
replaced Sutton Shamrocks who withdrew before the
start of the season.

2/9/22
Friendly v Epsom Brotherhood III (A) says Epsom Herald - provisional. Not
sure if this was played as a club trial is played on same day.

16/9/22 Beat
West Ewell 6-0 in opening game at West Ewell. Scorers were Matthews (2),
Burl, Sears, Puddock, and R Coleman.

Is Puddock Epsom's linesman in the mid 20's?
Yes.

23/9/22 Res
win 2-1 at Carshalton Hill United in a very fast league game with scorers
being Mitchell and Sears.

Carshalton
Hill United played at Wrythe Recreation Ground.

28/10/22
Leatherhead Res 2-2 Epsom Town Res at Fortyfoot Road Rec HT 1-2. Epsom were
much the better side, but the Leatherhead keeper played well.

11/11/22
Hackbridge Utd v Epsom Reserves p-p

18/11/22 Reserves lose 1-4 to Burgh Heath. HT 0-2 then 1-2
before Burgh Heath pulled away. First defeat of season. 1-0 down after 10
minutes then 2-0 soon after. Epsom

reduced the
arrears with a penalty for handball to make it 1-2.

25/11/22
Projected line up for res: Green, Miller, Puddock, Osborne, Hale, Collis,
Hayter, Coleman, Holliday, Burl, Jaycocks

2/12/22  Res lose
1-0 to Old Suttonians Res in a friendly at Horton. HT was 0-1 and Burfitt
played well in goal for Epsom while Aldridge and Jaycocks were our best
forwards.

16/12/22 Reference to a friendly for an Epsom Town third
team. Epsom Town III 0-3 Old Suttonians III. HT 0-0. Played at Horton and Old
Suttonians had the benefit of the wind

and slope in
the second half.

23/12/22
Reserves beat Belmont Res 5-2. Belmont arrived with only 6 players, and two
home supporters helped out. Charlie Aldridge

had his first
run out after his broken collar bone, and scored 2 as did A Hayton, with R
Coleman getting the other one. However, Aldridge is listed as playing

three weeks
earlier v Old Suttonians. A different Aldridge? Probably L.Aldridge.

30/12/22 Res v
Carshalton Hill Utd p-p in S & D League.

Res table
after this game has Pld 10 W6 D1 L3, but I have Pld 9 and am missing a win.
GD of 22-14 is correct.

It turns out
that it was an error, and Res had only played 9.

6/1/23 No game
for reserve team but Herald provides a projected line up anyway.

13/1/23 Res v
Hackbridge (H) p-p

20/1/23
Reference to Epsom Town Res ('B) at home to Brocks Pyros Res in a friendly,
but not played as Epsom firsts were at home.

27/1/23 Res
win 5-1 at Belmont Res

27/1/23 Epsom
Town III defeat Great Western Railway fourth team 4-2.

3/2/23 Burgh
Heath 8-0 Epsom Town Reserves in S & D League.

17/2/23
Expected line up for Epsom Town Res ('B'): R Brookman, A Puddock, GT Puddock,
RJ Scovell, L Cropley, L Aldridge, A Mitchell,

R Coleman, L
Miller, F Jaycocks, W Sears.  They
didn't have a game though!

3/3/23 Res
drew 2-2 with Carshalton Hill United. Res were 2-0 up through Sears and
Jaycocks after 6 minutes, then at 2-1 the visitors

were awarded a
penalty which Brookman saved, but it had to be retaken for encroachment. He
saved it again, but the rebound was

knocked in. 2-2.

10/3/23
Hackbridge v Reserves p-p. Maybe because of the first team's SJC SF tie?

March 23 A
line up advises there is both a W.Mitchell and an A.Mitchell

17/3/23 Cheam
4-1 Epsom Town Reserves in S & D League.

24/3/23 Res v
Woodcote Utd p-p.

30/3/23 Harold Keeling is recovering from his injury and
hopes to play this day before playing for the Firsts on 2/4. However, he
doesn't get back into the first team

for the big Cup Finals. Projected line up is R.Brookman,
Harold Keeling, G.Puddock, Stanley Collis, L.Cropley, R.Scovall, A.Mitchell,
W.Mitchell, R.Burl, L.Aldridge, W.Sears.

30/3/23
Ashtead Res 1-2 Epsom Town Reserves in a friendly. Pentycross and Miller
scored.

7/4/23 Res
lose 1-0 at Brocks Pyros in S & D League.

14/4/23 Projected line up for Reserves at home to Woodcote
United is R.Brookman, S.Wheeler, L.Miller, R.Scovall, G.Puddock, L.Aldridge,
G.Keen, T.Johnson, R.Burl,

F.Jaycocks,
W.Sears. The result was a 2-2 draw.

21/4/23 Projected Line Up for Leatherhead home league game
is: EC Burfitt, S.Wheeler, L.Miller, A.Puddock, G.Puddock, R.Scovall,
R.Brookman (outfield), A.Mitchell,

R.Burl,
W.Sears, L.Aldridge.

21/4/23 Res
beat Leatherhead 5-2 in S & D League.

28/4/23 No
game for Reserves. 2 games are still outstanding.

5/5/23 Res lose
3-1 to Cheam this day, and Hackbridge game is awarded to opponents with a 0-0
scoreline.

Other
affiliated Local Teams:

Secretary

From SCFA Handbook

Affiliated

Epsom Brotherhood

H Boxall

70 Miles Road, Epsom

Epsom Athletic

WS Smith

7 Munsard Road, Epsom

St Barnabas

RW Calcutt

Clifford Villa, Hook Road, Epsom

Dec 1909

West Ewell

FG Slade

101 Horton Hill, Epsom

June 1921

2/12/22 Percy
Mitchell a Mitcham Wanderers player suffered a collision in a game v
Summerstown, and died later of his injuries.

Amongst
various opinions, the inquest recorded an "accidental death".

28/4/23 First
ever FA Cup final at Wembley sees a 2-0 win for Bolton over West Ham in the
famous "White Horse" final. Paper says

that many
Epsom men went on Saturday, and all returned safely!

19/4/23 Queen
Elizabeth (queen mum) got married to future King George VI (Duke of York at
the time).

8/5/23 Jack
Hobbs scores his hundredth hundred against Somerset. Would go on to score a
World Record 197 that still stands.