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

L

Southern Suburban League Premier Division CHAMPIONS!

SSL Sec
was AP Hall 2 Lebanon Road, West Hill, Wandsworth.

EHC

W

Leatherhead Rose

1-0

held over from 22/23

SHC

W

Wallington

1-0

SLCC

SF

Tooting Town

0-2

SIC

SF

Redhill 'A' (Res)

0-1

President

Lieutenant-Colonel JR Lord C.B.E.

Chairman

Hugh (HC) Bradley

new

Secretary

Billy (WE) Green

new

Ashbourne House, Waterloo Road, Epsom

Treasurer

Fred (AJ) Keeling

new

Committee:

No mention of committee elected at AGM in
report.

Home Ground:

Grounds of Horton Hospital

Club Captain

Reg Sperring

26/5/23 Sutton
& District League Presentation evening at Sutton Adult School - Chairman
Hugh Bradley. Epsom Town are presented

with their
trophy as Champions of the Sutton & District League Premier Division. The
club are leaving to become Intermediate.

Handbook
produced by League for this season.

May 23 Billy
Green top scores with 60 for Epsom Rovers C.C.. Has scored 213 in 4 completed
innings this year.

30/5/23 AGM -
venue unknown

Paper headline
states ""Wonderful Year" for Epsom Town Club"

The club has
had a wonderful year from both the playing and financial side reported Billy
Green (Secretary) on Wednesday evening.

The club were
finalists in the Surrey Junior Cup, winners of the Leatherhead Hospital
Shield, and winners of the Sutton & District

League. It was
believed that they raised about £60-£70 for charity.

President
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord  was
re-elected, while Green was appointed as Secretary, and AJ Keeling

was elected
Treasurer. Assistant Secretary was Ernie Sperring, while Reg Sperring was
elected captain. The club has been

awarded
Intermediate status, and has been accepted into the Southern Suburban League,
while they will also enter the South London

Charity Cup,
the Surrey Intermediate Cup, the Epsom Hospital cup, and Leatherhead Hospital
Shield again.

Doesn't look
like they entered the EHC or LHS this year though.

Hugh Bradley
is elected Chairman, while Billy Green is the new Secretary, replacing Mr
Miller. Bradley states that it has always

been an
ambition of his to see Epsom possess a good football club. The club believes
that the step up into the Southern Suburban

League is a
step up, but they will not be satisfied until they are a senior outfit.
Bradley's appointment wasn't universally appreciated,

and there
would be future questions over some of his commitment, as working parties at
West Street in future years clashed with his

duties as a
church organist.

2/6/23
Wallington AGM advises a move to a private ground in Plough Lane. Not sure
where they moved from.

June 23 GW
Challis, father of future player WH Challis is selected for the Civil Service
trial match (cricket). Played for Epsom Postal.

and for Epsom
in the early 1900's.

June 23 WJ
Keeling, father of Fred (AJ) and Harold, has a property at 15 High Street. It
is a house furnishing shop. This venue was

apparently
used for club meetings in the past. In preparation for the eventual High
Street widening, he has the portico at the front removed

so that there
is more pavement available. His property was originally the Literary
Institute and was built in the 1840's. "in the forties".

13/6/23 SCFA
AGM at Holborn Restaurant in London.

20/6/23
Crystal Palace AGM refers to their new ground being available at Clifton
Road, and work starting very shortly. Currently at the

Nest, opposite
Selhurst Station, but last season there. Archibald Leitch will be supervising
the new ground (Selhurst Park).

27/6/23 AGM of
Leatherhead Hospital at Leg of Mutton in Ashtead. Medals given to the two
teams that evening.

Sept 23
Merstham move to their new ground at Albury Road. Still there now.

5/7/23 Epsom
Town's Annual Dinner at the Spread Eagle on a Thursday evening. Presided over
by Col. Lord, who suggested that everyone

remove their
jackets, as it was very hot. Dinner was to celebrate the previous season's
successes, which give rise to the hopes of

further
promotion to Senior circles in the near future. Col. Lord had lost none of
the enthusiasm that he had as a young man.

He said that
it was the club's fifth season, (this indicates a playing start of 1918/19 -
check - YES)

and it was a
happy idea of someone who will remain nameless, that the title of the club
should be changed from Epsom

Juniors to
Epsom Town. In the past season, the club had won the Leatherhead Hospital
Shield, the Sutton & District League Premier

Division, and
runners-up in the Surrey Junior Cup, with Epsom Hospital Cup still
outstanding at the semi-final stage. If they could win that

too (they did)
their record would be even more remarkable.

He stated that
the first and second teams did well, and that the first team owed a great
deal to its captain, Reg Sperring, with the second

team being
captained by CH Collis, who also did well, and was assisted well by its
vice-captain GT Puddock. The Business affairs of the

club were
admirably handled by the Committee, and particularly by its Chairman G
Elmslie, and its Secretary EL Miller, while finances

were
"excellently conducted" by Jack Parr. The Chairman then proposed a
toast to the club.

Secretary Mr L
Miller responded on behalf of the club, and said it had been a great pleasure
to be associated with a club that had

achieved such
success. He was sorry he was relinquishing the position, and in wishing the
club every success, he would say that in

Mr WE Green,
the club would have a Secretary who would do better than he had done (cries
of "No" from the audience)!

Hugh Bradley
stated that it was good that Col. Lord attended the matches and took a live
interest in the club. Also said that the Committee

had been
practically re-organised, and he had been elected Chairman of it. Certain
comments had been made by certain persons

regarding his
accepting of the position, to which he objected. His sole reason for
accepting the office was because he saw the realisation

of an ambition
he had long had-seeing Epsom have a senior team, and Epsom was large enough
to have such. He advised that a season

or two ago, he
had tried his utmost to secure the amalgamation of the two leading Epsom
clubs, and having one that would do worthy of

Epsom, but
this proved unsuccessful. Now it was a possibility, and he hadn't just taken
the job because the club had a good season, as

he knew too
much about football to think that the club could do the same every season.
The programme ahead is a long one, and it was

essential that
there should be complete loyalty to the President, the Committee, and other
officers. A list of new rules was to be submitted

for the
meeting the following Wednesday (11th July), and he also stressed the
importance of any player who had to stand down for a

player
considered better by the Committee to accept the decision in a loyal and
sporting spirit.

Col. Lord
advised that he was brought up in Blackburn, and played for his college and
his County, and advised that the game was played

2000 years ago
by the Greeks and the Romans and had always been the game of the people. He
gave a quick history lesson, and

explained that
his memories of Blackburn Olympic and Blackburn Rovers and of the F.A.Cup
being brought to Blackburn for the first time,

and of it
being stolen, but he was not responsible for that (laughter).

Medals for
Leatherhead Hospital Shield, Surrey Junior Cup, and Sutton & District
Premier Division were all presented. All the players

except A
Tratthen were present and were loudly applauded as they received their
medals. Medal winners were Ernie Sperring, Fred (AJ)

Keeling, J
Coppin, EC Phyall, D Day, H Wesson, DB Pentycross, WH Barton, Jack Parr, A
Tratthen and Harold (HR) Keeling.

14/7/23 Epsom
C.C. v Epsom Rovers C.C. - an old established fixture. Bert Green, Billy
Green, Jack Parr, Harold Keeling and Ernie

Sperring are
all playing for Epsom Rovers.

Aug 23 Ernie
Sperring has signed Amateur forms with Charlton Athletic a third division
side in the football league. "He is a player who

ought to go
far in football", "his brother Reggie" "has also been
approached by the Charlton club, but without success so far". It would

be a great
loss to Epsom if either left the club says Herald.

18/8/23 a
brief trial match is planned, with a fuller trial the following Saturday.

18/8/23
Mitcham Wanderers have their first trial at their new ground in Streatham
Road.

Aug 23 Epsom
Brotherhood are running a Wednesday side with meetings at the Railway Hotel
in Station (now Upper High Street) Road.

17/8/23
reported that Epsom Town and Epsom Brotherhood are trying to get the Ewell
ground for their outstanding semi-final in the

Epsom Hospital
Cup. It is eventually played at Ashtead's new ground which is opened this
year with this fixture.

24/8/23
reported that Ernie Sperring had been invited to a trial at Charlton, but was
unable to get the time off of work.

Aug 23
reported that Wallington have secured the use of a private pitch at Plough
Lane, Wallington. Would be used in future by the

P.O. Engineers
in the London League.

18/8/23 trial
sees two good new players in Tom Kirk and Sid Bristow. They have both played
in Kent League football, also FE Kent

(Dorking) did
well at the trial.

Aug 23
reference to future Committee member Mr CH Blackadar, who was responsible for
a lot of the war time baseball matches

against the
Canadians in Epsom, and at Stamford Bridge. He is now a permanent resident in
Epsom.

Aug 23
reference to Epsom Athletic having emulated Epsom Town by keeping the same or
similar players since formation. They hope

to rival Epsom
Town and Epsom Brotherhood. Coppin has left Epsom Town for Athletic but
returns later.

31/8/23
reported preview of the Epsom Hospital Cup semi-final tie v Epsom Brotherhood
at Ashtead. K.O.3.30

It is Epsom
Town's first game of the season (EB had a friendly last week). There was a
dispute over which ground to use so as to get

the best gate.
Herald feels that either one of the Epsom grounds could have been used. The
teams are to be a close as possible to last

years squads.
Future player Fred Watts is to play for Epsom Brotherhood.

31/8/23
reported prospects for this season. Herald says that some people think this
is too big a step up, but the club feels that it has to

try. It will
also be tough to field a good second team too.

Other new
players at the trials listed as de Vulder and Wormleighton (both keepers).
Ernie Sperring played and did well at outside right,

so as to give
each keeper a half to see what they could do. He has not yet gone near the
Charlton ground, and it is hoped that this will

remain the
case says Herald.

Clubs in
Southern Suburban League are: London Caledonians Strollers (effectively their
reserves), Dulwich Hamlet Strollers, Balham

Athletic,
Bromley 'A', "The Times" Newspaper, Woolwich Poly, Crusaders (Epsom
played them in last year's Surrey Junior Cup),

Carshalton
Athletic 'A' (I think it's their reserves) and Braby's. I am fairly sure
there is an 11th team too, but will wait and see.

Caledonian
Strollers are due to visit on 22nd Sept and may bring the Amateur
International AT Ralston says Herald.

Caledonian
Strollers were not in the league, but just friendly opponents. The League
totalled 9 clubs to start with.

Reserves have
drawn Belmont (A) in 1st round of Epsom Hospital Cup, and Epsom Brotherhood
in the Leatherhead Hospital Shield first

round. EC
Phyall is leaving the area and Coppin is going to Epsom Athletic, but the
remainder of the squad remain.

1/9/23 Held
over semi final of Epsom Hospital Charity Cup played at neutral Ashtead saw
Epsom beat Epsom Brotherhood 8-1 in

a game of bad
feeling. Early injury to M.Lewins (EB) saw him in hospital, but Smith (EB)
was also sent off near the end. In final, Epsom

Town will meet
Leatherhead Rose. "No one anticipated that Epsom would win by 8 goals.
Last season, Brotherhood inflicted one of

Epsom's rare
defeats, and this game was expected to be much closer, despite EB finishing
with 9 players. "It is unfortunate that these

two clubs
can't meet without something unpleasant occurring". Just as well they
are unlikely to meet again for a while says Herald.

The injured Lewins would become an Epsom player a few
years later. He actually broke a bone in his right leg and spent time at
Cottage Hospital.

This game was
the official opening of Ashtead's new ground, presumably now at Barnett Wood
Lane. They were at Woodfield Lane last

year, as Epsom
won the Leatherhead Hospital Shield there earlier this year. The new ground
was not very flat, and had ridges across it,

but there was
"a fair sized crowd" having the station nearby certainly helped
says Herald. Referee was future Secretary Sid Basford.

Herald said
"there is something unnatural about having a cup semi-final at the
opening of the football season". Epsom clubs clearly have

much to learn
on the organisational front. Game should have been played in Epsom, but both
teams appeared to want a neutral venue, so

it was moved
out to Ashtead, where the locals saw their new ground opened with a match
that had nothing to do with their team.

The ground is
near the station, but if the surface could be flattened, it would be good.
"A fair sized crowd" witnessed a surprisingly large

defeat. Epsom
Brotherhood lost one of their players injured in the first half (Payne -
centre half), who had been doing well until then. He

struggled on
gamely for a while with foot trouble, but had to leave eventually, and after
being examined, was conveyed to hospital by the

Brotherhood
President, Mr JG Beaumont.  In the
second half, they were to lose one of their half backs, Smith, who was sent
off, so

Brotherhood
finished with 9 men, "but even with 11 they could not have escaped
defeat unless unseen angels had assisted in the

guarding of
their goal! Town's experience of many cup games last season did them a lot of
good.

Score was 0-0
before Payne's injury, although play was in Epsom Town's favour before then.
1st goal from a corner led to a shot being

punched out by
a defender, and Sperring scored the penalty. Pentycross got the second,
although there was a question about the ball

going out of
play in the build up. HT 2-0. Goals came frequently in the second half. Parr
played at outside left instead of his usual inside

left. Best
goal of the game was from the opposition through future player Fred Watts,
the popular outside right, although he did little else

in this match.
Reg Sperring and Jack Parr "played duets which the Brotherhood would
rather not have listened to". "Barton sometimes

joined in and
there was a trio!" Pentycross was quiet at centre forward and prefers
inside right. Phyall played there, despite usually being

one of the
halves. Smith was not the first player to commit a foul, but the time for
action was long overdue, and Sid Basford sent him off

in a tricky
game to referee for an Epsom resident. He performed his duties
conscientiously and with impartiality. The Town played a

reserve back
in Miller who made several mistakes in the first half, while Keeling at left
back was outstanding.

7/9/23
reported that Micky Smith is joining Epsom from Sutton. He lives and works in
Epsom as a railway booking clerk.

7/9/23
reported that Epsom Wednesday have formed. A number of years ago Epsom had a
very good Thursday side (early closing was

on Thursdays
in those days) and was stronger than any of the Epsom Saturday sides of their
day. Secretary: FJ Burrow, 25 Wyeth Road

Epsom.

8/9/23 Epsom
Town win Epsom Hospital Cup Final 1-0 over Leatherhead Rose " A clean
interesting encounter played in glorious

weather"
Both Sperrings and Keeling were very safe, but Parr was the best on the
pitch. Rose played in the Premier Division of the

Kingston &
District League. K.O. 3.45. Largest gate ever at Epsom Brotherhood says
Herald.

Glorious
weather, more for cricket than football. Pitch is improving at Epsom
Brotherhood and it is also to be lengthened. A well contested

match. Rose
only had ten men after 20 minutes following an injury to Potter the right
back. The Town were just the better team and result

was about
fair. The Rose goal was far busier than the Epsom one, but Atkins missed a
chance to equalise for Rose, "but like several of

the Epsom
forwards, he failed to keep his brain in an ice box, or near it at the
critical moment"

Epsom's
exhibition was not altogether satisfactory. Too much fiddling by the
forwards.

Goal was from
a precise corner by Sperring, which needed just a touch by Phyall to put it
in the net. Goal scored when Rose were down

to ten men,
and it looked like it was on its way in anyway. Team was the same as the week
before but Day took Miller's place in the

second half
after Miller had a nasty nose knock.

Sept 23 Reg
Stimson playing for Woking Reserves and occasional first team - Res leading
scorer

Sept 23 Epsom Rovers Cricket Club play, like Epsom Town,
at Horton Hospital, and many footballers also play for them. The Herald
provided averages for

the 1923
season as follows:

Won 12, drawn 2 lost 3

Batting

Innings

Runs

Not Out

High Score

Average

Billy Green

11

311

1

63

30.10

Reg Sperring

6

127

1

42

25.40

Jack Parr

13

251

1

91

20.88

Ernie Sperring

11

187

1

58

18.70

Harold Keeling

10

84

2

33*

10.50

Fred Keeling

1

34

0

34

34.00

Bowling

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wickets

Average

Jack Parr

118

21

320

21

15.25

Fred Keeling

4

2

4

1

4.00

In addition,
Jack Parr had 9 catches while Harold Keeling and Billy Green had eight.

15/9/23 Hugh
Cyril Bradley - Chairman of Epsom Town F.C. marries Emily Edith Keen. Bradley
is listed with an address of Kenmure,

St James' Road
Sutton, while Miss Keen lived at 100 Miles Road Epsom. Epsom Town gave a
wedding present. Honeymoon in Ventnor.

Wedding at St
Barnabas Church, Epsom. Bradley was the youngest son of Mr & Mrs J
Bradley. Both bride and groom are musical

and had helped
with the music at the church for a long time, Bradley as assistant organist,
and Keen as pianist. Had recently been

appointed
organist at St Mary's Burgh Heath. 70 to 80 guests present.

Herald reports
that there was great interest. The St Barnabas organist was Hugh's brother J
Edgar Bradley. Emily was the only daughter

of Mr &
Mrs Keen. Epsom Town F.C. gave a rose bowl as a present. Bradley had been the
original founder of the Sutton & District

League, and
it's first Secretary.

15/9/23
reference to F Chenery (related-yes) playing for Ewell Juniors Reserves this
day. Separate club, no connection to Ewell F.C.

Sept 23 Future
player F Mellish still at Dorking.

15/9/23 Epsom
Town include several new players for a friendly with West Norwood Reserves @
Horton. Line Up: Sperring, G Searle,

W Smith, D
Day, S Bristow, R Sperring, T Edwards, T Kirk, J Maxted, J Parr, W Kent
(wrong, F.E. Kent.) E Searle did not show and

was replaced
by Fred Keeling. HE was meant to be the right back.

J Maxted and
Tom Kirk both scored twice. "Senior teams should sit up and take
notice" as Epsom put out their strongest ever side, with

only 5 players
remaining from the previous year. The style of play was different "more
brainy work". The only doubt is that not all players

are local, but
this is rare these days says Herald. At present Epsom Town are "half and
half", neither junior nor senior. Maxted is

"certainly
an acquisition". Debuts for Maxted, Kirk, Kent, Bristow, Smith and T
Edwards (Ashtead). Harold Keeling played as a sub for

the visitors. Tom Edwards Date of Birth 31/3/1899.

15/9/23 Epsom
produce a match programme for the first time for 3d. "Never
before have Epsom sides shown themselves possessed

of a knowledge
of the value of publicity and advertisement, but they are beginning "to
shed their blinkers". No admission charge at Horton.

19/9/23
Baseball at Epsom C.C. with Canadians 15-14 Americans. Organised by Mr CH
Blackadar, who was player manager of the

Canadian team,
and is now living in Epsom. A future Epsom Town Committee member.

20/9/23 Ewell
Schoolboys 3-1 Epsom Church of England School at Ewell Rec. Occasional games
were played at West Street too.

E Jaquest, a
future Ewell player scores two, and G Digance got the third.

21/9/23
reported in Herald "Surrey Senior teams must begin to sit up and take
notice of Epsom Town which will in all probability soon be

in playing
strength, on an equality with them".

22/9/23 Epsom
Town are at home to London Caledonians Strollers, but it is not clear whether
it is friendly or league, as Herald refers to

their first
league hurdle the following week. It was a friendly.

A tough match,
especially in the last 15 minutes, but then Tom Kirk opened the scoring. HT
was 1-1 as "both teams continued to play

enterprising
football". Epsom were the better side in the second half, but Crawford
played very well in goal for the visitors and was warmly

applauded by
the home crowd. Ten minutes from the end Crawford collided with T.Edwards
injuring his foot, and leaving LCS with ten

men, and while
he was off the field, Maxted scored the winner.

26/9/23 Ewell
Ministry of Pensions Res 2-6 Epsom Wednesday. Played at the Colony (now St
Ebba's).

28/9/23
reported if weather is fine, then there is likely to be a big attendance for
Dulwich Hamlet Strollers. Herald now says that this is

the first
league game, and advises that "the first fence is a stiff one".
Currently no room for DB Pentycross "a skilful if somewhat selfish

player, but he
would return soon.

28/9/23 Ewell
Schoolboys 2-3 Cheam @ West Street. "On the ground of Ewell F.C."

29/9/23
Dulwich Hamlet Strollers have no home venue, so they will be seen again at
Epsom later this season. "A big crowd" was

present, and
ropes had to be situated around the pitch for the first time. Biggest ever
crowd at Horton at this time maybe?

Herald said
that "on Saturday, Epsom started on their new adventure, and started
well". Deserved to win this game v Dulwich Strollers.

In goal for
Dulwich was the brother of the international player Coleman, who plays for
the Dulwich senior team. Sultry weather for a game.

Tempers were
frayed as a result, and supporters were biased against Dulwich - "a
small minority who indulged in such unsportsmanlike

behaviour that
they thoroughly merited the rebuke they received from the referee." In
the second half the referee had to warn the players to

calm down, or
the next person to indulge would be sent off. First goal was a fine run and
shot from F.E. Kent, who shot just inside the far

post after
about 15 minutes. This was an equaliser, as Dulwich had already been leading
by then. Ernie Sperring played well, and stopped

Dulwich from
scoring again. Kirk put Epsom Town ahead before HT, and Reg Sperring scored
following a corner. Maxted was attempting

a solo run but
was fouled, and Smith mispen (POST). Smith played well, but isn't very fast.
Keeling is improving at full back, but not that

graceful!
Kirk, Bristow and Maxted showed their experience, and were involved in most
of the best work. Edwards hasn't settled down yet,

and won't do
so until later when he is moved from the wing to a back. "A big crowd -
for Epsom witnessed the match".

3/10/23 Future
player J.Bunce, currently with Dorking, selected for Surrey v London @
Wimbledon on this day.

03/10/23 Epsom
Weds 4-1 L.C.C. Trams (Wandsworth Depot) in friendly.

Oct 23 Balham
Athletic played at Raynes Park.

6/10/23 Epsom
Town defeat Balham Athletic 5-1 in Southern Suburban League. A calm day,
better than the gusts of the previous week.

"Not a
breath of air moving". Epsom won "overwhelmingly "but the
opponents did not appear the least bit annoyed! They had a poor defence

and H Delamare
did well in goal, keeping the score down. Epsom Town were 4-0 up in the first
half, and eased down in the second.

Bristow (25)
scored first from a corner by Kent, Wesson 2-0 and Maxted 3-0. Then Parr got
the fourth from a corner by Wesson, and he

got another in
the second half. When Balham scored they were cheered loudly. However, the
game was "a tame affair" and not as

exciting as
the week before. Balham Times suggested that the scorers were Bristow, Parr
Maxted and Bristow, with Maxted getting the

fifth, but
I'll stick with the Surrey Herald line up for now.

12/10/23
reported that Epsom play Wallington tomorrow in South London Charity Cup, and
having beaten them by 6 goals last year, the

"result
can't be in very much doubt". However, whilst Epsom had strengthened
their side, so had Wallington.

13/10/23 South
London Charity Cup beat Wallington 3-2 at Horton. Wallington were the best
team Epsom Town had faced this season

say
supporters, according to the paper. Epsom had been pegged back twice after
originally scoring in the first minute.

13/10/23 A
typical cup tie "fairly large number of people" saw Epsom Town edge
out Wallington 3-2. Edwards scored in the first minute,

but Wallington
equalised soon after. "This put life into an already lively game"
and "some first class football was then seen". Kirk put

Epsom ahead
again, but a penalty against Smith for handball meant that Wallington got it
back to 2-2. J Maxted scored before

HT to lead 3-2
at the change over, but oddly no more goals were scored in the match.

13/10/23 Team photo produced by the Sutton & Epsom
Illustratetd Mail in the form of an art plate if ordered in advance in the
Epsom district on 26/10/23.

15/10/23 Ewell
Schoolboys 2-2 Epsom Council School at West Street. Ht 1-1, and H.Hodges
scored twice.

17/10/23 Epsom
Wednesday 3-2 Cuddington - Scorers were E.Smith, Burrows, and C.Forward
(presume centre forward!).

19/10/23
reported that Epsom Town's attendances are "bordering on the thousand
mark weekly". The club also run charabancs from town

at 6d return.

Epsom are to
play Carshalton Athletic 'A' (Reserves) in Surrey Intermediate Cup. It was to
have been played at Colston Avenue, but the

pitch is being
used by their first team, so this game is now at Horton.

Oct 23 reference to Mr George (GB) Sperring winning at
Billiards for the Epsom Conservative Club this week. Father of Ernie and Reg,
and a vice-

president of
the Epsom Town club. F.A.Duplock also plays, and would have connections with
the football club in the future.

19/10/23 Ewell
Boys 9-0 Benhilton Schools in 1st round of Sutton & District League Cup @
West Street. HT 4-0.

20/10/23 Epsom
get a fright against Carshalton Athletic Res in SIC, as they trailed 2-0
nearing half time. Jack Parr scored just before HT

and then Reg
Sperring mispen (SAVE). DB Pentycross scored twice, having only been in the
side because J Maxted was playing

in a police
match. Smith was not eligible, but it is not clear why. Edwards took his
place with Barton coming in on the right wing.

Near the end
Kent mispen (SAVE) but Pentycross got the winner two minutes from the end.
Last season their "penalty king" was

John Coppin,
but he is at Epsom Athletic, although he returns shortly.

Illustrated
Sutton & Epsom Mail says that "the crowd at Horton grows bigger week
by week" Perhaps a record number for this game says

paper. Barton
struggled and he was barracked by the crowd. "At 2-0 down the crowd
seemed to wilt at the knees and fade away", but

they soon
recovered their old spirits. "One low shot from Parr ought to have
killed the gallant custodian!"

27/10/23 Epsom
were never extended as they beat The Times Newspaper 7-1 "very
one-sided". Times keeper was "exceptional". Maxted

missed two
sitters before scoring the first, and Pentycross made it 2-0 before HT. In
second half, Ernie Sperring didn't even have a goal

kick to deal
with, as Pentycross again, Parr (2) and Bristow with "two magnificent
drives" made it 7. Pentycross has now secured the

outside right
position for the time being.

Should have
been 6 up by half time says Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail. A strong
cross wind this day. The Times scored with a

suspicious
penalty from a rare breakaway. It was the Times' first season in the SSL too.

Check copies
of the Times for the days following this result for any fixtures, tables or
coverage of the SSL.

31/10/23 Epsom
Weds 3-0 Ewell Weds Scorers: Ede (2) and E.Smith

Oct 23 R
Wesson leaves for Epsom Brotherhood

3/11/23
"A partial shock" as Woolwich Poly end Epsom Town's 100% record
with a 1-1 draw. Epsom should have won by 5 or 6 said

report in
Herald, but Epsom had not much luck. Wind was also too strong. Epsom were a
goal behind at half time, after the centre forward

scored from 5 or 6 yards offside, and even then his shot
took a deflectionin off Micky Smith, but against the wind in the second half,
Maxted was

fouled in the
area and Bristow scored the penalty. Further Epsom pressure was unsuccessful,
and they had to settle for the draw.

Reg Sperring
was quoted after the game as saying that Epsom were "dead out of
luck" as the Woolwich goal survived 90 minutes of

"hair
raising escapes". The "large number of supporters present were kept
at fever pitch of excitement". Sid Bristow "is a great asset".

Nov 23 E.Olley
at Brighton Railway

Nov 23
F.Mellish at Dorking

5/11/23 Ewell
Boys 5-4 Dorking High School @ West Street.

7/11/23 Epsom
Weds 1-4 Sutton Wanderers

10/11/23 West
Norwood Res ("A") were unable to fulfil the fixture, so Sutton
United Reserves visited Horton for a friendly and were dispatched

3-0. Both
sides had players missing, and Fred Keeling went in goal for Epsom Town.
Pentycross and Maxted put Epsom 2-0 up at HT,

and in the
second half at one point "Epsom played the finest bit of football seen
from them during the whole of the season. It was so

dazzling that
after the spectators had been roused to a high pitch of enthusiasm, they
laughed ironically at the manner in which the

Sutton players
were left helpless. Maxted got the third from a Kent corner. Fred Keeling
"his great height and reach stood him in good

stead".
First Intermediate game of the season for Charlie Aldridge, who warrants
another trial while Jack Parr is out injured after the

Woolwich game.
This day F.E.Kent played inside left with Aldridge outside him. It was very
cold, which affected the attendance.

Nov 23 mention
in papers of a representative match for Epsom Town to be played at the
Russell Athletic Ground, West Street, and it is

hoped that a
big crowd will attend. This was next door to the Ewell ground. Confusing!
Game wasn't played, but a rep match against

the rest of
the Sutton & District League was played in Dec at Epsom Brotherhood's
ground. Russell Athletic played in Gibraltar Rec.

14/11/23
Cuddington 2-4 Epsom Weds @ Worcester Park.

17/11/23 Epsom
Town suffer first defeat of season 1-0 at home to Wimbledon Strollers
(Reserves) (friendly). Isthmian League Reserve Division.

Herald says
Epsom were "exceptionally unfortunate" to lose. Griffin was great
in goal for them. Ex-Surrey and Woking. Harold Keeling

was in for
D.Day this week, but not as good. Pentycross was weak, while Maxted, Kirk,
and Kent all did well, as did Aldridge although he

wasn't as good
as the week before. Herald felt Epsom were deserving of at least a two goal
victory.

Wimbledon
Reserves play in the Reserve Division of the Isthmian League so were very
strong opposition for an Intermediate club like Epsom.

17/11/23
Bromley Res had no SSL game as they played Price's in LIC tie and lost 4-1.

21/11/23 Epsom
Wednesday 2-1 Leatherhead Strollers @ Epsom Recreation Ground.

24/11/23 Sid
Basford referees Leatherhead v Leatherhead Rose in Leatherhead Hospital
Shield 1st round.  Rose go on to win
Shield.

24/11/23 Epsom
Town defeat Tooting Town 2-0 in a friendly. Keeper de Vulder didn't have much
to do in place of Sperring. HT and scorers

unknown.

28/11/23
Sutton Wanderers 5-1 Epsom Weds @ Sutton Common Rec.

1/12/23
originally planned for 24/11, Surrey Intermediate Cup v Sutton United (A) won
4-0. Apparently, papers said that Epsom had

defeated a
"scratch" Sutton XI in a friendly a couple of weeks ago, which was
10th Nov. Pitch in shocking state for SIC game, as

frost had
followed heavy rain, which the sun had only partially melted. Epsom adapted
better and "proved a really good side. They fully

deserved their
victory""but on the day's play were flattered by the margin in
their favour". A crowd of "several hundred" watched the game.

Herald says
"it won't be long before Epsom Town will have to enter the senior
ranks". This was Sutton Reserves strongest available team,

and 3 had
first team experience. Edwards and Aldridge in for Smith (ineligible) and
Parr (injured still) and both did well, even though the

ground was in
a poor state, and Epsom were used to a "fast playing pitch" at
Horton. Kent 1-0 after 10 minutes from an Aldridge cross

then Maxted
got the next two before HT. Aldridge got the last in the second half, and
"played the finest game of his career". Advertiser

says Kirk
scored the first, but I will go with Herald who says Kent. A very full
report.

1/12/23 Old
Citizens, who used to play at West Street pre-WW1 beat Guy's Hospital 2-1
this day in a match that is described as "a

club
game". Were they at Honor Oak Park by then?

Dec 23 Hard
tennis courts are to be created at Epsom Recreation Ground.

Dec 23 Ruxley
splash is to go. A small bridge is to be built across it.

5/12/23 Ewell
Wednesday 8-1 Dorking Wednesday Res (HT 7-0)

8/12/23 Epsom
win 2-0 at Bromley 'A' (Reserves) in SSL. Only 35 minutes each way, due to a
late start, but the light held up well, and

Herald felt
they could have played the full 90 with no HT interval. Reg Sperring left the
field for treatment after 20 minutes, but returned and

scored both
goals, one in each half. The first went in off of a back and the keeper.
Ernie Sperring made a "point blank" save and was

"splendid".
Maxted and Aldridge were below their best, while Day has "gone off
colour" a bit in recent weeks.

Bromley Times
advises that both goals were a little fortunate but that Epsom deserved the
victory. The first goal just before HT was almost

saved by the
keeper, and the second was when the keeper tried to bounce the ball and he
lost it, allowing Sperring to roll it into the net.

The game was
played at Old Hayes Lane, the original Bromley ground, which was a few
hundred yards from the current ground.

15/12/23 Epsom
Town defeat the Rest of the Sutton & District League in a 2.30 kick off
at Epsom Brotherhood. S & D League were a

little light
due to other league games that day, and Epsom were at full strength and won
comfortably 5-2. A long range strike from Sid

Bristow was
the best goal of the game. A Shurville and G Budden from Leatherhead
represent the S & D League. Club Secretary

Billy Green
made his first appearance in place of McKenzie. HT was 3-1 not 4-1 as
Advertiser says.

Game was meant
to be at Russell Athletic ground in Ewell.

Dec 23 Papers
report the potential demise of Leatherhead FC, and they eventually fold in
March. Reformed as Leatherhead Utd in 1924.

22/12/23 Epsom
lose 1-0 at home again to Wimbledon Strollers in another friendly. (NR).

Although there is no report, there is reference to a
Wimbledon player Jones "the boy international" having scored both
of the goals in the two matches between the sides.

23/12/23 Hugh
Bradley is the organist at Epsom St Barnabas Musical Society as they
performed Spohr's Last Judgement this day.

29/12/23 D Day
didn't play this week. "He is not on the young side as a footballer, and
is not so speedy as he used to be". Harold

Keeling played
centre half this week. It was the largest crowd of the season as Epsom
defeated Woolwich Poly 1-0 in SSL.

Edwards came
in for Fred Keeling and Bristow moved to right half. The Woolwich keeper
played well and Epsom were often offside too.

Jack Parr
scored the winner after 82 minutes, with a low drive, just after Woolwich had
hit the post, which Maxted had done

in the first half.

Dec 23 South
London Press advises that Dulwich Hamlet Strollers are top of the Southern
Suburban League table. No table provided.

5/1/24 Epsom
Town draw 4-4 with Hampstead Town 'A' (Reserves), but the visitors equalised
with almost the last kick of the match. Micky

Smith was
unavailable at the last minute, so J Coppin returned while Newman debut at
outside right instead of H McKenzie. Fred Keeling

played for the
visitors as they were one player short, and the keeper had "a dozen
shots to save" in the opening minutes. A Sid Bristow

shot was
deflected in, and Herald is implying an o.g. so I will do the same. Then HT
1-2 down. Three goals in 15 minutes put the

hosts ahead
4-2 (Kirk and Maxted (2), but Hampstead pulled the draw out at the end.
Newman did well, and Herald says it is

unfortunate
that Epsom cannot command his services regularly. Also feels that Sid Bristow
should go back to centre half instead of

Harold Keeling.

9/1/24
Ministry of Pensions Hospital 2-3 Epsom Wednesday. Scorers: Budd (2), Powell.

10/1/24 Epsom
Advertiser contains the following advert for Epsom Town F.C. "Players
Wanted" Epsom Town FC, several really good

players wanted
for Sutton League (Premier Division) matches, particularly left footed men.
All expenses paid, and chance of senior

football later. - Write to Hugh C Bradley - 17 Bridge
Road, Epsom. The advert was also run on 11/1 and 18/1 but doesn't work, as
Epsom withdrew from the Sutton &

District
League in February.

A similar
advert appears in the Herald on 11/1/24 and 18/1/24, but this attracts the
attention of a correspondent, who queries whether

Bradley can
offer expenses to amateurs. As a result, he wrote in to Herald soon after
explaining exactly why he was able to do this.

11/1/24 Also
Hugh Bradley writes in to advise that he has just started in business at 7
South Street, Epsom. Under the title of

"BRADLEYS".
Printing, typewriting, duplicating, and envelope addressing, and he can also
produce hand drawn posters.

12/1/24
Crusaders 1-1 Epsom Town @ Raynes Park. Epsom are unfortunate not to win says
Herald, but no further details (NR).

16/1/24 Epsom
Weds 2-2 Reigate Weds. Scorers: Budd and E.Smith.

16/1/24 Epsom
Town FC dance at Foresters Hall. Hugh Bradley was the M.C. and Glenister's
Band provided the music.

19/1/24 Many
games postponed this day through poor weather. "A big storm".

19/1/24 Epsom
Town listed as being at home to Braby's in SSL, but Bromley 'A' (Res) visit
instead.

Epsom win 2-1.
The visitors arrived very late, so only 30 minutes each way. Epsom Town were
a goal down after 15 minutes, but Jack

Parr equalised
soon after. HT 1-1. Maxted was guilty of missing "several chances"
and was too slow. Fortunately, Jack Parr scored the

winner from a Kent corner. Herald says they
needed the points to keep up with Dulwich Hamlet Strollers at the top of the
table.

Before 26/1/24
Herald says Epsom Town have W16 and Lost 2 with F61 and A20. They agree with
my records exactly (Drawn 3 too).

Jan 24 West
Norwood play at Gorringe Park.

26/1/24 Epsom
Town travel to Byfleet to play Vickers in Surrey Intermediate Cup QF and Sid
Bristow was injured very early. Passenger.

Epsom took
about 100 supporters with them, but Epsom went 1-0 down after 15 minutes, but
Reg Sperring equalised, playing at centre

forward in
place of Maxted who was dropped. Soon after, Sperring fell on Jack Parr's
ankle, and Parr needed to be carried off. 10 men.

Still Epsom
were the better side. HT 1-1 and then Epsom went ahead, despite only playing
with four forwards, through Reg Sperring

again. A late
equaliser for Vickers ensured a 2-2 draw, but Epsom declined to play extra
time, as it was nearly 5pm, and the referee had

arrived quite
late. Vickers eventually protested on this basis, despite writing to Epsom
sending their team names for the replay. Epsom

produced
programmes and bills, but had to postpone on 9th Feb because of this protest
needing to be heard. Protest to be heard at

Balham on 12/02/24.

1/2/24 Epsom
Town have appointed D.Day as trainer/player.

2/2/24 No game
for first team. Meant to play Battersea St Georges in a friendly but flu
affected the team, and they had to postpone.

2/2/24
Brighton Railway beat Godalming 14-1 in Surrey Senior League, with future
player E Olley scoring twice and F Olley also scoring.

9/2/24 No game
for first team - see 26/1/24 comments above re: Vickers.

9/2/24 the
Dulwich Strollers return game had to be postponed because of the Vickers
game, but it could have gone ahead anyway.

A
correspondent writes in, referring to some Epsom Town players being at the
Epsom Brotherhood game this day, and being quite

critical of
the performance.

15/2/24 Ewell
0-0 Cheam in Sutton & District Schools Cup at West Street. Extra time was
required with the last 15 minutes in "a

blinding
snowstorm". Jaquest is Ewell Boys captain.

Feb 24
"Bradleys" is now operating out of 93 High Street. 100 words
typewriting for 3d. Tel. Epsom 365. Shop was above Messrs

Langley &
Broadhurst.

16/2/24 Epsom
Town are meant to play Balham Athletic this day, but they have to play
Vickers (A) again, after SCFA uphold the protest.

As a result
Epsom Town win 6-1 easily back at Vickers. Parr still injured, so Pentycross
came in and he scored after 15 minutes.

Vickers
resorted to "one back" tactics because they were being pushed back
so far. This was in the days where to be offside there

needed to be
three players between the attacker and the goal line. The tactics didn't work
though, as Reg Sperring scored from a Kent

cross and then
scored again before HT which was 3-0. The hat trick was completed soon after,
but Ernie Sperring was then penalised for

carrying and
the free kick deflected to an unmarked Vickers player who scored. Pentycross
got the fifth, with Day beating 3 men and

passing to Reg
Sperring for the sixth goal. Kent was the shining light, while Kirk was
described as the "brainy" man of the line up.

23/2/24 Big
gate expected for SIC SF v Redhill 'A' at Memorial Sports Ground. This game
was not allowed to be held at Epsom, as they

were unable to
take a gate, but a replay would have been allowed there bizarrely. Epsom
could either play it at Redhill, or a neutral venue.

23/2/24 Surrey
Intermediate Cup SF (A) to Redhill 'A' - effectively their reserves. Lost 1-0
and Redhill went on to win the cup at

Wimbledon v
Summerstown in front of nearly 2,000. One of only two competitive losses this
season.

Redhill were
the better side against Epsom Town and Kent and Bristow were out with flu,
while Parr was still unfit, and Smith was

ineligible, so
M Reidy came in for Bristow from the reserves. HT 0-0 but the home team
continued to dominate. Just as a replay was

expected,
Redhill scored near the end.

1/3/24 Epsom
had a long journey to Grove Park to play Braby's in the Southern Suburban
League, and about 50 travelled to support them.

Epsom Town
were at full strength for the first time in a few weeks, and although Braby's
were well placed in the league, they were

outclassed
5-2. Fred Keeling scored his first goal for the club and received many
congratulations. HT unk.

7/3/24
reported that Epsom Town are 2 points behind Dulwich but with a game in hand.
The only points Dulwich had dropped at this time

was the loss at Epsom.

8/3/24 Epsom
Town defeat Carshalton Athletic Reserves 12-1 at Horton in a League game. The
visitors only had 8 players. Reg Sperring

got 5, and
Secretary Billy Green, who was in for the late arriving McKenzie got two
himself. HT unk. "Almost farcical one-sidedness".

By the end of the game though, Smith (back sprain), and
Green (ankle knock) were off the field too so the game finished with 9 v 8!
Their goal was a penalty.

11/3/24 Epsom
Weds 1-3 Sutton Wanderers. HT 0-1.

15/3/24 Epsom
Town beat Ilford Reserves ("A") 4-1 in a friendly at Horton. A
fairly even game, and Epsom gave a trial to F.Ogden, who

did well and
his "knowledge of the game was good". Reg Sperring got the first
goal after 25 minutes. HT 1-0 A fast pace throughout.

Ogden got the
second from a Kent corner after 60 minutes, before Ilford scored, then two
goals from Reg Sperring in the last ten minutes

sealed the result.

18/3/24 Epsom
Weds 1-3 Sutton Weds in SF of Sutton Hospital Cup @ Epsom Recreation Ground.
Epsom had to play in white as the

teams colours
were very similar. HT 1-1 Future Epsom regular Reg Marlow played for Sutton
Wednesday. E Weds line up: Wilcox,

Betchley,
Benyon, Allen, Sharp, Fryer, Smith, Bowell, Budd, Howells, Ede. Marlow scored
the third.

18/3/24
Picture taken from this match taken by Sutton & Epsom Illustrated

22/3/24 Epsom
Town defeat Braby's 1-0 in a very poor game at Horton. This was largely due
to an exceedingly strong cross wind. The

visitors
started well but Bristow hit the bar in the first half, and Reg Sperring
scored with a shot that should have been cleared but just

crossed the
line. "A wretched display". Parr was off the field for a while
after an early injury. A "correspondent" writes critically and
says

that Aldridge
should not play at outside right, as he is an outside left, and Kent could
play inside him. He suggested the return of

Pentycross at
outside right, but he is not currently playing for the first team. The writer
was an old player and long time supporter who

has watched
them through the season apparently.

29/3/24 Epsom
Town draw at home with Dulwich Hamlet Strollers, which left the clubs locked
together on level games and level points,

but Dulwich
held the better goal average. Herald says that one of these two will win the
League. Both have 4 matches left. It was a

disappointing
game with the visitors "probably the slightly superior" team. Ogden
at centre-forward was "quite a non-entity", and even Kirk

and Reg
Sperring were poor by their standards. Sperring was man-marked by Leutchford.
McKenzie did well. HT was 0-0 but Dulwich

scored first
and Kent scored for Epsom shortly afterwards. Dulwich's goal was as a result
of a poor punch from Ernie Sperring, "a splendid

goalkeeper but
he has not a great punch". This goal was also described as going in off
of T Edwards leg, so possible o.g. Very sporting

game in
contrast to the earlier meeting.

2/4/24 Sutton
Wanderers 3-0 Epsom Weds @ Sutton.

4/4/24
reported that a meeting is planned to discuss whether the club is ready to
apply for Senior status. Herald says they will need a

better team,
and must be careful not to go too quickly. A member of the club follows up
the earlier critical letter by blaming the Committee

not the players. Some of the Committee only
turn up on Committee nights or match days, and don't get to hear what the
supporters think.

If a Committee man thinks his election
"ends the necessity of keeping up with matters outside Committee, he is
vastly mistaken". "His

very
acceptance of office only enhances his obligation in that direction."
Very few Committee members think that way says the writer,

although Billy
Green escapes criticism. He was also critical of the attitude to the second
team, and said that many don't know the

second team
players and don't watch, so how could they pick a team. A change in policy is
required otherwise the club will lose many

people who buy
a programme weekly and contribute to the club's welfare, including him. I was
sure the club would respond to this,

but they don't.

5/4/24 Epsom
Town defeat Croydon Athletic 2-1 in the Sutton Hospital Cup at Horton. A
quite deserved win and in the second half the

Croydon goal
had many escapes. Clearly though the club is lacking a centre-forward, as Reg
Sperring wants to return to half-back. Kirk

was unable to
play this week so R.Coleman was brought in from the reserves and was
responsible for both of Epsom's goals. The first

was from Kent,
and the second was an o.g. from his cross. Aldridge played outside left and
Kent inside him, as the "old player" had

suggested the
other week. HT was 0-0, and Croydon got a late consolation.

9/4/24 Epsom
player FE Kent returns to help Dorking out in an SSL match v Farnham United
Breweries on Wednesday evening.

12/4/24
Carshalton Athletic Reserves 0-12 Epsom Town in a League match. (NR)

15/4/24 Te last of this season's Whist Drives took place
at the Hollies Club in Epsom. "the duties of MC are always carried out
by Mr HC Pettett."

18/4/24  reported that Epsom Wednesday have finished
their season W12 D1 L6 and a balance in hand of £2. President H Randall,
and

Sec F.Burrows.

18/4/24
reported in Herald "who of the sportsmen and athletic lovers in Epsom
will help the Epsom Town F.C. to get a ground." The club

has applied
for Senior status.

April 24
Reference to the Leatherhead Hospital Shield being "the blue
riband" of the local area, even though it was only in its 2nd season!

Leatherhead
Rose beat Banstead 6-5 after 50 minutes extra time to become Epsom's
successors in the competition.

April 24 also
reference to the future East Surrey Hospital Cup being called the La Bas
Challenge Cup. Provided by Hedley La Bas.

19/4/24 Herald
advises a fixture between Epsom Town Juniors and Epsom St Barnabas. Was this
a Youth match? It wasn't a first team game

and the
Reserves had folded by now. It may have been a Strollers game.

19/4/24 Epsom
Town defeat Balham Athletic 6-1 but (NR). Reg Sperring got four of the goals
and McKenzie gave a fine display.

21/4/24 Easter
reports continue to be tiny, and on the Easter Monday Epsom beat Farncombe in
a friendly 2-1 with R.Coleman getting

both goals. (NR) Venue unknown.

23/4/24 Epsom
Town lose 2-0 at Tooting Town Reserves in the South London Charity Cup QF.
They lose on the Tooting Ground at Sandy

Lane which is
quite rough and "different from their own level fine turfed one".
Against the wind they trailed 2-0 at HT and the second goal

was debatable.
In the second half, Epsom had all of the play, but couldn't score. Tooting
had lots of first team players in this because

the rules
allow it. Herald is quite critical of this.

The SLCC SF
draw was Bromley Res or Leyland v Kingstonian or Mitcham Wanderers and
Tooting v (Wimbledon or Summerstown)

Bromley Res
got a walkover to the Final where they would play Tooting or Wimbledon, but
the Final was held over to next season.

25/4/24
reference to future Chairman HC Pettett being "a very willing and
cheerful helper at social events". He has been M.C. at 38 whist

drives this
year. "He is in demand because of his resourcefulness as a singer of
songs with topicalities introduced."

26/4/24 Epsom
defeat Crusaders 2-0 to win the League. Dulwich may have dropped a point or
two or goal average was overhauled.

League record
is reported as Played 14 W11 D3 L0 F54 A10 which ties in with my records.

Herald says
that there were two important matches on that date. The FA Cup Final at
Wembley and this match at Horton. "To the

supporters of
the Epsom Town club, Horton was the more important". Their goal average
was better than the runners up, but it looks as

though Epsom
were at least a point clear of Dulwich Strollers. Crusaders did most work in
opening fifteen minutes, but Epsom deserved

their win.
Some neatly executed operations. First goal came from a smart pass from Parr
to Kent who sent in a fine centre for Reg

Sperring
putting the ball wide of the keeper. Twenty minutes from the end, Reg
Sperring received an injury, and left the field and went to

the pavilion.
He didn't ask for the referee's permission, and it appears that he didn't
know that he had to do so. On his return he was

greatly
surprised on returning to be told by the referee that he could take no
further part in the match! One or two players went to protest

but Kent
wisely moved them away from the official. A poor decision, totally out of
context with the "crime". A caution in such cases would

have been
ample. Even with ten men they held their own comfortably. The second goal had
been similar to the first and was also

scored in the first
half.

28/4/24 Poor
weather affected attendance and the football. Kent and Green play well on the
left wing as Epsom Town beat Sutton United

Reserves in
the Sutton Hospital Cup Semi Final on a Monday evening at Plough Lane, home
of Wallington FC. Apparently both

teams were
somewhat disorganised by unavoidable absences. Quite windy conditions.

A disorganised
eleven, with 5 reserves in the line up. Only 300 spectators at most. After a
slow start Epsom dominated the first half,

and Kent
scored. HT 1-0. The early part of the second half saw the Epsom goal leading
a "charmed existence", but Epsom gradually

evened things
up, and Coleman scored after 75 minutes, and he nearly got a third soon
after. Epsom were the better side, but only just.

May 24
Reference in paper gossip about Epsom becoming a senior club next year, and
requiring a ground of their own.

May 24
Improvements granted for Kingston Road Rec.

May 24 Queen
Mary's Convalescent Camp to be vacated in May 25. It had reached the end of
its useful life.

3/5/24 Epsom
defeat Wallington 1-0 with an early Jack Parr goal in the final of the Sutton
Hospital Cup. The game was fast and

evenly
contested. Cup presented to Reg Sperring (captain) by Mr Frank R Gulland
(Treasurer of the competition committee).

Reg is better
at shooting goals that making speeches and so attempts to get him to say
something were unsuccessful!

Medals were
handed in an envelope and will be presented at the club dinner. Mr A Taylor
won the competition (raffle?) for the match ball.

Toss of a coin
decided the venue, and Wallington were unlucky to lose, as there was nothing
between the sides. Wallington had about

200 of the
"over 1,000" spectators there. Epsom's shooting was better. Kent
was below average, but it was quite tense. Some fast play,

much of which
was quite good. Play was keen with "a little feeling" occasionally,
but this was a cup final, so it was to be expected.

A programme
was definitely produced for this game, and they had been produced all season.
3d. There was also a collection at this game

An early goal
decided things as Parr whilst sandwiched by two defenders just squeezed his
shot inside the post. Wallington keeper

was probably
unsighted. Both keepers were excellent.

Picture of
this game in Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail 9/5/24 P8.

6/5/24 Chelsea
pro HS Miller, and Watford players come to play Epsom Town for the benefit of
the local hospital. The team was called

a Watford XI
and hopes are high it will be an annual event. Mr Elmslie the Club Chairman
was responsible for this. Is he connected with

Wealdstone at
all? Elmslie end? A possible cricket match is suggested too.

10/5/24 Annual
Epsom Town Dinner at Spread Eagle on Saturday evening.

Reference in
report to the club history "Six years ago a football club was formed in
Epsom with the title of "Epsom Juniors". It played a

few matches in
the first season, and then in 1919 joined the Surrey Junior League, finishing
bottom. For two years the club

did moderately
well in the Sutton & District League, and the name of the club was then
changed to Epsom Town and new blood was

introduced,
leading to last year's League Championship plus Leatherhead Hospital Shield,
and Epsom Hospital Cup, and finalists in the

Surrey Junior
Cup. This year had been better still as they had become Champions of the
Southern Suburban League Premier Division

without losing
a match, winners of the Sutton Hospital (Intermediate) Cup, and semi
finalists in the Surrey Intermediate Cup, losing

only to
Redhill 1-0 on their ground.

It is intended
that the Reserves will take the first team's place, but they applied and were
rejected for the Surrey Intermediate League first

before joining
the Southern Suburban League for next year.

Robert
Bradshaw, despite only being a vice-president of the club, presided over the
dinner, while Hugh Bradley, Billy

Green, and
dignitaries of the Sutton Hospital Cup were in attendance.

Mr G Sperring
a vice-president of the club gave the toast of the club. Mr Green responded
by contrasting the club's first season in the

Surrey Junior
League with the last one. "In the former, the biggest cricket score
sheet was not large enough to record the goals against

the
club". In the season just closed, Epsom played 37 games, winning 28 and
drawing 5, and of the four lost, two of these were friendlies

, and the
other two were losses to Redhill and to Tooting, who included 8 first team
players and beat them 2-0. Epsom were unaware

as to whether
they could protest about this. Epsom had not yet been granted Senior Status
at this point, as Billy Green said that "If the

first team
went senior" the reserves would enter the old first team competitions. All stats tie up with my records. F119 A34.

A dinner
souvenir was presented which was a photo of the club after winning the Sutton
Hospital Cup. I have a scanned copy of this.

Mr TC Collins
gave a toast to the President Lieutenant-Colonel JR Lord, who was not
present, due to ill health. He was thanked for his

kindness in
allowing the use of his pitch at Horton. Mr Bradshaw also said he would try
to get to more matches himself.

Chairman Hugh
Bradley submitted a toast to the guests, and read a letter from Philip A
Hall, Secretary of the Southern Suburban

League,
congratulating the club on their success. Also the Sutton Hospital Cup raised
about £23, with the final raising £8.0s.6d. Medals

were also
presented for the Epsom Hospital Cup with Suburban League cup and gold medals
to be presented at a later date.

The rest of
the evening was spent in a musical atmosphere, with a "delightful"
programme being contributed by friends of the club.

At the
Chairman's table was Hugh Bradley, Billy Green, F.Gulland, Bert Johnson (Sec
of Sutton Hospital Cup), FC Adams, TC Collins,

WJ Keeling, C
Thornton, SR Prett, and G Sperring, Ernie and Reg's father.

Billy Green
said he thought the Wallington SHC Final was the finest game this season,
despite good games against Dulwich and

Crusaders. Sir
Rowland Blades volunteers to help the club get a ground. Maybe this is where
negotiations started for the purchase of

the West
Street ground, as he was President of Ewell FC. Reference to the club needing
the support of the influential people in Epsom

more than they
needed a ground. Robert Bradshaw will do all he can to sort out a ground once
he has finished his duties with the Epsom

Golf Club. 11
gold medals will be provided (or 12 if requested) for the winners of the
Southern Suburban League.

Music provided
by Messrs Derrick Chambers, Dudley Smith, Roger Ayling, Alf Hockey, Lovelock,
and AE Shirley at the piano.

May 24
reference to Billy Green being vice-captain of Epsom Rovers C.C.

May 24 Reg
Marlow scores 22 for Sutton Wednesday this year. The club played 30 fixtures,
but he didn't play in all of them.

12/5/24
Meeting of Surrey Senior League at Crichton Restaurant, Clapham Junction,
Epsom Town are unanimously accepted into the

Surrey Senior
League, while Addlestone United also get through over Chertsey by a majority
of one!. The club was represented at the

meeting by
Hugh Bradley and S.R.Prett. League will consist of 12 sides. Last year there
were 14, but three left and one resigned.

15/5/24 Paper
gossip refers to the fact that Epsom had always been known for football in
the past, but up to recently, football had been a

back number in
the activities of the people. There have been plenty of junior clubs each
with their own following, but the game had never

attained a
high standard until last season when the Juniors became Epsom Town, became
intermediate and had success. This has

opened up the
eyes of residents to the possibilities of the future. Why should Epsom not
have a senior club which would furnish the

best amateur football and keep people at
home instead of letting them wander away to watch professionals or amateurs
in distant

towns. The
nucleus is here, but the "Town" need a private ground first of all
so they can secure a "gate". If Wimbledon, Sutton, Redhill

and Guildford
can all do it, so can Epsom. "Wake up Epsom, and make this the biggest
success in the towns record of sport".

May 24 Future
groundsman at West Street Harry Cottee is provincial Secretary of Ewell Old
Boys who attended a reunion at Ewell

Elementary
School, which was chaired by Sir Arthur Glyn. Was he the West Street
groundsman before Epsom went there too. Probably.

No Final League
Table found yet. Carshalton's website advises their own record of Pld 20 W1
D1 L18 F10 A76 but this is TOTALLY WRONG.

Reserves:

Sutton & District League Premier Division

Position

withdrew mid season, possibly because of a lack
of players

EHC

1st

Belmont

0-4

LHS

1st

Epsom Brotherhood

0-3

SJC

1st

Queen Mary's Convalescent Centre

3-8

League
Handbook from 1923/24 states the following:

Secretary and address

Colours

Ground

Ashtead

C.H.Bignell - 12 Glebe Road, Ashtead

Red and White Stripes

Woodfield
Lane, Ashtead (Ashtead C.C.)

Banstead

Stanley Baker - Oatlands Road, Burgh Heath

Green jerseys White knickers

The
Cricket Field, Banstead Village

and
Institute Field

Banstead Hospital

H.Prce - Banstead Mental Hospital, Sutton

Blue and White stripes

Banstead
Mental Hospital, near Belmont station

Belmont

C.Oastler - 26 The Crescent, Belmont

Navy Blue jerseys with white cuffs and

Banstead
Downs (2 mins Belmont Station)

collars, white knickers

Benhilton Athletic

H.W.Cox - 93 Watermead Road, Sutton

Blue and Red stripes, white knickers

Sutton
Recreation Ground

Carshalton Wanderers

A.L.Saunders - 78 Culvers Way, Carshalton

Navy and sky blue vertical stripes

Wrythe
Lane Recreation Ground, Carshalton

Epsom Brotherhood

C.N.Wheeler - Netherleigh, Pound Lane, Epsom

Blue and Gold, white knickers

Brotherhood
Sports Ground, East Street, Epsom

Epsom Town

Billy (W.E.) Green - Ashbourne House, Waterloo Road,

Oxford and Cambridge Blue vertical stripes

Horton
Mental Hospital, Epsom

Epsom

Leatherhead

not advised in handbook

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

Russell Athletic

E.Wilkins - 10 Little Sutton Street, Goswell Road

Blue and white Quarters, White knickers

West
Street, Ewell

London. EC.

22/9/23 No fixture for
Reserves.

29/9/23 No fixture for
Reserves.

6/10/23 No fixture for
Reserves.

13/10/23 Reserves lose 8-3 in Surrey Junior Cup to QMCC.
Where was this played though? If at Horton it would have had to follow the
First team game but there is no mention

of this. We
were drawn at home and maybe played away, although we wouldn't have had far
to travel as they only played at Woodcote.

20/10/23 No
fixture for Reserves.

25/10/23
Meeting of Reserve Team elects Charlie Aldridge captain, with John Coppin as
v-c. Secretary is George Herbert Keen.

27/10/23 First
game in Sutton & District League away at Carshalton Wanderers is lost
2-3.

3/11/23 No
fixture for Reserves.

10/11/23 Herald provides result but nothing else showing
that the  Reserves lost 6-0 at the
Ewell Ministry of Pensions. Appears as though this was a friendly.

17/11/23
Epsom's "sort of" third team, the Epsom Town Strollers lost 4-1 at
Epsom Athletic Res in a friendly. Coleman scored for the

Strollers, who
were three players short, although subs were found. Smith in goal for
Strollers and Scoval scored an own goal. HT 2-0.

24/11/23 Res
lose 1-0 at Banstead and should have lost by more. It was very foggy, and the
reporter couldn't see the far end of the pitch.

The Epsom
keeper "ran the risk of having to pay entertainment tax!". Goal
came about after a defender made a great save and conceded

a penalty
which was scored. S & D Lge.

24/11/23 Herald report from Banstead says that "Epsom
had a first rate goalkeeper and a champion right back" so they must have
had to do some work.

24/11/23 West
Ewell Ath 1-0 Epsom Town Strollers. Goal came with last kick of first half.

1/12/23 No
game for Reserves. League table confirms this. Three other games played this
day in our division, but not us.

8/12/23 Epsom
Town Reserves defeat Leatherhead 4-1 after leading at HT by 4-0. Pentycross
scored a HT including one in the first minute

and Gardner
made it 4-0. Martin and Gaten played well on the right wing, while Jack Parr
returned from injury and played left half.

15/12/23 Epsom
Reserves enter the Leatherhead Hospital Shield as holders, after the first
team won it last year, but they lose 3-0 at

home to Epsom
Brotherhood. Not much good football was played, and J Coppin missed a penalty
after 5 minutes. HT 0-0 then a Fred

Watts (future
player) penalty after he had been fouled set the ball rolling. Marsh and
Gibson scored the other two. Coleman played well.

15/12/23 Were
originally due to play Russell Athletic (H).

22/12/23
Banstead M.H. (A)(L) is p-p.

25/12/23 West
Ewell Ath v Epsom Town Strollers (Fr) but (NR).

26/12/23 Res
win 2-1 at Ashtead in Sutton & District League.. J Maxted and DB
Pentycross scored. A "good number of spectators".

26/12/23
Herald reported that Epsom had "a fairly strong team out".

29/12/23
Belmont defeat Res 4-0 in a "double match". It was a Sutton &
District League match, and also an Epsom Hospital Cup tie.

Epsom fielded
"an incomplete team". Herald says that the second team are not
doing well, and many are wanting to watch the first team

instead.
Fortunately the Strollers "something equivalent to a third eleven"
are "keen and enthusiastic".

5/1/24 Res v
Carshalton Wanderers (H) p-p.

Banstead
Hospital withdraw in early Jan.

12/1/24 Epsom
Town Res were due to play this day at home to Ashtead in S & D League,
but p-p.

12/1/24
Reference to Epsom Town Strollers v Ashtead 'A' in Friendly

19/1/24 No
fixture for Reserves.

26/1/24 Epsom
lose 2-0 to Carshalton Wanderers in S & D League.

Jan 24 Reserves have two points deducted for ineligible
players (not sure when, probably v Ashtead), but it doesn't matter as they
withdraw in February.

1/2/24 Herald
has table with Res P7 W1 L6 F6 A11 Pts 0*. Banstead MH had withdrawn by that
time.

This table is possibly correct. I have six results with
two wins and four defeats. However, we had two points deducted, almost
certainly against Ashtead. The points,

the win and the 2-1 GD was removed. Leaving us with a
matching GD although we should have had 2 points still for the win over
Leatherhead. It is possible that we were due to

play Banstead MH on 22nd December and never played, having
the points awarded against us with a 0-0 GD and if this did happen then the
table would be correct except for

the points
variance. There was definitely no game played on 1st December.

2/2/24 Old
Suttonians v Epsom Town Res in S & D League. p-p.

2/2/24 Rover
Scouts 4-7 Epsom Town Strollers.

Feb 24 Epsom
Town Reserves withdraw from Sutton & District League.

9/2/24 Game at
Leatherhead not played because Epsom had withdrawn.

23/2/24
Reference to a league fixture with Epsom Brotherhood but was not played.

Leatherhead
then withdraw in March.

Carshalton
Wanderers withdraw before end of season. Premier Division only finishes with
7 teams.

19/4/24 Herald
advises a fixture between Epsom Town Juniors and Epsom St Barnabas. Was this
a Youth match? It wasn't a first team game

and the
Reserves had folded by now. It may have been a Strollers game.

Other
affiliated Local Teams:

Secretary

From SCFA Handbook

Affiliated

Epsom Brotherhood

C Wheeler

Netherleigh, Pound Lane, Epsom

Epsom Athletic

G Child

12 Alexandra Road, Epsom

St Barnabas

JC Bance

100 High Street

Dec 1909

Blue jerseys, white collar and cuffs, white
knickers

Ewell Juniors

Changed to Ewell Athletic in July 1923 but
retained the name for this season.

June 23 Two
Ewell stations are renamed Ewell East and West by the Southern Railway.

16/7/23
Langley Vale School opened.

Aug 23
Brighton Railway are currently playing at a private ground in Mitcham Road.

6/9/23 Epsom
Advertiser (including Epsom Observer) starts producing on Thursdays instead
of Fridays. Number 2,860 produced this

day.

Sept 23 Epsom
Town Station is to close, it is announced. All traffic will go through the
soon to be rebuilt Epsom station. Apparently

the East
Street entrance was closed during the war, and would take considerable
expense to re-open. Reference to a subway under the

newer station,
which was in those days called Epsom Town. The older station in Station Road
was classed as the Brighton Station, as

this was on
the Brighton line from Victoria.

10/9/23
Derailed train near Epsom Station. No traffic between Epsom and Ewell station
but the South Western section was fine, so this

must have been
nearer Epsom Town station and on the Ewell East line.

Sept 23
reference to the skating rink at Sutton being converted to a Billiards Hall.
Was this Rileys?

Sept 1923
Cicero, the Derby winner in 1905 dies aged 21 and is buried at Durdans, where
he had been moved only a week previously.

Herald says
the 1905 Derby was "the greatest of all races". Born in 1902 and
buried near to other winners Amato, Ladas and St Visto.

Dec 23
Discussion at Epsom Council regarding the creation of a bridge over the
Ruxley Splash. This is agreed by council so that Derby

traffic can go
this way in future.

Dec 23 Maybe
in conjunction with this, Chessington Road is given the go ahead to be
widened at a cost of £12,500. Epsom council

will
contribute 25% as will Surrey County Council, while the Ministry of Transport
will contribute 50%.

18/1/24
reported that part of West Street, Ewell may be widened developing on part of
the Coates Estate.