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

L

3rd out of 12

AC

3q

Redhill

0-5

LC

1st

Southern Rail

0-4

at the Nest

SSC

1st

Weybridge

1-2

President

Lt-Col J.R. Lord C.B.E.

re-elected

Chairman

Hugh (HC) Bradley

re-elected

Secretary

W.E.(Billy) Green

re-elected

65 Lower Court Road, Epsom

but in Aug, listed as Ashbourne House,

Waterloo
Road, Epsom.

Tel Epsom 712.

Treasurer

SR Prett

replacing

AJ Keeling

Committee:
Elected at AGM: TC Collins, FC Adams, WJ Keeling, C Thornton, and GE Elmslie

W Keeling had a furnishers shop at 15 High
Street, Epsom.

Selection
Committee: Chairman, Secretary, and Asst Secretary, plus captains, and v-c's,
and Collins, Thornton

GE Elmslie and Bert Green.

Trainer

D.Day

Home
Ground:

Grounds of Horton Hospital, Horton Lane.

Club Colours:

Light and dark blue stripes

Reserve Team
Secretary

RL Bungard, 57 Horton Hill.

Senior Status
awarded by SCFA.

First season
accepted into Amateur Cup

May 24 Accepted into Surrey Senior League unanimously.
Addlestone just sneak in too, by one vote from Chertsey.

All meetings
this year at Crichton Restaurant in Clapham Junction.

Hugh Bradley's
last season as Chairman of Sutton & District League.

11/6/24 SCFA
AGM "in London" Presume Holborn Restaurant as last year.

18/6/24 AGM on
Wednesday evening at Comrades Club House. Chaired by Hugh Bradley.

Secretary's
report dealt with the success of last season and the prospects for the coming
season. Referred to an

average
attendance of 700 last season as Epsom won the Southern Suburban League. Big
problem with no

admission
charge possible, as the ground could not take a "gate", so
voluntary labour was required frequently,

and the
Secretary expressed the hope that a ground would be obtained in the near
future.

Accounts
showed that last year they had a balance in hand of £32.8s.2d at the start of
the season, as expenses

amounted to
£270.9s.10d and the club now had a deficit of £6.4s.8d which attracted some
friendly criticism from

Mr Miller,
who papers state was the late Secretary. President Lieutenant-Colonel JR Lord
C.B.E. was re-elected

and the club
expressed sympathy with him in his recent illness, and hoped he would be well
soon. Billy Green

was
re-elected as Secretary, and warm tributes were paid to his splendid work
during the past season. It was

mentioned by
the Chairman that the committee had decided to mark their appreciation of his
services in a tangible

form. SR
Prett replaced AJ Keeling as Treasurer, who became Stock Secretary instead.
Mr Puddock was again

elected as
linesman, and reference was made to his impartiality last season. SR Prett
became second team

linesman.
Hugh Bradley was re-elected unanimously as Chairman. Mr Bradley said that it
had always been his

ambition to
see a senior club in Epsom, and at last that had been achieved, and he would
do his utmost to help a

club in which
his interests were centred. Large discussion on the formation of a Committee,
until Mr Miller

suggested the
formation of a separate Selection Committee which was agreed to, with the
club rules being changed

to
accommodate this. Elected as at top of page. Second team unsuccessful in
application for Surrey Intermediate

League, but
there was every confidence that they would be admitted to the Southern
Suburban League the next

day. There
was also a resolution submitted that "the Strollers team" should
enter the Sutton & District League,

but this was
defeated, and would just play occasional friendlies instead.

Billy Green's
brother Bert is in charge of arranging the charabancs.

July 24
Reference to Southern Railway FC changing their name from the former Brighton
Railway FC. Secretary was

Mr T Olley,
related to E Olley future Epsom Town player, who was with Southern Rail this
season. Club moving from

Mitcham Road
to Crystal Palace's old ground, The Nest, where they had been since moving
there in 1918. The

Nest was
situated opposite the present day Selhurst Station. Crystal Palace had been
admitted into the league

while they
were there, so it must have been a good ground. Their firsts and res were in
the same leagues as Epsom's.

Aug 24 Rule
changes approved by the FA state that it is now possible to score directly
from a corner kick, and the

game should
not stop for injuries unless it is a serious one. Home clubs now have the
right to wear their colours, and

the opposition
must change.

Aug 24 Future
player Les (LW) Urpeth more in Reserves than firsts at Woking.

Aug 24 future
player EJ McBirnie played for Ilford - mostly Res but sometimes 1sts

Aug 24 Herald says that nearly all last season's players
have signed on with 20 applications for trials were received, some of

whom reside in the district. Three trials are expected to
take place, with two in midweek, and one probably on 23rd August.

Herald hopes that the trials are successful, as the team
needs strengthening (odd statement, considering they had just been

Southern Suburban League Champs without losing a game, but
I suppose this was a step up to senior football.) It would also

be good for the reserves to have a good team to try and
match what the firsts did last season in the Southern Suburban League.

Season tickets will cost 7s 6d and entry will be 6d,
although this is all voluntary, as the club are unable to charge an official

gate, as the site at Horton is unenclosed. Holders of
season tickets will receive a free programme except for cup tie or charity

matches. Interesting to note that programmes were produced
back in 1924, and maybe even earlier. The tone of the wording

indicates, but by no means confirms, that this may have
been the first year of programmes "containing very useful
information."

First trial advertised as 20/8/24 Weds evening. Mainly for
new players. Herald says that most of play at trials is "usually

scratchy"
and "most of the players do not regard it as serious football". No
surprise that spectators are very few.

22/8 reported that all players from last year have now
re-signed, and the club hopes it will be able to pass through another

happy period. "Happy" in every sense, because
the Epsom Town club prides itself on maintaining a social atmosphere amongst

its players both on and off the field, and this has stood
the club in good stead in the past. "Practically the same officials are

running the
club this year", and the first match is on 30/8/24 at "THE HORTON
SPORTS GROUND".

Club also
looking for an Assistant Secretary and an advert is published in Herald
22/8/24.

Aug 24
Leatherhead Rose accept the offer of a private ground in a field off Kingston
Road, opposite the sub-post office.

29/8/24 reported "Tomorrow, a historical episode will
occur in Epsom, which for all local lovers of sport, should be recorded in

red ink." A local team is to participate in a senior
friendly match with Dorking for the first time in the annals of football in
this

town. Epsom have worked hard to achieve this with only
local players. "The governing members of Epsom Town have always

adopted the policy of playing local talent where merit
gains a place and this policy will be followed, but it is regrettable that
a

complete local
team of senior players cannot be got together."

"Many have asked why Epsom have never had a senior
club", and the answer is "that all local talent has been so divided
that it

was impossible to get one team combining the best of
Epsom. Every Tom, Dick or Harry seems to have started a club in the

past on his own, each one securing part of the good men,
and none, as a whole, having a good side." "It would open the eyes
of

Epsomians if they knew the number of men Epsom born, who
are now playing for famous Amateur clubs because their own

town was
unable to provide them with the football which their merit deserved."

Dorking has
had a senior team for a while, yet they are half the size of Epsom.

Epsom are expecting many more to join, largely to boost
the reserves, as they try and follow the first team who "pulled off a

record which is seldom accomplished by any club in any
sphere of football, namely, that of an undefeated record throughout a

league campaign lasting the whole of the season".
"This is something to be proud of and the members treasure it
accordingly."

It is hoped
that Epsom will play Sutton this season, but if not, that they may exchange
two friendlies. They will in April.

Herald says "many people may be saying 'Where does
the football take place', the answer is that the matches are played on

the ground of the Horton Mental Hospital, Epsom, by
permission of the medical superintendant". "The pitch is probably
the

finest in Surrey" and charabancs run from the Cinema
Royal every Saturday for a nominal charge of 6d. "Ladies are very
much

in evidence at the matches and it is desired that they
should be welcomed at Horton, as it is a shame to leave them behind

in these
modern times of sex equality and the interest taken in sports by women".

29/8/24 For some reason, the Herald reports the
resignation of Secretary Billy Green, because of a lack of time. This may
have

been connected to the advert for an Assistant Secretary.
Either way, Green continues, so either he rescinds his resignation, or

an Assistant
may have been found.

29/8/24 reference to Epsom Brotherhood charging 1s 3d for
Adults and 1d for children under 12. More expensive than Epsom

Town, but they were more central, based at Stone's
Brickfield, Kiln Lane. Captain is F Dunford, with GW Turner as Secretary.

Also Herald
says that Epsom St Barnabas have ceased to be.

30/8/24
Epsom's first match as a Senior club sees them try out 7 new players in a
friendly against Dorking, which

they lose
3-1. "Epsom did not make a very auspicious start" Epsom can take
heart from the fact that their team was

much weaker
than last year's regular side which did so well. It is clear that very few of
these new players will

displace any
of them, although keeper Mold (Windsor & Eton) did well, and Nickless
(Reading Reserves) deserved

another chance. Reg Sperring, FE Kent and T
Kirk were badly missed. 150 Dorking supporters made the journey.

"Game
was far from interesting" as Epsom were somewhat outclassed but
promising says Dorking Advertiser.

Other new
players this year are: Fletcher (Summerstown), Fitzgerald (Guildford), F
Mellish (Dorking), Nixon (from

Sutton in
Notts), A.Jermin (Braby's), M.Lewins (Epsom Brotherhood) R.Marlow (Sutton
Wednesday),

F. Watts
(Epsom Brotherhood), Nickless (Reading Reserves), Mold (Windsor & Eton).
All last season's side

return this
year, and make the step up from Intermediate football.

A Herald correspondent writes "Supporters of Epsom
Town, for goodness sake don't commence deserting the club because it

lost its first match in senior football with anything but
a senior team" Moral support is important "In many ways it is
unfortunate

that the club enjoyed such a wonderfully successful season
during 1923/24 and it must be borne in mind that the club can

scarcely be expected to win week after week as it did
then". Some people last year said "when will we see a football
team"

They will see
many this year.

Mold had a good save in the second half that "got the
biggest shout of the afternoon" but didn't have that much to do.
The

visitors were slightly better in first half, but only Jack
Parr did well up front for Epsom, and would have scored if "ably backed
up".

Dorking scored first but a Bristow penalty for handball
equalised "an unstoppable one!" HT 1-1. 2nd half started well, but
after

five minutes, Epsom appeared to run themselves right out.
Dorking then took command and Peat scored after a melée in the

goalmouth. Just before this goal, Nickless had left the
field with cramp. 10 men. Bristow also got kicked in the second half, and

was little more than a passenger. Dorking finished off the
win with a penalty and were well on top by the end. Micky Smith for

Epsom was the
best back on the field, but Fitzgerald on his debut was weak and Edwards
shaky because Fitzgerald

was in front of him at half back. Fitzgerald was at fault
for two of the goals, the first with a bad miskick, and the third was a

handball by him. Bristow was good, and Lewins may replace
others in the half back line. Day up front hardly had the ball, so

couldn't really be judged, although he did well with what
he had. F Mellish is ex-Dorking and Guildford Amateurs. The brothers

Keeling,
Harold and Fred are available too.

30/8/24 Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail produce an
enormous report advising that the attendance was nearly 1,000, who

"watched a fast, open, spectacular game".
Fletcher was poor but wasn't well before, and Mr Elmslie gave him a massage
at HT

which helped a bit! Charabancs were in short supply for
the trip to Horton from the town centre, which was disappointing. Epsom

played in light and dark blue and did not include
"Marlo and Witts". Marlow was on holiday for the first two
matches.  Also the ball

burst after 30 minutes! Dorking were 3-1 up after 80
minutes, while Bristow's penalty was a low drive. "Epsom Town are in
the

same position
as "a partly hatched chicken" and time is required for them to
grow.

Future player
Aubrey Traube plays for Dorking in this match.

Sept 24 Season
tickets advised as 7s 6d including programme and membership.

Sept 24 Leatherhead United formed as a successor to
Leatherhead, and Leatherhead Juniors. They are playing at Fortyfoot Rd

but aiming
for Fetcham Grove. They eventually merge with Leatherhead Rose in 1946 to
become the present day side.

Sept 24 Epsom Wednesday are in Kingston & District
League this year, while Epsom Athletic have picked up many of the old

Epsom St Barnabas team are in 1st Division of Sutton &
District League. Are they playing at Temple Road?
Does it still

exist in 1924?

6/9/24 Epsom's first competitive senior match takes place
at Horton Hospital where the other new boys in the league

Addlestone are fortunate to get a 2-2 draw. 7 of last
years side played, and captain Micky Smith won the toss.

Epsom had 4 corners in the first 5 minutes, but were 1-0
down early in the game, and were harshly 2-0 down before

Nickless reduced the deficit before half time, and Jack
Parr got the equaliser as Epsom pressed in the second half.

Epsom were
still not at full strength, as both Sperring brothers were still out, but
would be back soon, and "Morley"

who impressed
at trials is now available. I think that the papers meant to say Marlow. As
in Reg Marlow.

Advertiser states that Epsom need to learn that football
needs more than clever individual work - it needs team work too

and needs to
be perfected before Epsom will get victories. Also, short passing needs to be
worked on too. However,

"on the
whole, Epsom did well on Saturday and their supporters can rely upon their
giving them a good display in the

coming
matches"

"Half a
loaf is better than no bread" says Herald. Reference to Reg Marlow
playing last year for Sutton Wednesday.

Herald says both teams left with a point and a smile! 1-0
down after 7 minutes and 0-2 after 25 minutes. Mold was nowhere

near as secure as the week before, and was at fault for
the first goal, when he got down to a ground shot and the ball "ran
right

up him and into the top of the net!" The second was
unlucky as Mold was in a challenge for the ball with an Addlestone
player,

and they both went to ground, but the opponent was able to
react first. Where were the defenders while all this was going on?

Mold was often the only one in his half as Epsom dominated
from this point, and Nickless scored, after good work by Kent and

Kirk. The Addlestone goalkeeper was safe and decisive,
which kept them in the game until right at the end when Parr equalised.

Nickless deserved a second match, but should now be
dropped to a reserve level. F Watts debut at outside right, with Mellish

debut at left
half. Watts was already known to many at Epsom and did well, although shoots
from too wide, while

Mellish joined from Ashtead and "has the assets of
youth and sturdiness". He "played with the confidence of one who
knows

that he is capable of doing what he intends to do"
and is quick at anticipating others. He is a real acquisition to the team.

Ernie Sperring and brother Reg missed this game because
they were away representing the Epsom Artisans Club in a golf

competition, the Artisans Golf Championships. Reference to
Harold Keeling by Herald. "is not a polished artist, but is a
tireless

worker and a
useful player to call on in case of need.

6/9/24
Unfortunately, at the game, an old an enthusiastic supporter, Mr Charles
Harden collapsed at the ground, and

died at the
infirmary later that evening. He arrived at the Epsom Infirmary at about
6.30, but did not appear to have

been seen
until about an hour later, by which time he had died. The inquest was not
particularly happy about this, it

says. It
appears that the excitement was enough to damage a diseased artery and cause
a brain haemorrhage.

He had been
healthy at 12pm, but feeling ill when spotted by a policeman in the grounds
of the asylum at 6pm .

Charles Harden was 60 and a painter. A regular attendant
at matches. The funeral was on 11/9/24 and the club sent a wreath.

10/9/24 Epsom Weds 2-1 Worcester Park @ Epsom Recreation
Ground before it was called Alexandra Rec. Pr Round of

Kingston & District League Charity Cup. Scorers
Betchley and Chambers. Line up: Wilcox, Reynolds, Bennion, Allen, Sharp

Barker,
Howell, Bowell, Chambers, Betchley, Eede.

12/9/24 reported that 9 of the team for tomorrows match v
Farnham are from the district, and the two others Kirk and Bristow

were regulars
all last season.

Sept 24 Reference to Mitcham Wanderers playing in
Streatham Road and Lane in one report. Definitely Streatham Road, which

was very near to Tooting's future ground in Sandy Lane.
Jackie Pullen and E Hill both future Epsom players are playing for

Tooting this
season. FH Watts (was this Fred?, probably) playing for Mitcham Wanderers
reserves.

13/9/24 Future
players Percy Standen and Freddie Behn are both playing for Ewell this
season.

13/9/24
Epsom's first away game results in a 4-0 win at reigning champions Farnham
United Breweries. Farnham

would go on to
become Champions again this season, only losing one more game this season.

Epsom were
3-0 up at HT after Micky Smith won the toss for the third time, and went with
the wind. Jack Parr scored

after 9
minutes with a 25 yarder much to the jubilation of the Epsom supporters. Reg
Marlow makes debut for Epsom.

Papers say
that "it was early evident that Marlow was going to be a source of
trouble for the home defence, and his

drawing,
feinting, and shooting powers stamped him as a player of great
possibilities". "On Saturday's showing,

Marlow is the
best centre forward an Epsom club has had for some considerable time".
Papers also impressed with

Reg Sperring,
who "was splendid, and given a fair amount of good fortune, this player
is likely to make a name for

himself in
senior football circles." Mellish was also impressive on the day.

Marlow got the second after 15 minutes from a through
pass. All Farnham shots were from distance as they couldn't get near

to the Epsom goal in the first half. 3-0 after 32 minutes
was a great goal from Marlow. Just before half time, F Mellish was

struck just above the heart by a shot from Bristow and had
to be carried off. He returned at the start of the second half, but went

out on the wing as a sort of half-passenger, with Kirk
slotting in at right half. Farnham pressed after half time, but Epsom
came

out with credit, and Watts scored after 72 minutes from a
pass from Kirk. The keeper saved the first shot, but Watts put the

rebound away from a very narrow angle. "A truly fine
goal". "Epsom had a wonderful day". "Never perhaps has an
Epsom team

given a better
display".

Reg Marlow was a grocer by trade as was his brother, and
he had a shop in Pound Lane in later years. I have also heard about a

shop in Ruxley
Lane but this may have been his brother's.

17/9/24 Epsom
Weds 3-0 Platt's Athletic (Hounslow) @ Epsom Rec Scorers R Walters (2), A
Bowell. K & D League.

Weybridge club
colours are red and white.

20/9/24 Epsom have the best of the game but must settle
for a 1-1 draw with Weybridge with a Sid Bristow penalty equaliser.

Captain Micky Smith won the toss for the fourth straight
time. In both home games so far they have seen "fortunes frown", as

Epsom were much better than Weybridge, despite Weybridge
being an upgrade on Addlestone. Epsom still only got a draw

though. The weather helped Weybridge score as a shot which
was going comfortably to Ernie Sperring suddenly was blown

out of reach by a gust of wind! Jack Parr was then fouled
and Sid Bristow converted the penalty with a low swift shot just inside

the post. The Weybridge goalkeeper dealt with saves
"in the way of an artist" and was appreciated by the crowd. Parr
was left

footed, while Reg Marlow was well shadowed this week. Tom
Kirk was not at his best as he was injured in the first half but still

made good
passes. Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail says about 1,000 attended despite
inclement weather.

Sept 24 Herald writes that if Epsom drew Sutton in a cup
this year, it would have to be played at Sutton, as Epsom cannot

take a gate.
However, a replay could be held at Epsom it says. Very confusing! This is
however correct.

24/9/24 Epsom
Weds 3-0 Platts Ath (Hounslow) @ ERG. Scorers: R.Walters (2), A.Bowell, in K
& D League.

Report in
Sutton & Epsom Illustrated advises that Frank Allen played well at right
half. He would be killed in the same

accident as
Jack Parr on Boxing Day 1937.

Sept 24 Epsom Wednesday play Sutton Weds in next round of
Kingston & Dist League Charity Cup but date unknown right now.

27/9/24 Epsom
go top of the SSL table for the first time on this day.

27/9/24 Epsom
beat Addlestone 2-0 this day, "club doing remarkably well in its first
season in senior football".

Game was played at Green Lane, Addlestone, but they left
by the end of the year to play at Alexandra Road, their old pre war

ground, which
they went back to in January 1925.

A crowd of 1,200 at Addlestone saw Epsom unchanged except
C.Aldridge in for Kent, who didn't recover after last week's kick.

Epsom's half backs dominated the play and Aldridge played
well too. He scored after 30 minutes from a Kirk shot that was going

wide. "An unusual occurrence" when Kirk shoots,
says Herald. Ht 1-0. In last 15 minutes it was all Epsom. Jack Parr charged

the keeper, who fumbled, and a defender handballed it to
stop it going over the line. Sid Bristow scored the penalty.
"Another

goal or two
for Epsom would have been no surprise", although Ernie Sperring had his
busiest day in goal this season.

Reg Sperring was the best player on the field, but Watts
was almost a passenger and hardly used. "A great pity" said Herald.

Aldridge's
selection for his first game of the season "caused a great deal of
comment amongst certain supporters".

27/9/24 Future
player Fred Behn playing for Ewell this season.

Sept 24 SSC 2q
draw pairs Epsom at Camberley & Y for 18/10/24.

4/10/24 Epsom win 4-2 at home to Camberley & Yorktown.
This was a gentle pleasant game on a nice day. Camberley's first

visit to Horton, and they had trouble finding it, so game
started at 4pm. "The players were all gentlemen to each other, and

played more as friends than as enemies". 2-0 up at HT
through Marlow. The first was a pass from Parr, and the second from a

Tom Kirk pass. Camberley scored just after HT, and felt
they had the chance of a draw, but a cross from Watts led to a Kent

goal for 3-1, while the fourth was a header from Bristow,
from a Reg Sperring corner. Reg was almost a passenger at this time,

due to an injury. At 4-1, C & Y got a late goal back.
Ernie Sperring had no chance with either goal. About 800 were present.

Team Photo in
Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail. Copy taken, and I have been able to name
them all..

11/10/24 Friendly win 6-0 at Metrogas. Epsom travelled to
the Old Kent Road to play this game. Not an enjoyable game, as

some home tactics were "very questionable". 6-0
was fair against the London League side, who were made to look "a very
poor

lot
indeed". Reg Sperring scored first, then two from Reg Marlow before HT
which was 3-0. He then got the 4th after "a

beautiful pass from Kirk". "Kirk and Watts
played a topping game"!. Parr got the fifth, but was "savagely
tackled" when scoring,

and due to the state of the game, took no further part.
Kent got the last with "a perfect centre" from F Watts. "Kirk
can shoot

but he doesn't seem to believe it himself". Mellish
is not a back, and should remain at half back says Herald. FS Witts
debut,

and played
well.

15/10/24
Dorking Wednesday 3-4 Epsom Wednesday in Surrey Midweek Cup 1st round.

17/10/24 Ewell Boys 0-3 Camden Road School (Carshalton) in
Sutton & District Schools League Cup 1st round. Even game.

18/10/24 Beat
Camberley & Y 3-1 (A) in SSC 2q."in a poor game"

Charabancs
leave Cinema Royal in Epsom High Street at 1.15.

Approximately 100 supporters travel to Camberley by
charabanc. "A somewhat poor game" says Herald. The ground was worse

than Addlestone's
with "an exceptional slope" and 5 or 6 inches of grass. A fast game
with many corners. Collyer scored for

C & Y after 20 minutes, HT 0-1. Down the slope in the
second half, it was a better performance. Marlow rode many tackles and

charges to score after 48 minutes, then 15 minutes later,
he scored again after a good move involving Parr and Kent. Ernie

Sperring had a free kick awarded against him for carrying,
but a weak free kick followed, and Epsom scored again with a Kirk

header from a
Kent cross after 76 minutes. "It is surprising the amount of work Parr
gets through in an afternoon".

Oct 24 Advertiser Football Notes section states
"Cannot some well disposed resident in Epsom help them to find a ground
of

their own where they can develop as they must do before
they can take a place in one of the foremost leagues" I wonder

whether
Robert Bradshaw was reading this, and whether it sprung the idea to purchase
West Street. We'll never know!

22/10/24 Epsom
Weds 3-3 Strawberry Hill in Kingston & District League match.

Oct 24 Court
Rec approved by Epsom council.

25/10/24 Game
kicks off late v West Norwood in AC.

25/10/24 West
Norwood at Gorringe Park in Dec 1924. Charabancs leave Cinema Royal at 2pm.
Fare 2s 6d.

Also a train
leaves at 1.35 for a 2.45 k.o.. 300 supporters travelled with the club.

25/10/24 Epsom win AC 2q tie against Athenian League West
Norwood 3-0 at their ground in Gorringe Park, as Epsom are

unable to take
a gate which is required in Amateur Cup rules. Epsom appear to have had a bye
in 1q.

West Norwood's
ground is bordered on one side by tall trees, and on the other by a busy
road.

Micky Smith currently captain. Between 200-300 Epsom
supporters made the journey by special train. There were more from

Epsom, than there were from West Norwood. 2 players
watching were Harry Skinner and "Orby" Holt, who both lived at and

played for Epsom years ago when they tried and failed to
get above junior football. Both have since played for West Norwood,

and
"Skinner was one of the best backs in London Amateur Football".

25/10/24 For
the second week in a row Epsom's scorers are Marlow (2) and Kirk.

The home side had a couple of injuries but Epsom were well
on top and could have won by "half a dozen" but the shooting was

wasteful. West Norwood should have scored when one of
their players handled the ball, so Edwards picked it up, but the referee

hadn't blown the whistle, and penalised Edwards. From the
"free kick it was "wildly wide". From the description, this
may have

actually been a penalty. HT unknown. Smith was very good,
and Edwards insisted on playing, despite not being in the best

of health. Not
a deliberate foul in 90 minutes - Very clean for a cup tie.

After the match, the members of the football club
"gathered in large numbers" at the Spread Eagle for a smoking
concert, which

also served as a Presentation evening, where the Southern
Suburban League Shield was presented, and the Sutton Hospital Cup

plus medals for the players by Mr James Gow (a former
Epsom player pre WWI), who presided. Chairman Hugh Bradley said that

the only reason why the club won trophies was because of
the team effort, and strangely, but prophetically used the example of

Chelsea, "who had spent large sums of money to secure
the best individual talent, which was of little use as a team". Also

worryingly
referred to the washing out of any individual scoring records, as it was a
team game, and the forwards

were just
doing their job! The team that played this day was composed of 9 local
players. The Reserves were not

having much
success this year, but the tide would turn soon. He referred to the
Championship of the Southern

Suburban
League last year, and stated that "looking back over 35 years Epsom had
never been able to get beyond

a certain
stage in football. Ewell go back to 1890 according to SCFA handbooks.

Mr Gow said that "as Chairman of the
Recreation Ground Committee of the

Council, he
was going to use his efforts to get use of the ground which would become
available by the Alexandra

Rec in
consequence of the new road being made from Epsom into Cheam. Where exactly was this?

Part of the
Epsom Cheam road was to cut through Alexandra Rec.

Southern
Suburban League side captain was Micky Smith, yet Sutton Hospital Cup captain
was Reg Sperring.

Shield
presented to Micky Smith, and medals were presented to Smith, Ernie Sperring,
T Edwards, AJ Keeling,

D Day, Sid
Bristow, Harold Keeling, H McKenzie, T Kirk, Jack Parr, C Aldridge, R
Coleman, J Coppin, and Billy Green,

who received a special medal in recognition of
"valuable services to the club". Mr Collins proposed a toast to the
players,

and captain
Micky Smith said he had never played with a better set of boys. Letter also
read from Mrs Bradshaw

regretting the absence of Robert Bradshaw through ill
health. Hugh Bradley also referred to the purchasing of programmes at

Horton, (these
started in September 1923). The club was grateful to Lt-Col Lord for the use

of the pitch
"a finer pitch one could not wish to play on" but the difficulty
was that no admission charge could be made.

The
entertainments were supplied by Fred E Wilton's 1924 concert party and was
thoroughly enjoyed by all present.

Herald said
about 100 were present and the concert party was called "Incognito (The
Masked Serenaders").

Chairman Hugh Bradley referred to as "Jimmy" in
this report, and he said that those who didn't buy programmes were not

supporters of
the club.

In 1966/67 First Epsom Handbook, Ken Knowlson - Press
Officer and former Ewell Boy recalls some of the old names. He refers

to
"Puffy" Edwards, "Tishy" Keeling, and Frank Challis, but
I think he means Bronk.

Oct 24 SSC 3q
had Epsom drawn at Egham on 8/11/24.

Oct 24 Advert in Herald for a WH Barton (former player) in
his profession as a "Commission Agent", living at The
Birdcage,

Ewell - Tel:
Epsom 665.

28/10/24 Epsom
Wednesday 2-1 Dorking Traders (Fr)

Also Sutton
Postal 4-1 Epsom Weds @ Sutton Rec. Appears that there may have been two
games. HT 1-1.

Oct 24 Reference is made to Alexandra Rec, yet Queen
Alexandra did not die until 1925. The park must have been named after

her before she
died.

1/11/24 Won
1-0 v Guildford (H) through a Reg Marlow goal in dreadful weather. GD now F14
A5.

"Just won in a game that was not a great one"
Reference to the very wet "eel-like character of the ball"
Guildford hit the post

near the end. HT was 0-0. Gate was affected by the
weather. Marlow also had another disallowed for offside. Reference to Ernie

Sperring being
"a classy custodian". Originally advised as Southern Rail (H) but
fixture changed.

3/11/24
Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall opened this day.

5/11/24 Epsom
Wednesday 0-2 Sutton Wednesday in Surrey Midweek Cup 2nd round. HT 0-0.

8/11/24 Beat
Egham  3-2 in SSC 3q, despite having
Tom Kirk sent off after 36 minutes. He was subjected to much

provocation
said Herald.

About 100 travelled to Egham, "Epsom adopted their
usual close passing game". Marlow scored after 20 minutes after beating

two players and hitting a left foot drive into the top of
the net. HT 1-2. Sending off was 36 minutes, when Clarke (Egham) and

Kirk collided, and Clarke put Kirk on the floor with a
ju-jitsu hold. Kirk got up and swung a punch at him, and was sent off.

Early in 2nd half, Egham were well on top, but Epsom
weathered the storm, , and a Kent cross was flicked on by Bristow to Parr

who scored after 66 minutes. Reg Marlow had been kicked in
the stomach and carried off, but he later returned and scored the

winner after good work and a cross from Parr. Marlow's
shot went in off the underside of the bar. Epsom sat back at the end

and conceded 4
corners in the last 90 seconds, but held on "comfortably".

12/11/24 Epsom
Weds v Worcester Park

13/11/24
Epsom Urban Council meeting discusses the report in the papers about Epsom
Town's presentation evening,

and was
concerned how the information about the new Cheam to Epsom road was released.
Councillor Gow, who

was at the
meeting appeared to be also surprised as to how this info came into the hands
of club officials. Council

wondered
whether Gow had "broken faith". Also that same day, the council had
received a letter from the club,

asking about
selling the old football ground to the club, as it was no longer required.
Presume this was the one

near Alexandra
Rec, but where exactly? Not sure that this road ever happened in the end.

14/11/24 Epsom Herald reported that the vlub had received
a letter frrom West Norwood wishing them well for the future.

15/11/24
Redhill defeat Epsom 5-0 in Amateur Cup 3q, in game that had to be switched
from Epsom for same reasons

as previous
round. Only 1-0 down at HT, but fell away in the second half, even after a
Sperring pensave at 0-1 in 2nd

half. Also down to ten men in second half. "A
considerable body of supporters" at the ground. Reg Sperring probably
the

best left half back seen on the ground this season. Also,
Reg Marlow had only got out of bed the day before after illness.

A large crowd this day, and Marlow and Kirk both struggled
to reproduce their form after injury the week before. Also "Parr and

Kent were lame by the end". Sperring pensave was from
Bannister, who had part of an arm missing, but he still scored two others.

Penalty was
given for a Smith handball as Epsom Town "crumpled" in the second
half. Redhill very strong.

Nov 24 SSC 1
draw matches Epsom with a home tie against Weybridge on 29/11/24. Carshalton
Athletic, who like

Epsom, had to
qualify through two rounds, then receive a bye this round! Only 6 matches in
1st round, with 10 byes.

19/11/24
Clarence House 0-1 Epsom Weds in Kingston & District League. Scorer:
Betchley.

22/11/24 Drew
2-2 v Walton. Walton played at Mount Felix in those days. 4 reserves required
due to injuries.

Kirk and Parr
were not fit to play, although Marlow was, despite "being taken home in
a car the previous week"?

A draw was a fair result, although play never reached a
high standard. Walton were 1-0 up after 10 minutes, but Reg Sperring

equalised before HT. Walton again went ahead, but this
time Reg Marlow evened it up, and Epsom nearly got a winner in

"rapidly gathering darkness". The dressing room
accom was "the worst yet seen by the Epsom Town club, even in its junior

days". "Not a single cup of tea was offered to
the players after the match, which appeared to be somewhat discourteous
in

these
enlightened times", said Herald.

25/11/24 Tom Kirk cleared at an SCFA hearing this day
according to the club. He is not to be suspended. See 5/12 below.

29/11/24 Lost 1-2 to Weybridge in SSC 1. Too much short
passing on a heavy ground was their downfall, although it was

an even game
in which the Sperring's played very well. Epsom also had a mispen from
Bristow at 2-1 down.

Herald said Epsom have thrown away another game as they
have become "so wedded to one style of play" that they can't

change to a faster one. The build up was too slow, and
much time was wasted. Weybridge scored first, but like the week before

it was 1-1 at HT. Epsom got faster after going behind
again, and in addition to the penalty, they felt that they had got a ball
over

the line, but it wasn't given. Weybridge's first goal
nearly wasn't given, as it went in, but out of a hole in the net, and a goal
kick

was originally
awarded. "A fair sized crowd". Would have been at home to Woking if
we had won.

Nov 24 Herald says H Mackenzie is to return to the first
team in place of F Watts. He does, and Watts returns to Epsom

Brotherhood
shortly afterwards. Mackenzie is "a player of moods". Kirk also in
line to return.

5/12/24 WE Dobb - Secretary of SCFA advises that Tom Kirk
is not yet in the clear, and that the matter has been referred to

another hearing at which Clarke of Egham will be present.
He is also disparaging about players who fight, but Hugh Bradley

writes in the following week to dispute this, and said
that Kirk was not charged with fighting, but striking at a player under

great provocation, as no contact was made. "Mr Kirk
is one of the mildest mannered men in our club". Also Epsom Town would

not play someone who couldn't keep his temper, and it is
ludicrous that the name of the club should be associated with such

a charge. He says that the club were told by SCFA that if
Kirk did not hear from them in a few days, then the matter would have

been dealt with, and they have heard nothing in the
meantime. I have found no evidence to suggest that Kirk was suspended

although he
does miss a lot of games in the next month or two, so I can't be totally
certain.

6/12/24 Surrey Comet confirms a 2-1 win at Leyland Motors,
which Epsom were rather fortunate to win. Epsom were 2-0 up at

HT after a goal from Parr, and a second through an own
goal, where the ball hit an Epsom player from a corner, then rebounded

into the net
off of a Leylands defender. Leylands hit a late consolation. First league
defeat for Leylands.

Comet was being harsh on Epsom if Herald is to be
believed. It says that in the first half, Epsom have seldom played so well.
"A

dazzling display". The second goal was in fact a Reg
Sperring strike that took a slight deflection from a Leyland player, so
I

have credited
it to Reg. Both teams colours clashed, and it made it difficult to pick
players out at times.

Dec 24 Future players Leslie and brother Bob Marlow
currently playing for Hampton Court Palace in Kingston & District League.

13/12/24 A feeble exhibition of football in 0-0 draw at
Godalming. Epsom pressed for most of the game, but lacked finish. The

2nd half was
more even, but "not worth going to see", although both Sperring's
played well.

Amazing, as Surrey Times states that this was the best
game seen at Godalming this season. A well fought match!! The hosts

started with
ten men briefly, and it ended in failing light.

20/12/24
Epsom recover from a 1-0 deficit that Southern Rail held for an hour, to win
3-1. Many of Southern Railway

had just come
directly off a 14 hour shift to play, which might explain their tiredness!!

Herald says that for more than half the game, the fare was
as unpleasant as hemlock!. Debut for WH Challis, as Kirk, Marlow

and Smith are
unable to play. Watts had been asked to play, but had left the club. Herald
says Southern Railway

were in a
false position in the league, although Kent got two and Reg Sperring scored
from a perfect

Challis cross. It is not likely to be Challis's last game
for the club, and he showed that he was "a lad of promise". Future
player

EJ Olley played for the visitors, who were "not the
most sporting" of clubs based on previous reputation, which was
sustained here.

Papers say
that Epsom are still unbeaten in the League at this stage (inc 20/12).
Correct. A "somewhat small crowd"

Game kicked
off 9 minutes late. League took no action.

Southern Railway (Brighton Section) represented the club
in the Southern Suburban League while Southern Rail (Croydon Section)

were the
higher ranked team in the Surrey Senior League.

I have uncovered a lot of details for Wilfred Harry
"Bronk" Challis, largely due to a great niece Lorna Challis, and
Wilfred's son

David, who lives in Tasmania. Wilfred was born on 21/8/06,
and was the elder of two sons (Ronald.G) of George William Challis, who

was a former member of Epsom East Street in 1901. He was
most famously remembered for entering a penalty shoot out with

Rosie the elephant when John Sangers circus came to town.
He won 1-0 and was the first person to beat the elephant in two

years! George was born in 1881 and died on 13/11/1955 just
as he was in the process of relating a large part of his life story. The

Bourne Hall
staff have a copy of this, and it is about thirty pages in length. He died in
Worthing.

In 1992 Lorna Challis wrote in to Bourne Hall and further
details were obtained. Wilf's mother was Elizabeth Ann Challis, and

George's
brother Henry James Challis was Lorna's grandfather.

Wilfred would go on to play for Surrey and West Ham wanted
to select him apparently, but he was too shy, so hid from the

selectors. He trained as a law clerk in the Temple and
then worked at the gas works in Sutton, living at 28 Mill Lane, Ewell from

1938-1952. He was an "Oerlicken Gunner" in the
North Atlantic, South Atlantic, South America and Murmansk during the war.
His

partner on the gun was from Tasmania and spoke so highly
of life there that Wilf decided to emigrate there in 1953 with his

second wife and son David. He already had a son Peter from
his earlier marriage to Rene, but I don't know what happened to them.

Wilfred worked for the Soldier Settlement Scheme for the
Government of Tasmania until his retirement, and after retirement, he

moved to Melbourne, where I presume he is commemorated. He
had other interests like walking and reading and gardening and

cooking. He started schoolboy soccer in Tasmania lobbying
and encouraging youngsters and was the Secretary of the South

Tasmania Football Association donating the Wilfred Challis
Memorial Cup. His second wife Audrey died in 1990, as did his son

Ronald. Son David was born on 5/1/46 and he has two
children. Further info can be obtained from David at 50 Hampden Road,

Battery Point, Tasmania 7004. Tel (0)3 6223
4482. Lorna's address is 2 Rosemead Close, Meadvale, Redhill RH1 6LU.

Tel 01737 246058.

Dec 24 DB
Pentycross now playing at Ashtead.

Dec 24 Hugh
Bradley listed as Match and Team Secretary, and he is writing some of the
match reports.

25/12/24 Reg
Marlow gets married on Christmas Day, but he will play in the two games
against Dorking.

26/12/24
Special train leaves for Dorking (from the Brighton station) at 1.52 with a
return fare of 1s. K.O. 2.30

26/12/24
Biggest ever gate at Pixham Lane as Epsom visit Dorking. 1,800 see Epsom win
3-2, with Dorking's two

goals coming from penalties, one of which was originally
saved by Ernie Sperring, before a retake was ordered for encroachment.

T Edwards was injured in 1st half. Passenger. Then Micky
Smith needed to go off for treatment, then Reg Marlow too. In

addition, Kent, Parr and Bristow were kicked a lot too.
Reg Marlow got the first two goals, then a Dorking penalty for handball

was followed by Epsom's third goal from Jack Parr, not
Mackenzie as was suggested by Dorking & Leatherhead Advertiser. The

second penalty was given after Edwards made a flying save!
Pixham Lane ground is just 100 yards from Deepdene station says

Herald in
1927. A special train leaves Epsom (Brighton Station) at 1.52 to Dorking.
Fare 1s.

27/12/24 Return game the following day at Horton Hospital
saw a late F.Denyer winner for Dorking in poor conditions. Lost 1-0.

So bad were the conditions, that the Herald reporter
didn't even venture outside of the dressing room, and reported from a
distance!

There was constant rain and a 40-50 mph wind. Only a
handful of spectators were present, and "22 unfortunate players, two

linesmen, and a few
brave spectators were drenched through and through because of the whim of one
referee". Herald said game

should not have been played "It was madness to play,
although the pitch was fine". HT 0-0 "No goals - no football"!
At HT there

was an appeal to abandon the game, but ref refused.
Dorking won with a late penalty that Dorking didn't even appeal for. This
was

Epsom Town's first home league defeat "for several
seasons". As 18th Feb 1922 saw the last loss 0-2 to Epsom
Brotherhood.

Probably the
first loss at Horton but not definite yet.

Herald was considering offering a prize for the answer to
the question "why was the penalty given", and suggested asking

the referee to
adjudicate! Game kicked off 10 minutes late. No action taken by league.

Jan 25 Surrey
County Youth Cup starts this year.

3/1/25 Epsom
Town make their first visit to the Nest in the Surrey Senior League Charity
Cup, and are defeated 4-0 in

front of "quite a decent crowd." "For once
there was a good crowd at the Nest" HT for Vince (inc pen). Southern
Railway now play

at Dorking in next round. Epsom went 2-0 down at HT after
a dubious penalty award that appeared to take "a lot of heart out of
the

team". A corner had gone out of play so Witts caught
it to give to Ernie Sperring, but the ref said it was handball. Epsom
regularly

"had their legs kicked out from under them, and being
hacked and elbowed all the time". The third goal was way offside, as the

scorer received the ball from midfield, way down by the
corner flag, and "Epsom gave up". On one occasion five minutes
were

wasted while the referee argued with the home players
about whether or not to award a goal. He did, then changed his mind, and

then
re-awarded the goal! Then he went to the Epsom linesman to ask how much time
remained!

The Southern Railway report advises a HT for Vince
(including the penalty) and maybe unsurprisingly makes no reference to
any

controversy.
They also advise "quite a decent crowd" but acknowledge that
"a lot came with the visitors (as usual).

Epsom are now out of all cups. This was the fourth penalty
conceded in three games. Epsom have no game this week, so the

Committee have
given the players a week off to rest and "lose the bruise marks about
their bodies".

3/1/25 Epsom are top of the table, even after the loss to
Dorking, 5 points clear of Dorking, who have 2 games in hand, and

Farnham UB who
are 7 points back but with 5 games in hand.

3/1/25
Addlestone open their new ground at Alexandra Road.

7/1/25 Dorking Weds 5-2 Epsom Weds in Sutton Hospital Cup.
HT 3-1. Line Up: C Staplehurst, A Howell, A Reynolds, F Allen

H Sharpe, T
Barker, Chambers, H Betchley, C Bennison, A Budd, V Ede.

Epsom Athletic
playing at Epsom Recreation Ground this year.

10/1/25 No
game for First team.

10/1/25 Future Epsom player Louis Jack Goossens was the
son of the Sutton United President Jack Goossens and plays for

Sutton this
day in their 10-0 Athenian League defeat
at Southall.

14/1/25 Epsom
Weds 2nd XI 1-4 Dorking Weds 2nd XI

17/1/25 Epsom
beat Leyland Motors 3-1 at Horton. Reg Marlow was the star player, and got
all three.

"A clever and inspiring pivot" say
papers. Leylands had a weak side out, and Epsom were 2-0 up after 20 minutes.

At 2-1 up, Leylands hit the bar with a penalty from Cann,
who then played it again when it rebounded to him, giving away a free

kick. Marlow
late goal completed his hat trick. Mellish was injured in both halves and
became a passenger

22/1/25 Reg
Marlow becomes Epsom's first ever player to receive representative honours
with Surrey v Kent @

Charlton
Athletic this day. Herald said he had never played in senior football before
this season.

24/1/25 No game for firsts or reserves, who played each
other in a sort of friendly. Reference to a new young player Fowler from

Epsom Athletic
who did well.

31/1/25 Lost
to Guildford 4-1. HT 2-0 , game played at Josephs Road, Guildford, as
Guildford were sharing with United

at the time,
before they changed to Guildford City in 1926. Late consolation for J Wilson.

Heaviest league defeat of the season, and Guildford were
the better team. At one end the pitch was "slimy mud" which was
ankle

deep. Epsom attacked this end, and had no luck with their
shots. Epsom are a light team, and tired after the break. Herald says

that after winning
the toss, they should have defended this goal instead. 3 soldiers from
Aldershot were drafted in especially for

this game.
Epsom's goal was near the end after good work from Jack Parr.

Herald says
that the soldiers shouldn't have played - not very amateur.

4/2/25 Epsom
Weds 2nd XI 2-1 Dorking Weds 2nd XI

7/2/25
Experimental friendly between Sutton & Tooting, trialling two different
changes to the offside law. One half was

played with
40 yard "offside zones", and the second half was played with only
two players between the striker and

the goal line
instead of the current three. This friendly preferred the second format, as
did other friendlies with Clapton

Orient v
Wolves, and Arsenal v Chelsea. This rule change will come in next year.

7/2/25 Drew 2-2 with Walton (H) "The last 20 minutes
play in this match was as exciting as could be desired" HT 1-1, and
Epsom

led in the second half, and looked like winning, but
Walton equalised despite Epsom pressure. Bristow had equalised an early

Walton goal,
from a header from a Challis corner, while Parr got the second.

Reference to
Fred Keeling often being called "AJ". They are his initials.
Alfred.

7/2/25 Herald refers to many bad sports at Epsom who go to
watch, but don't purchase a programme, which is the club's only

source of income. Talk about a possible friendly for
14/2/25, with a debut for a well known right winger who has played for
Surrey.

12/2/25 Both Reg Sperring and GB Sperring both play and
win at Billiards for Epsom Conservative Club v Sutton Adult School.

14/2/25 Epsom
defeat Hanwell Town from London League 3-0 at Horton. J Bunce made his debut
from

Camberley
& Yorktown. He is skilful and with a cheerful temperament. Also
ex-Dorking.

Reg Sperring scored twice after a goalless but strenuous
first half The first came from a Bunce cross after 55 minutes, and he

scored again shortly afterwards. Hanwell were regularly
offside and Wilson scored near the end. Report in West Middx Gazette.

17/2/25 A SSL minute referred to an Epsom complaint
against Walton relating to the dressing room, but the league took no action.

There was another complaint from Godalming about Epsom but
the league left this for the two Club Secretaries to deal with.

21/2/25 1,500 attend game at home to Farnham United
Breweries. It was an end to end game with some rough play. The first

goal took a deflection off of Mellish, and Epsom trailed
2-0 at HT. They tried all they could in the second half, but couldn't
get

through. Marlow was kicked in both knees, and was
virtually a passenger in second half, Parr was also below average. Micky

Smith was
unable to play, as he had a heavy cold, but no complaints as Farnham were the
better side. Lost 2-0

28/2/25 Beat Weybridge by 5 clear goals. A poor number of
spectators as Epsom adopted "open" tactics. 4 full backs played,
as

Reg Sperring and Marlow were injured. Smith played in the
half back line, while Edwards played centre forward and got two goals.

Debut for A
Setchell (Luton Clarence). Occasionally spelt Sitchell or Satchell.

5/3/25 AGM of
Epsom Conservative Association - Robert Bradshaw was re-elected Chairman,
while future Committee

members HW
Cushine and C Blackadar were also on this Committee.

7/3/25 Future
player E Olley scores for Southern Rail v Addlestone at Nest.

7/3/25 Friendly lost 4-2 with Fulham 'A'. Friendly by name
and by nature with no intentional fouls. "A new point in the history of
the

home club," as this was the first time a professional
team had visited the hosts. Fulham Reserves (not 'A') were the better
side,

but Epsom put up a good fight. 2-0 down early and 3-0 at
HT, though Jack Parr had hit the post. He made the first goal for

Edwards, and Bunce created the second to bring the score
back to 2-3, but a late Fulham goal clinched it "Well worth
watching",

as Challis
"played a dashing game". Herald says that Fulham "must have
enjoyed their trip into the country"!

Illustrated
Sutton & Epsom Mail says Epsom were 4-0 down before Edwards got his two
goals.

14/3/25 Egham beat Epsom Town 3-0. T Edwards injures his
arm, and is advised to get it x-rayed when he gets home. It was

broken. Epsom attacked strongly, but finished weakly, and
trailed 1-0 at HT. The second goal was "yards offside" then the
injury

occurred.
Egham's third was a penalty awarded for a foul by Mellish.

21/3/25 Epsom crash 4-1 at Camberley & Y. Many
reserves were in, and one of them was carried off for a while, but
recovered.

Marlow, Mellish, Smith and Edwards were all out, and
"Curly" Keeling also broke a bone in his hand playing for the
reserves.

Presume this
is Harold Keeling, but can't be sure.

Game started
22 minutes late and Epsom were fined 2s 6d.

Bristow
scored a penalty for Epsom and Fowler made his debut this day. A local Youth
aged 16. Very promising.

Camberley News says there was "a fair crowd". J
Bunce played against his old team but overshadowed by Pancott. First C &
Y

goal was a dipping shot which Sperring stooped to take,
but it dipped and bounced straight over him. HT was 0-3. A more

even 2nd half but C & Y went 4-0 up before an injury
to Maycock. 10 men. Witts was also injured for Epsom, and Bristow scored

a late penalty in off the post. Camberley News not happy
with the crowd, as it was 5d entry charge, yet proceeds were only

"a little
over £5."

Mar 25
Reference to F Chenery playing for Ewell Athletic. Any relation? Yes, older
brother.

28/3/25 Friendly lost 4-2 v Watford Old Boys at Horton.
Further details unknown, but Herald says that Ernie Sperring got

injured while playing. But he wasn't playing in goal. His
deputy (FE Kent) was not great. Watford News says that Epsom were 2-0

down but fought back by HT through Challis and one other
after a scrimmage in front of goal. Epsom then lost their left back

(presume Ernie Sperring) with a damaged ankle. 10 men. HT
2-2 but 2-4 in the end despite the wind and slope in Epsom's favour.

5 reserves
played this day.

4/4/25 Friendly W 4-2 against Guildford. Venue unknown.
Game played as a benefit for T Edwards who broke his arm against

Egham. Tickets
for a raffle, plus programmes and a collection by Dick Barton were arranged
for the benefit.

The Herald
advised that Barton is "as usual very successful in drawing money from
pockets!"

10/4/25 Epsom are unlucky not to draw with Southern
Railway, but lose 2-1. (11.15 ko) (NR) Winning goal was offside says Mail.

11/4/25 A slight alteration to Good Friday's team as Epsom
easily beat Godalming 5-0 and could have got more, "had they

greatly
exerted themselves" 5th goal was an o.g. and HT was 1-0 but no further
info, even in Surrey Times and Ad.

Game started 18 minutes late but league took no action.
Godalming also played one player short for which they were fined 2s 6d.

11/4/25 No
team line up, but Illustrated Sutton & Epsom Mail has a picture of the
Epsom line up plus officials that is

very
detailed. It has Marlow in kit and Challis not in kit, so it can't have been
13/4/25. It also has Hughes in the

picture and
was printed in 17/4/25 edition with Ernie Sperring sitting down with a crutch
by his side. This line up

MUST have been
that which played on 11/4/25. I have now used this line up in the stats. Copy taken.

11/4/25
Reference to future player RJ Stimson being at Woking, but playing for
Kingstonian this day v Southall.

He had been
with Woking all season except for assisting Kingstonian that day.

11/4/25 Another future player EJ Olley plays for Southern
Railway in their League Cup Final defeat to Farnham this day.

Unfortunately
for them , they lost 7-0 @ Wimbledon.

13/4/25 Won
4-0 v Botwell Mission in a friendly.

13/4/25 Farnham United Breweries defeate Southern Railway
in the League Charity Cup Final at Plough Lane, Wimbledon F.C.

I don't yet
have a score although Southern Rail won 3-0 at Egham in the Semi-Final to get
there.

April 25 2
friendlies arranged with Sutton United for 18/4 and 25/4. First game at
Horton. Sutton have finished their

league
programme, but Epsom have one left v Egham (H).

18/4/25 Lost 5-2 to Sutton in friendly at Horton Hospital.
Sutton were a player short, so Jack Parr played for Sutton, and

scored against Epsom! Supporters were disappointed with
the result, because it was expected to be closer. "Epsom are

a very nicely balanced team with plenty of dash and a good
defence, but they are not yet up to the standard of the premier

leagues".
Both sides were weaker than full strength. Game witnessed by "several
hundred spectators".

18/4/25 DB
Pentycross scores HT for Ashtead as they win Dorking Hospital Cup 5-1 v
Leatherhead.

Apr 25 Epsom
are not the team they were in the early part of the season.

24/4/25 it is reported that Mr Elmslie the trainer at
Epsom was formerly with Watford, and is bringing some professionals down

for an exhibition match, as was the case last year. Miller
(Chelsea) Jack Harrow (Chelsea), Fah Gregory (Watford), and his

brother Val (Wolverhampton) are expected to
attend.

25/4/25
Return game ends 2-0 to Sutton after a goalless first half. Crowd much
smaller than expected because it was

FA Cup final
day. Goals for Sutton on 68 and 73 minutes.

Picture of
match not taken up, as it is very small.

2/5/25 Last game of season saw a 1-1 draw with Egham.
Epsom Town were better and improved on recent games, but finishing

was still poor. Parr had a winning goal disallowed, as the
referee blew for full time as his shot was going in to the net. "A
most

unusual
finish". HT and scorer of Epsom's goal still unknown.

9/5/25 Farnham United Breweries (Champions) v Rest of
Surrey Senior League at Egham, which was won by SSL 3-2. Reg

Marlow (Epsom
and Surrey) played but did not score and was "the weak spot" of the
team. Micky Smith was a reserve.

Game was held for the benefit of the Surrey Benevolent
Fund. Reg Sperring was also selected says Surrey Mirror & SSL minutes.

May 25
Reference to future official DWG Jones now convalescing after illness.

13/5/25 The arranged match for Epsom against a team of
pros is not allowed to take place by the FA as it is declared "out
of

season",
despite all proceeds going to Epsom Cottage Hospital, and many pro teams
going on foreign tours.

May 25 reference to Jack Weaver, former minor pre-war
football player in Epsom "for many years was the idol of the Sutton
crowd".

May 25 SSL AGM
sees Southern Railway drop out, and they are replaced by Vickers and Reigate
Priory.

Chertsey are
rejected for the second year in a row.

Final table
has Epsom third on goal average Pld 22 W10 D6 L6 F43 A31. Table still does
not balance exactly.

Many tables have Epsom as F43 A33, but it still doesn't
explain why Dorking are sometimes placed above them in

the league table! It is wrong, and the Surrey Advertiser
even writes in to apologise for the wrong GD the week after

issuing the
League table!

28/5/25
Reported that on 23/5/25 at the club dinner, Epsom Town have completed
negotiations for a

private
purchase of the Ewell football ground at cost of £1,250 made possible by the
generosity of

Robert
Bradshaw.

Herald says that Ewell could have bought it, but didn't,
so they can't really complain. "Memories of the games on the

Ewell ground still linger with many people". "If
appreciation of what Mr Bradshaw has done is shown as it should be

shown, and the lead he has given, followed, then the Ewell
ground will again be the scene of fine senior football, as it

was in the days when the brothers Walters and other
brilliant players made the tree-encircled space, the objective on

a Saturday
afternoon of many people who loved the real sporting football to be witnessed
there"

Reserves:

Southern Suburban League

Position

?? Out of 10

22/8/24
reported that the reserves are entering the SIC, SLCC and Sutton Hospital
Cup.

Aug 24 reference to the reserves fixtures which are in
line with the results I have, except 6/9 Friendly (A), 18/10 (H) unknown,

1/11 (H) unknown, and 27/12 Munster Park (A) Also
reference to 13/12 v Balham Ath (H) but they have already played this in Nov.

Was it away
from home?

Advert in
Sutton & Epsom Mail for Reserve Team Trainer "Names to Billy (Billy
Green) please"

6/9/24 Epsom Brotherhood 3-1 Reserves in friendly at Epsom
Brotherhood. The football pitch there now bears comparison with

any in the neighbourhood due to work by Brotherhood
members. Reserves beaten easily 1-0 10 minutes, then a second before

HT. Epsom pulled one back from ten yards (centre forward),
but a 25 yarder made it 3-1. "Not a single intentional breach of the

rules" as
game played in "afine sporting spirit". Our c-f and c-h were our
best players.

13/9/24 Only 9 played as C Mold and Peake (o-r) failed to
show. Line up: J Coppin, Fred Keeling, S Perry, Lewins, Shaw,

Coleman,
Jermin, Holmwood, Brown

20/9/24 Lost 0-4 at Thornville with all goals in the
second half. Line up: Coppin, Lindsell, Fred Keeling, S Perry, Lewins, Witts,

Sherman
(almost certainly Jermin), Coleman, H Mackenzie, Holmwood, Challis. First
mention of Challis for the club.

Reserves are getting better despite having to play J
Coppin in goal, when he is a full back. Mold had been very seriously ill,
so

ill, he wasn't
able to get a message to the club. He is wished a complete and speedy
recovery by Herald.

20/9/24 Epsom
were unable to take advantage of a strong wind in the first half and paid for
it in the second.

H Mackenzie
played quite often for the first team last year at outside right.

27/9/24 Epsom
play Sutton in South London Charity Cup and draw 2-2. Replay required to
settle this first round tie.

They were on
top for 80 of the 90 minutes. Large report but with hardly any detail!

4/10/24 Res
played with ten men at Guards Depot due to an injury to Coppin before the
game. Still drew 0-0.

Herald says that Epsom played "the greater part of
the game with ten men owing to an injury to Coppin". This tells me that
he

started the
game, so have amended the line up accordingly.

The provisional line up was Hughes, Coppin, A.Keeling,
S.Perry, Lewins, H.Keeling, Jermin, McKenzie, Willmer, Challis, Aldridge.

The full line
up was similar except Reg Coleman came in for McKenzie.

11/10/24 Res lost 1-3 v Wallington in SIC. Epsom were 1-0
up in first minute, but HT was 1-1, and an injury to A Jermin after 55

minutes, left
them with 10 men.

18/10/24 No
game for Reserves.

25/10/24 (H) v
Crusaders in SSL. Was this played?

It might have been, because a league table is produced the
following week showing Pld 4 D1 L3 F1 A9. This means a 1-2 loss is

missing, possibly against Crusaders. Lots of points
deducted and awarded already, but these aren't mentioned in a later table.

1/11/24 No
fixture for Reserves.

1/11/24 However, I have now uncovered a 4-2 loss at
Beckenham in Sutton & Epsom Illustrated Mail. This ties in a bit
with

comments
below for 29/11/24.

8/11/24
Reserves lose at the Nest 5-1 against Southern Rail. Paper refers to club as
Epsom Town 'A', but it was the

reserve side in this league, and an A team wouldn't exist
for many years. Report referred to our goal being "a gift from one of
the

Rails
defenders" presume it was an o.g.?

Southern Railway (Brighton Section) represented the club
in the Southern Suburban League while Southern Rail (Croydon Section)

were in the
Surrey Senior League.

15/11/24 Res
beat Balham Athletic 6-1 in League match.

22/11/24 Return fixture with Southern Rail sees a 3-1
defeat. Epsom were assisted by Frank Allen from Epsom Brotherhood.

Regular keeper MJ Hughes went to Walton, in case Ernie
Sperring couldn't get there for a first team match. He did make it.

22/11 Table says Res Pld 7 W1 D1 L5 but GD unknown.
However, I have eight results if we included 22nd November.

Maybe it was
upto and inc 15th?

29/11/24 Fixture against New Scotland Yard (A). Not clear
if it was actually played - see 10/1/25 comments about not having

scored a goal
yet. I have calculated a 3-2 loss here based on tables, but it was probably
against another club. Check!

See 1/11/24
comments. It looks certain that we didn't play NSY on that date now.

6/12/24 Fr win 7-0 v Old Fransiscans @ Horton. Line Up
Hughes, Coppin, A.Keeling, S.Perry, Frank Allen, FS Witts, CF Watts,

H Whittaker, H
Keeling, Challis, Aldridge.

13/12/24
Friendly arranged at home to Nunhead Res was won 2-0. Scorers A.Traube and
Charlie Aldridge.

20/12/24 Was
there a game?

26/12/24
Replay with Sutton sees reserves lose 6-0. Team: MJ Hughes, F Allen, AJ
Keeling, S Perry, H Marlow,

Fred Watts, F
Whittaker, A Jermin, R Howarth, A Traube, C Aldridge.

26/12/24 Reserves were originally due to play Balham
Athletic at home with a 10.45 k.o. yet we had already played them at
home.

Did they have a home venue, as it looks like our First
team played both games at home with them last year in the same league?

Yes they did,
for this season at least, as they hosted Southern Railway "at Raynes
Park" on 27/9/24.

27/12/24 Munster Park (A) (L). Was this played? Almost
certainly not. Conditions were horrendous. K.O. was due for 2.30.

League table
also indicates that no League games were played between 22nd November and
10th January.

3/1/25
Friendly arranged (H) v London Caledonians Strollers @ Horton. Was this
played? Due for 2.30 k.o.

10/1/25 Reserves beat New Scotland Yard 5-0, who haven't
scored a goal yet in the League according to the Herald. "They are a

happy
lot" though. R Coleman played at centre half, not his usual attacking
position.

17/1/25 No
fixture for Reserves

24/1/25 No
game for firsts or reserves, who played each other in a sort of friendly /
trial.

31/1/25 No
fixture for Reserves

7/2/25 Res
lose 3-0 at Colliers Wood in SSL.

14/3/25 Small
crowd saw a 3-1 win over Munster Park. Good football from both sides though.

21/3/25 Res v Crusaders in SSL says Sutton & Epsom
Mail. Was this not played on 25/10, or is this the return fixture, and where?

It is probably
the return fixture and is probably away.

Other
affiliated Local Teams:

Secretary

From SCFA Handbook

Affiliated

Epsom
Brotherhood

GW Turner

13 Albert Road, Epsom

Aug 1920

Epsom Athletic

RC Pearman

St Ives, Hook Road, Epsom

July 1922

Ewell Athletic

A Sutton

5 Elm Road

July 1923

Ewell Ministry
of Pensions

Dr E Goodson

Ewell Ministry of Pensions Hospital

May 1925

Epsom
Wednesday

FJ Burrows

40 Wyeth Road, Epsom

Sept 1923

West Ewell

R Cook

22 Heatherside Road, Ewell

July 1924

June 24 West
Park Hospital opens.

July 24 Land
in process of being bought on Epsom Court for a recreation ground. Eventually
becomes Court Rec,

where present
day club would train regularly through the 90's and 00's.

Aug 24 Boring
work started on tunnels for the extension of the Underground line from
Clapham to Morden. It was

hoped to be
open by xmas 25, but was Sept 26 before it opened.

23/8/24 Man
beats horse in endurance race at Crystal Palace. CW Hart ran 345 miles 880
yards, while the horse

"Saucy
Lassie" ran 337 miles 1618 yards. The race started on Monday and
finished on Saturday. Starting on Monday

Hart ran 76,
53, 54, 64, 61, and 37 miles, while he practised by running to Brighton and
back three times the week

before!!

Sept 24 Sutton
United entry for FA Cup is late, so they miss out.

Nov 24 Pound
Lane, Epsom shopkeeper Florence Hillman found guilty of selling fireworks to
an under 13. Fined 20s!

10/1/25
Further to their 10-0 loss this day, someone sent in a funeral style card to
the Herald, saying

"Sacred
to the memory of Sutton United, who fell asleep at Southall - 10th January
1925"!!

24/1/25 Solar
Eclipse in NW Scotland.

17/3/25 Epsom
Council refer to the widening of East Street costing £29,372, but no
reference to High Street, which was

eventually
widened in 1936.