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

LL

2nd out of 14

FAC

Pr

West Norwood

0-1

AC

2nd

Wycombe Wanderers

2-7

LC

No League Cup

SSC

2nd

Kingstonian

1-4

SCS

SF

Nunhead

0-2

President

Sir Samuel Hill-Wood (Bart)

New

Chairman

Charles (HC) Pettett

re-elected

v-c

AP Baker

re-elected

Secretary

Sid (WS) Basford

New
-  replacing WE Green

Basford lived at 199 Hook Road.

Manager

Selection Committee

Treasurer

AE Chaney

New
-  replacing HE Stevens

Press Officer

DWG Jones

Trainer

G Powell

Reserves

George Keen

Committee elected at
AGM:

E Uden, W Voller, TN Young, WI Bowe, FG
Talbot-Butler, E Easton, WH Bailey,

CE (Ted) Wheal, Bill Townsend, FA Duplock,
William E Green, WJ Gilbert, AP Henry, HA Walker

Home Ground:

West Street, Ewell

Club Colours

Light and Dark Blue

Additional
first and second team records listed in THE BOOK.

AGM 29/6/31
announces loss of £100 on last season at Foresters Hall in Epsom on Monday
evening..

Chairman
Charles Pettett presided and among those present were Messrs HE Stevens, AE
Chaney, DWG Jones, WI Bowe,

H Guard, W
Voller, WH Bailey, A Easton, and others. Secretary William E Green away due
to business commitments that

were the
reason he was resigning.

Report praises
Amateur Cup exploits where Epsom had been leading the holders Ilford until 20
minutes from time, losing 5-2.

They also had
the best result in their history by visiting Dulwich and knocking them out of
SSC 3-2.

Loss of £100
mainly arrived at  because v-p
donations were only £45, whereas last year they were £160. Gate receipts also

show a loss of
£40, although cup tie gates were understandably up. Mainly due to club policy
of allowing the unemployed in for

half price.
Sale of season tickets, programmes profits from catering and draws shows a
decline of nearly £100.

William E
Green resigns as Secretary. Epsom Town's Secretary had connections going back
to Junior football with Epsom

FC (1902).
Club fortunate in obtaining the services of Sid Basford, who resigned his
position

of Secretary
with Sutton & District League and had given up refereeing.

DWG Jones said
he was the senior officer now (oldest) (or longest serving)? I think the
latter. Messrs Guard and Stevens

elected as
auditors, while thanks were given to the ex-treasurer and ex-secretary for
their services.

3/7/31 Sutton
& District League AGM saw WS Basford resign after 5 years as secretary
"the longest that anyone

had held that
position". He was thanked by Chairman N Hibbert, and was elected vice
chairman in succession to LC Makin.

Ewell FC were
put in the Premier Division with Epsom Town Juniors in Division 2.

11/7/31 Annual
scouts sports day at West Street. It appears a regular event. Ten groups or
packs entered the 18 events.

2nd Epsom won
the Rovers trophy, while 1st West Ewell won the cubs and the scouts events.
The cubs retained their trophy

July 31 FJ
Lewis writes in to Herald to thank Billy Green for his work and courteous
assistance at all times. He was the Secretary

and Treasurer
of the London League.

Aug 31 future
Secretary Harry (HW) Hawke takes on the position at Dagenham Town.

Aug 31 R
Andrews leaves for Sutton.

Aug 31 Future
player Charlie (CO) Hall is at Tooting Town

Aug 31 Herald
reports on Epsom's open spaces at the time. Alexandra - 16 acres - opened
1899

Court Rec - 20
acres - opened 1924. Rosebery Park 11 1/2 acres - opened 1913

Future player
JT Hosking joins Sutton from Barnet. Future player Tommy Delventhal is
already there.

Wills Sports
first season as a senior club. They play at Hill Farm. Met Police still at
Imber Court back then. Dorking still at Pippbrook.

15/8/31 First
trial saw many new players inc J Spring and E Clements (former Epsom Town
Juniors). Bone who had travelled from

Pitsea, Marsh,
Graham, Mason and Heslop all caught the eye. REDS v BLUES but no teams listed
for this trial.

Aug 31 George
Keen is appointed Trainer of the reserves. "Has previously assisted,
both as a player and in the training work".

21/8/31 Herald
reports that Epsom's trainer is not an ex-Epsom player. G Powell last year
trained Ebbw Vale, and he will replace

Sid Bristow this year.

21/8/31 also
reported that Harry Westlake will be leaving for Wimbledon. He does.

Aug 31 First
ever advert in Herald for Epsom's first team friendly match in August 1931.
Admission 6d + 6d for stand and enclosure,

with
Unemployed and children half price. K.O. 3.30.

22/8/31 2nd
trial was very good. Supporters think that Epsom could have its strongest
ever team. W Nash was the "father" of the

Junior side,
and his players are starting to come through now. George Watts and Spring did
well, despite being some way off of

their 20's
still. BLUES: Adams (Folkestone), H , A.Friend (made up??), GR Hilliard,
George Mackesy, J "Snowy"

Goddard,
Chenery (local) (can't be Ray, as he was only 7, maybe older brother or
cousin?), Barber, W.Graham (London Junior football),

George Watts (juniors), Spring (Juniors).
REDS: Foden (Whyteleafe Albion), Cartwright (local), Staplehurst (juniors),
Huzzey (London

junior football), Swindell (West Bridgford,
Notts), Winship (Cockfield, N.E. England), Trevor Jones, Durnsley Jackson
(Wednesfield (or Hednesford? - see below)

and Wolves
Res), Reg Marlow, JW Meldrum (London Caledonians), R Coleman. At HT Clements
(Junior), and Donn replaced Chenery

and Marlow.
Chenery was "a local lad" "but not much in the picture",
while Donn was poor, but had travelled a long way, and had

been a regular
scorer in Welsh and Irish football for the last three seasons (180 goals).
Played for Rhayader and Caerau.

Donn is in
fact Tommy Dunne, a future legend and Welsh International.

Daily News
advises that Durnsley Jackson is from West Bridgford, Notts and that Swindell
is from Hednesford. May be wrong though and I would always stick with a local
paper view.

Tot Winship
was named because he was quite short and tubby. Was killed in 50's or 60's
after being attacked by a patient while

he was
working at one of the mental hospitals in Epsom according to Wilf Smith.
"Sturdily built". "A strong broad shouldered player".

However, this
story is not known by Ron Ruffell, a fifties player whose dad Bill worked at
the Manor too and advised that Tot used to

appear
regularly at his house when his father was away! He drove a triumph 100
motorbike for a while, but could not recall or clarify Wilf's story.

Also reported
that Challis will still be out for months to come with his knee trouble. He
was unable to play cricket all summer, which

he loves even
more than his football!

26/8/31 -
third trial. REDS: Cooper, J Spring, Fred Copsey, George Keen, George
Mackesy, Read, Whiteland, Barber, Tommy Dunne

(from Wales),
MacDonald, Cartwright. BLUES: P Miles (juniors), H.Pattemore, Bob Gates, K
Nash (juniors - son of trainer), Gray,

A Fripp, E
Clements (junior), Brown, Richards (West Park - played occasionally last
year), Reg Marlow, R Coleman.

A Dobson is
also from Cockfield and recommended by Tommy Winship. Gray and Read also did
well at the trial. Foden is injured

and Jack
Forster is ill, so Ernie Sperring will play v Godalming.

Aug 31 Advised
that entry to reserve games is 4d + 2d for stand and enclosure with half
price for unemployed and children.

29/8/31 Very
easy friendly win over Godalming in friendly. Debuts for Winship, Graham,
Dobson, Dunne and Swindell.

Very smiling
weather. Durnsley Jackson was unavailable (staying with Bilston FC), so Dunne
took his place. Herald says there

were 2 o.g.'s,
but BOOK credits Jones with one of them, so I will too. "Epsom start
with a sixer".

5/9/31 Epsom
do well to get a draw at Bostall Heath, who scored after 44 minutes, but
Epsom came back in 2nd half, and

monopolised
the last 20 minutes, as they recovered from 2-0 down, to draw 2-2 with a
"wonderful" game from Jack Forster.

Sept 31 Epsom
Herald advises a rumour that Epsom may include two twin brothers C and G
Brain who have a brother playing for Norwich City. It doesn't happen.

12/9/31 Many
spectators for the SCS game v Carshalton Athletic despite a wet day there was
vociferous cheering from both

sets of
supporters. Epsom were fortunate to win. T Jones was injured and in hospital
with knee trouble that would keep him out of

the first team
until Jan 32, while Herbert Pattemore was previously a professional with
Swansea, so was classed as a permit player

and ineligible
for this match. JW Meldrum made his debut from London Caledonians, and scored
the second goal.

19/9/31 West
Norwood are drawn at home to Epsom Town in FAC but switch the game to West
Street. Ground problems.

Reference to
Beddington Corner being called the Magpies, so presume they played in black
and white.

Sept 31 Epsom
Weds have moved from the Croydon Midweek League to the Kingston Wednesday
League.

19/9/31 Big
shock at West Street as West Norwood visit and win 1-0 in FAC. Papers say
Epsom have never gone out so early

but they are
wrong, as West Norwood knocked them out at the same stage on exactly the same
day in 1925/26.

Pattemore
injured right knee very early. Passenger. Then after 30 minutes he fell and
broke his left collar bone! Taken to Cottage

Hospital. 10
men. The winning goal was scored after 86 minutes from an impossible angle
for the visitors.

Herald
says  thought he had broken his collar
bone, but he had in fact just damaged ligaments.

26/9/31 Epsom
deserve to beat Carshalton Athletic, although 3-1 slightly flattered Epsom.
Debuts for Bobby Gill who joined

from Evenwood
Town (north-east-Durham area), and for Billy Williams, an ex-schoolboy
international who had joined

from West Ham
and scored three goals this day. He was a business partner of George Mackesy.

It is likely
that there are still some Gills in the area. Wife Pat was around in the early
80's, and their son John also lived in Ruxley

Lane,
believes Mary Beadle, daughter of Ernie Watkins.

Sept 31
Reference to future player and manager Fred Chitty, who played for Ewell Boys
school along with his brother E.Chitty.

They won 12-0
against Cheam on 25/9 in first game of season. The following week they beat
Benhilton 9-0.

Sept 31
Reference made to Columbia Records Athletic Club playing at Earlsfield, yet
they played in Worcester Park on 31/10/31.

and again in early
November

3/10/31 Very
tame affair with Cray Wanderers, although Bobby Gill and Tot Winship were
great and "will undoubtedly be marked

out for
representative games soon". RJ Stimson returned to the half back line
after apparent injury.

Future player
J "Ginger" Gillespie joined Cray W from Bexley Heath Town, and made
his debut this day for Cray, and scored.

Oct 31 J
"Snowy" Goddard is now at Sutton.

Oct 31 former
player CF Harvey is at Wimbledon

10/10/31 Met
Police AC game went to extra time, before requiring a replay. Met led in
first period of extra time from a

pass from
"passenger" Bateman, but a Fred Behn header after 118 minutes kept
Epsom in the cup.

14/10/31 Epsom
Wednesday v Kingston Albany in Kingston Wednesday League Div 1. Home games
were at Alexandra Rec.

17/10/31
Bernard Marlow joins from Egham - is young and fast say papers. No relation
to Reg Marlow, but brother of future player

Leslie Marlow.
Billy Williams scores 4 against Hendon, but should have had 7. Was due to be
AC replay with Met Police, but

they were
still involved in FAC, so they played at West Norwood instead (w 6-1). Also
debut for J Williamson. Bernard Marlow is a young

bank clerk. He
has a very strong kick. Epsom were 3-0 up when Hendon scored, and HT was 4-1.

Hendon's goal
was an own goal from Williams according to the Times. What was he doing back
there!

17/10/31
Comet, Herald and Advertiser says Bernard Marlow got 2, while THE BOOK says
one was an o.g. I will go with papers.

Reg Stimson
was not fully fit so didn't play.

17/10/31
reference to future player Basil Solly playing for Mitcham Wanderers.
"late of Park Royal and Dulwich Hamlet". Also future Sutton United.

Hendon
currently play at Welsh Harp ground.

24/10/31 The
better side won as Epsom saw off Met Police 2-1 in AC replay in front of
2,500. Met police weren't in game until 15

minutes before
the end. Debut for George Watts (promoted from juniors and reserves). Herald
says only 1,900 were present.

Reported that
the club are looking for a new left winger to replace the gap left by
Challis's injury.

Oct 31 J
Williamson chosen for London League v Paris League in Paris on 31/10/31.

Bobby Gill,
Tot Winship, and Billy Williams are selected for London League v Paris League
in Paris on 31/10/31, but Herald says Gill and Winship are

unlikely to
play if Epsom remain in the Amateur Cup. They played for Epsom this day.
Williams does play and scores twice for the London League.

31/10/31
"A large number of spectators" saw a close game with Epsom beating
Tooting 3-1 in AC. Tooting scored first from an

overhead kick
after 6 minutes, but George Mackesy equalised after 7 minutes. Left winger
Leslie Graves debut. Previously with

Taunton and
also Lowestoft, where he achieved County honours with both clubs. Mackesy's
second goal hit a defender and

cannoned into
the net. Mackesy is credited with it by BOOK and papers. Herald records no
mention of the Tooting overhead kick,

saying instead
that it was a header! Harry Payton was away up North as his mother was
unwell, but will return for game on 7/11/31.

6/11/31
reported that Harry Payton is up North as his mum is ill, yet actually makes
debut for the first team on 7/11/31!

7/11/31 3
Epsom players are ineligible for different reasons say papers. Billy Williams
(permit player), Bernard Marlow (cup tied) and

Leslie Graves
(not registered for 14 days - new player). Epsom still dominated the game
against Merton, and penned them in

their own half
for 3/4 of the game. It still took 70 minutes to break Merton down though.
Debut for Harry Payton. Papers say he

is more
experienced than George Watts, but not as good as Billy Williams. LT Huddle
was the keeper who gave an excellent

display, and
he went on to play for the Casuals in the winning Amateur Cup Final side of
1936. "The finest exhibition seen at

Ewell for a
very long time". "Many marvellous saves" Louis Terence Huddle.

Nov 31 Met
Police in 1st round of FA Cup for first time ever, lost to Northampton Town
(A) - Division 3 South at the time.

11/11/31 Epsom
Weds 0-1 Sutton & Wallington Postal in 2nd replay of Surrey Midweek Cup
after 2-2 and 3-3 draws. HT 0-1.

21/11/31
Epsom's defenders are too good for Redhill's "brilliant forward
line" and are 1-0 up at HT, but Redhill equalised from a

penalty
awarded for hands against Swindall (future Redhill player) after 65 minutes.
67 minutes Harry Payton winner. Att 3,500.

Herald says
4,000 including 1,000 from Epsom.

21/11/31
Reference to Bob (RW) Earl being back after much injury and will return for
the reserves this day.

28/11/31 Epsom
at full strength and Billy Williams got all 4 in a 4-2 win at home to Mitcham
Wanderers. Future players Basil

Solly and
Jackie Pullen were playing for Mitcham v Epsom. Epsom led 1-0 after playing
uphill, although Mitcham had

equalised
after 50 minutes. Five minutes later, Williams had made it 4-1 with a late
consolation for Pullen. Three in five minutes.

28/11/31
Reference to Mitcham Wanderers playing at Streatham Road, but not for much
longer.

5/12/31 Epsom
were superior and deserved to win at Hendon. Gill was injured, so Herbert
Pattemore returned for the first time after injury.

Hendon played
at the Old Welsh Harp Ground, near the reservoir. It has "a decided
slope, both lengthways, and laterally". It was also

in a terrible
state. Herald says "when Kemp's biscuit factory lit up its huge blue and
red advertising lights about twenty minutes

before the
close of play, their effect across the water (which adjoins the playing
pitch) in the increasing darkness was reminiscent of

Venice at
midnight"!!

Charles
Pettett, E Uden, Billy Green and Bill Townsend went to watch Ipswich this
day. They lost, and were considered not as good

as Redhill.

Furthest ever
progress in Amateur Cup. Beating Ipswich 4-2 away in 1st round.

Jackson +
A.Green scored for Ipswich Town who were an Amateur side pre football league
in those days.

Ipswich played
at Portman Road in those days too. Kick off 2.30pm.

12/12/31
"A perfect playing pitch at Portman Road, Ipswich". Epsom trailed
2-1 at HT in front of nearly 5,000 spectators, 200

from Epsom saw
this thrilling contest which was marred in the second half by "rough
play, doubtful tactics, and kicking out".

Tommy Winship
was booked, and after 88 minutes, George Mackesy was harshly sent off, as
others had done worse.

Epsom did not
settle for 20 minutes, and were lucky to be only 2-1 down at HT, as Bobby
Gill had cleared off the line. Epsom

were fitter
though, and this told in the second half. Payton equalised when he charged
the Ipswich keeper, Messenger into the net

while holding
the ball, then Tommy Dunne put Epsom ahead, and the game got nasty, and the
referee was busier than the players!

Appears that
Ipswich were in the Southern Amateur League in those days. Bit of a journey!
They regularly played Carshalton FC.

This meant
that Epsom had reached the last 32 of the Amateur Cup along with Wycombe,
Hayes, Hampstead, Kingstonian,

Leyton,
Wimbledon, Ilford, Romford, St Albans, Walthamstow Avenue and of course,
Dulwich Hamlet. Papers say that Wycombe

are favourites
to retain the cup. So Epsom draw them shortly afterwards!

Ipswich were
2nd in Southern Amateur League that year, but Epsom were confident of victory
said the Comet. "Ipswich have played

through the
qualifying round and are therefore to be considered as formidable". 300
supporters from Epsom says Comet.  The

locals led at
half time, "but had shot their bolt" and "were unable to stand
the strain after the changeover".

Dec 31 Both
Manor Hospital and West Park are playing in Surrey Intermediate League.
Former and future player T Pierce

playing for
Manor Hospital this year.

19/12/31 Easy
victory over Beckenham in the league. All three goals were in 2nd half, but
the Beckenham keeper Chatterton gave

"a
remarkable display". J Bates made debut.

19/12/31
Future keeper E James plays for Romford v Sutton this day.
"brilliant" "without exaggeration".

Dec 31
Durnsley Jackson, a former triallist who elected to stay up in the Midlands
with Bilston, is now down in the area, and due to

play soon.

Epsom are one
of three sides still unbeaten. Park Royal (top) and Dagenham (only 4 games
played).

Jan 32 Epsom
nearly lose unbeaten record at Mitcham W, but an equaliser from Billy
Williams in 82nd minute saves a point.

Jackie Pullen
and Dick Wilson played for Mitcham W v Epsom on 2/1/32 Pullen scored their
second goal.

Jan 32 George
Mackesy is suspended 28 days. Doesn't get a chance to explain what happened,
as F.A. determine the result

from written
statements only. He will now miss the Wycombe Wanderers match.

9/1/32 first
league defeat as Chelmsford win 2-1 at West Street. Definitely the best team
that Epsom have played this season.

1st minute
Williams goal was disallowed for offside much to his surprise. D Jackson made
his one and only appearance at

inside right,
and who hails from Wolverhampton. Papers say that Williams has scored in all
9 games in which he has played,

scoring 18
goals. Papers are right. He got Epsom's goal this day too.

10/1/32 future
player CV George plays for Columbia, the Worcester Park based works side who
played dorking this day. In the SSL LC. He had been out for a while with a
knee injury.

Jan 32 Only 4
Surrey sides left in Amateur Cup, Kingstonian, Dulwich, Wimbledon and Epsom
Town. 1000 expected to travel

to Wycombe for the
match.

16/1/32
Furthest ever progress in Amateur Cup. 2nd Round Lost 7-2 at Wycombe (current
holders)

Last year
Epsom lost to Ilford who were also the current holders at the time.

Epsom were
without Williams (permit player) and Mackesy (suspended 28 days), while
Wycombe played the same 11 that won

the Amateur
Cup the year before with exception of Vickers for Vernon (left for Met
Police) and Waite for Brown (11). Vickers

and Waite got
5 of the 7 goals! (Times newspaper says he got four) Papers remarked that
Gates, Swindall, and Reg Marlow are getting slower, but to be fair, they

were playing a
very good side. T Jones returned after time away for a knee injury, but
didn't justify his selection. Epsom went 1-0

up after 3
minutes through Tommy Dunne, but Wycombe equalised after 10 minutes and from
this point onwards Epsom were

a beaten side,
but they kept going doggedly until the end, despite being 5-1 down at HT.
Tommy Winship handled the ball 5

times in 25
minutes. Attendance at the Wycombe game was 7,000!!
Receipts £215.00

South London
Press says Dulwich had the best gate in the round at 9,631 which beat the
next best gate at Wycombe by "nearly 3,000". Indicating that

Wycombe had an
attendance around 7,700.

Comet says the
performance was the worst this season, but that seems a bit harsh. Wycombe
were faster and better, and had a

slope to
contend with that was quite different to their own. Gates injured - he broke
a small blood vessel in his leg. Out for 6 weeks.

16/1/32 Herald
states that the club say there is no truth in the report that Epsom are to
appeal against this result on the basis of the

eligibility of
Waite, but don't know why. Either he was, or he wasn't eligible.

If we had won
we would have travelled to Leeds to play Yorkshire Amateurs who beat Wycombe
4-0 in the next round (last 16).

16/1/32 Grays
Athletic 0-3 Chelmsford in London League match but a major disturbance after
it when the spectators rushed the opossition, leaving one

unconscious!
Only one policeman there and was powerless to stop it. By the time back ups
had arrived it was over. "An unpleasant match." "Amazing
scenes".

A week later
it is advised that the Grays Athletic ground is to be closed until 22nd
February. A harsh punishment but not really surprising.

22/1/32 Ewell
Boys lose first home game in 5 years 3-2 to New Town School, Sutton. 2-1 up
at HT but missed chances.

23/1/32 Epsom
level with Wills Sports in SSC at HT although Wills were the better side at
this point, but by 55 minutes there

was only one
team in it. Wills were top of Surrey Senior League and had HS Pratt in their
line up who would go on to play

for Epsom once
and mainly Sutton. Reference in papers to Reg Marlow having playing since the
club's formation. They are wrong.

Comet says
"football was not of a high order".

Ewell Boys win
8-0 at Cheam in League. Also Reserves won 2-1 at Cheam.

30/1/32 First
away league defeat and Dagenham's first win over Epsom since joining the
London League. George Mackesy

returned after
suspension, and Epsom did not deserve to lose. Jack Forster injured two
fingers this day, one of which turned out

to be
fractured. Reg Marlow suffered a facial injury but will be back for the
Tilbury game. Harry Payton did well in relief of Bob Gates.

Feb 32
E.Hannam at Park Royal

6/2/32 1,000
spectators kept waiting, as Tilbury's coach broke down on their first visit
to Ewell. Both sides accepted the referee's

advice to play
30 minutes each way, but this was in contravention of Rule 9 (H) of London
League which states that 80 minutes

minimum must
be played. Play started at 4.30pm and finished at 0-0. Mackesy mispen
("feeble") during this game. Ernie Sperring

played for Jack Forster who injured two
fingers at Dagenham. Three quarters of the play was in Epsom's favour.

13/2/32 Nearly
3,000 present for Kingstonian SSC. Epsom had 4 injuries, Forster, Gates,
Stimson, and Reg Marlow (flu). These were

replaced by
Sperring, Tommy Dunne, T.Jones, and Jack Parr. Stimson was out with a scalded
leg!

Epsom were 3-0
down after 25 minutes. In 2nd half, Kingstonian had an injury to G.Keene. 10
men. Game more even after this.

T.Jones scored
immediately after HT but K's scored straight away. Game finished 4-1. Dunne
had handball goal disallowed

after it was
spotted by linesman. Kingstonian were the Cup Holders at the time. Future
player LW Urpeth played for Kingstonian.

G Keene
(Kingstonian) no relation to the Epsom reserve player/trainer.

Comet also
refers to Ernie Sperring and Jack Parr being original members of the Epsom
Juniors FC. RJ Stimson was

ex-Kingstonian.
The following week, Kingstonian went to Bishop Auckland and beat the hosts in
QF of Amateur Cup. The Bishops

would not lose
an Amateur Cup tie at home for nearly 20 years.

Feb 32 Epsom
Wednesday side were out of Surrey Midweek Cup before SF.

18/2/32
reported that the Tilbury game will not count, and has to be replayed later
in season. Replayed 7/5/32.

Rematch is to
be on cup tie terms i.e. after expenses, proceeds are to be split equally.
Seems harsh, as it wasn't Epsom's fault.

20/2/32
Bostall Heath well beaten, although only 1-0. J Ward made debut had come from
Bishop Auckland, and had also played

for Army.
Bostall Heath contained 3 ex-Epsom players, A.Dallimore (the Kent sprinter),
W.Showler, and W.Fisher, but none played up

to reputation
say papers, as a Billy Williams goal after 42 minutes seals the game. Ward
was recommended by Tommy Winship

27/2/32
"A fairly large crowd" for the Carshalton Athletic game saw Tommy
"Tot" Winship score direct from a corner in 2nd half.

A draw was about fair.

March 32
27,340 see Dulwich beat Kingstonian in AC SF, and go on to win AC.
Kingstonian would repay the favour the next year.

4/3/32 Future
player Fred Chitty scores 6 and future local press photographer Stan Caryer
scores 4 as Ewell Boys win 12-0 v

Belmont in
Sutton & District Schools League.

5/3/32 Epsom's
first visit to Nunhead, and they nearly succeeded in winning, despite
trailing 2-0 at HT. Billy Williams was

ineligible
(permit) while George Mackesy played at inside right. Bob Gates returned
after a while out with a blood clot on his leg.

Had been out
since Wycombe game on 16/1/32.

Mar 32 Future
manager and player Fred Chitty scores for Ewell Boys School, as does future
press photographer Stan Caryer.

They played
regularly, and on this occasion beat Belmont 12-0.

11/3/32 Ewell
Boys win 9-0 v West Street School, Sutton. H Searle gets 4. Last game of
season is on 18/3 at Banstead.

12/3/32 Grays
Athletic were two times winners and three times runners up in last 5 years,
but were well beaten by Epsom 3-1.

It was their
easiest win of the season. Leslie Graves returned from injury while Mackesy
was back at centre half, and played well,

at centre half
despite a strained muscle. Annual collection for Barnardo's Homes was held
this day.

Mar 32
reference to Epsom Wednesday playing at Alexandra Rec. Half day closing.

Ewell Boys win
7-0 at Banstead. Final match of season is Cup final at Sutton Utd on 23/3/32
v Carshalton West Central School.

Ewell Boys
last 6 games have read W6 F45 A0 !!

Mar 32
reference to a Percy Earl playing for Mitcham Wanderers and brother of the
West Ham player. Was this our former player Bob Earl?

19/3/32 Cray W
0-0 at HT but Epsom were 3-0 up after 65 minutes, and won 4-0.

19/3/32 future
player Basil Solly now trialling with Wimbledon. Having a busy season and had
been there since at least February.

23/3/32 Ewell
Boys win cup final 4-3 with goals by Cairns, Hughes, Page and Taylor. Fourth
cup win in last five years.

Game played at
Sutton Utd v Carshalton West Central School.

25/3/32 Best
gate of the season for Tooting Town. Future player B.Daler played and scored
for Tooting, but also mispen.

Times says
Billy Williams scored four and Mackesy got the other but my records say
Leslie Graves was the other scorer. Check!

26/3/32 Epsom
3-0 up against Finchley after 15 minutes, and 4-2 up at HT, with no goals in
the second half.

28/3/32 B
Daler scored again in return game with Tooting, who took the lead, but Epsom
had turned it around and led 2-1 by HT,

eventually winning 5-2.

Mar 32 Merton
and Wimbledon FC get together to raise funds for Sir Joseph Hood Recreation
Ground in Motspur Park.

29/3/32
Special general meeting decided that Tooting Town and Mitcham Wanderers are
to amalgamate under the name of

Tooting &
Mitcham United. They will play at Tooting's Sandy Lane ground, as Mitcham's
ground in Streatham Road is being

sold for
housing shortly. They will apply for the Athenian League (failed). The first
meeting of the new club was also held this day.

with Tooting's
President J Beard as overall president, while Secretary and Treasurer both
came from Mitcham, not surprisingly,

after Tooting
Town's censure from the FA last season. RB Hobson (sec), and H Willerton
(Treasurer).

Ewell Boys
record reported 1/4/32.

1928 Pld 19
W16 D2 L1 F99 A32, 1930 Pld 19 W16 D3 F87 A18, 1931 Pld 19 W17 D1 L1 F96 A11,
1932 Pld 19 W16 L3 F101 A15.

This was in
Sutton & District Schools League and Cup matches. In 28, 30 and 32 won
league cup (1931 joint holders)

Also won
League Shield in 1930 and runners up in 28. 29 and 31.

Team capt Fred
Chitty, B Nash, N Carpenter, J Page, S Caryer, H Searle, C Blake, F Taylor, H
Clarke, E Chitty, Trainer was

DWG Jones.
Former Epsom Treasurer AP Baker gave each boy a silver medal.

2/4/32
Southern Foundries (Croydon) 3-1 Surbiton Christchurch OB - Final of Surrey
Junior Charity Cup at West Street. HT 0-1.

2/4/32 Best
gate and best match of the season at Park Royal, who beat Epsom 2-1. A large
number of supporters from Epsom

had come to
watch, and they were unlucky not to get a draw. Leslie Graves played with a
bad ankle, while future player

E.Hannam (also
ex-Kingstonian) played and scored for Park Royal. Keeper Bartaby knocked out
near the end in stopping a

goal bound
equaliser from Harry Payton.

Apr 32 Former
player R Williams playing for Sutton.

9/4/32 Strong
wind mars the game. Bobby Gill handled and gave away a penalty after 30
minutes, but Epsom fought back, and

were the
better side at Grays, whose keeper had a brilliant game. Very small crowd of
300 compared poorly with the crowd in

1928 when
Epsom clinched the League title there, say papers.

13/4/32 Large
crowd for the Nunhead replay, who won easily against a below par Epsom side,
and meet Woking in the final.

Conditions
were ideal, but Nunhead "set a pace Epsom could not match". Billy
Williams was ineligible while Dunne was poor.

16/4/32 Epsom
were heading for certain defeat in the first half at Chelmsford, but Ernie
Sperring "has never played a better

game for his
side". Epsom then "completely eclipsed" Chelmsford in the 2nd
half, "inexplicable" say papers. Every chance of

second place now.

Herald says
"Ernie Sperring who can be regarded as the father of Epsom Town".

Apr 32 former
player George Prestoe is at Woking.

Apr 32 Based
on recent success, Epsom apply for the Athenian League, but fail to be
elected.

Apr 32
Rumoured that Herbert Chapman will be accompanying Sir Samuel Hill-Wood to
West Street on 20th April, but  never
visits.

He was
supposed to come to the game after witnessing the City and Suburban.

Apr 32
Supporters get up a petition to reinstate George Mackesy to the centre half
position in place of B Swindall. Has been

playing in
several positions this year. Whilst petition is impressive, says Herald, it
doesn't help players, management, or Selection

Committee.
They should vote at the AGM instead. Not a very sensible suggestion really!

20/4/32 Park
Royal are 2-0 up after 10 minutes, but HT unknown. President Sir Samuel
Hill-Wood is present at the game and

expressed his
appreciation of the standard of play. Epsom unlucky not to get a draw. Herald
says Gill played not Gates, but

Herald is
wrong, as Gill was still injured, while Gates was a regular when fit, and he
was fit then. Herald then confirms

in its notes
that Gill was out for the Saturday game at Chelmsford and the Park Royal
game, which is correct. THE BOOK is right.

Herald refers
to Park Royal having started 30 years ago when they scored 122 and conceded
just 5. The left back in those days

apparently was
C Doggrell who lived at 8 Chessington Road, West Ewell.

20/4/32 is
City and Suburban Day, but what exactly was it all about?

22/4/32
reported that Bobby Gill was likely to return, and that Tilbury "should
be made to concede two points". He doesn't return,

and actually
fails to play again this season.

23/4/32 A 4-0
loss at Tilbury. "Epsom have never given such a lifeless and ineffective
display". No one played above average

although Gill
and Winship were missing through injury. Tilbury became the first side to
score more than two against Epsom

in the league.
B Swindall also injured too.

28/4/32 Very
pleasant and even game saw a 0-0 draw at Finchley on the Thursday evening.
Ernie Sperring is injured and misses

the next match
v Dagenham. Swindall, Gill and Winship are all expected back from injury, but
none return this season.

30/4/32 It
appears that they don't need them, as Epsom go 3-0 up after 15 minutes with
the slope and wind in their favour. 5-0 up

at HT then 6-0
early 2nd half before Dagenham got going. Won 6-2. Jack Forster played for
the injured Ernie Sperring.

May 32 Now
Jack Forster has flu, so FEJ Strudwick (West Park) may be asked to play. He
is.

4/5/32 Epsom
defeat Beckenham 4-0 although Herald says 4-1 which was wrong. Clean sheet
for Strudwick on his debut. HT unk.

was unknown.
Strudwick was also ex-Hounslow. A wobbly first 15 minutes, then Epsom took
charge.

7/5/32 Ewell
By Pass workers defeat Dorking By Pass workers 6-0. Also a mention during the
season of Leatherhead By Pass too.

7/5/32 Epsom
1-0 up after 10 minutes through Tommy Dunne, HT 1-0. Easy win, and another
clean sheet for Strudwick. Billy

Williams
"generally outwits and outpaces the backs, and whizzes the ball into the
net after keeping it under complete control on

the
ground". 4th goal right at the end of the game was an overhead kick from
Tommy Dunne.

19/5/32 Ewell
Boys Prize giving. Fred Chitty (captain) received a medal, as did Stan
Caryer. Prizes were also given to Roy

Marlow and
Fred Chitty. DWG Jones (Press Sec) was headmaster of the school.

All Epsom
players will receive medals as they finish runners up in the London League.

May 32 Bromley
and Uxbridge are reinstated to the Athenian League, so Epsom are not
accepted, and remain in London League.

25/5/32 SCFA AGM

Cray Wanderers
played at Fordcroft in those days. Had moved to Oxford Road by the 70's.

Reserves:

London League Division 1

Position

7th out of 11

SIC

3rd

Sutton United

1-5

U.G.B. Sports
(Charlton) formerly U.G.B.M. Sports (Charlton). Playing at "The Sports
Ground, Well Hall" in Eltham.

Hendon (Res)
formerly Hendon Town.

Tate Institute reported by Epsom Advertiser and Mitcham
News as playing at Beckton Road, Custom House. This is a mile from
Silvertown, where they were originally listed as playing. Have they moved?

Top non league
historian Ron Price advises that they played at the South West Ham Cicket
Ground which was adjacent to the White Gates by Tidal Basin station on the
North Woolwich to Stratford

Railway. The
station was bombed in WW2 and never rebuilt.
The ground itself was lost to the Victoria Dock Relief Road in 1933.
They may then have moved to play at Lyle Park which is where they

played cricket
and bowls. The cricket club was also used by Civil Service pre WW1 so may
have hosted some Isthmian League matches.

5/9/31 Future
player JT Hosking plays for Sutton Res v Epsom Res. Sutton win 3-2 after
Epsom had led 2-1 at HT.

5/9/31
goalkeeper this day is listed in BOOK as JA Walker but I think it is AJ
Walker the former first teamer who would have played for Reserves previously.
Also, the BOOK

says that
Graham scored, but he is not listed in the playing line up. It is possible
that he came on as a sub as this was a friendly and I find it hard to believe
that the very first

entry in the
BOOK could be wrong!

Having looked
at the Herald again they provide a line up without Graham, yet advise that
the home centre forward Graham scored!! I think the BOOK is wrong by
including Cartwright, who was in the

line up as
centre forward and in Sid Basford's defence, he would have been at the first
team game that day. I will remove Cartwright for now.

12/9/31 No
game for Reserves.

19/9/31
Reserves lose 3-0 at Grays Town in a League match. No connection to Grays
Athletic.

26/9/31 Bad
day at Purfleet as Coppin is injured and Epsom lose 6-0 at Jurgens.

2/10/31
reported that T Bates (Redhill) and TA Perks may play for res on 3/10/31.
They mean J.Bates and JA Perks and they both play.

3/10/31 Epsom
lose a friendly at home to R.N.V.R. by five goals to three. They were a
Mitcham based club.

10/10/31
Reserves win 9-1 v Old Suttonians in SIC. George Watts scores 4. Admission
for this SIC tie was 4d with and extra 2d for the stand and enclosure and as
a cup match all had to pay.

17/10/31
Birch, Parr and Behn all score for Reserves in 3-2 win at Leavesden MH yet
the BOOK doesn't have Behn in the line up.

17/10/31 Now
checked with the Herald and it advises that Payton scored. Looks like Behn
didn't play after all. I will proceed on this basis for now.

17/10/31
Advertiser says Behn scored too. Small report though and probably just
relayed by the club rather than a reporter attending.

24/10/31 Res
win 3-2 but not surprising as Billy Williams, JW Meldrum, Terry Birch and
Jack Parr all play.

6/11/31
reported that Harry Payton is up North as his mum is ill, yet actually makes
debut for the first team on 7/11/31!

7/11/31 Ernie
Sperring was to play at centre half in friendly v Manor Hospital this day but
he didn't play in the end according to the BOOK.

7/11/31
Herald says we defeated Manor Hospital in this friendly by "a margin of
three clear goals". That indicates that we won either 6-3 or 5-2, not
6-2. Check!

14/11/31 No
first team game, so 8 first teamers allegedly played for reserves who beat
Hendon easily 5-1. However, this wasn't the case as it was mostly a

Reserve squad
with the addition of Graves and Forster although Payton had recently played
for the firsts. Dunne (2), B.Marlow, Payton, and

George Watts
all scored. Herald line up suggested that a J.Pascoe would be playing but he
never appeared for the Reserves. In addition the visiting keeper was injured
in the

second half
after being kicked in the throat and we scored twice while he was off the
field. It was an even first half but HT unk.

21/11/31
Reference to Bob (RW) Earl being back after much injury and will return for
the reserves v Tooting this day as Epsom won 9-0. W.Wood the youngster played
well.

28/11/31 Epsom
win 2-1 at Mitcham Wanderers in a League match.

5/12/31
Gatland an ex-International played for Redhill Res in Surrey Intermediate
Cup, but Epsom still won 5-1. Redhill were a goal up at HT though.

Birch scored
two penalties and played at back as Richards was ill. Bates scored with a
shot that went in off the post high up from an angle.

12/12/31
Reserves were poor today and lost 1-3 to U.G.B. Ernie Sperring played
outfield this day. Herald said the game was "poor beer". Jones
returned after illness and

Watts scored
with "a fine shot" but "a lesson in how to control the ball
and keep it on the carpet was provided by Ernie Sperring." Running about
is harder for him though!

This report is
detailed and advises that Jones played at 7 while Bernard Marlow was at 11
and Hilliard did not play. BOOK is wrong and I will amend.

19/12/31 No
game for Reserves.

26/12/31 No
first team game, so 9 first teamers played for reserves v Mitcham W Res,
winning 5-0. New player Durnsley Jackson

debut for res.
He is a cousin of Jackson who plays for Arsenal and has played senior
football in the Wolverhampton area and was at the pre-season trials. Trevor
Jones HT,

Jack Parr and
D Jackson score, while near the end of the game, Tommy Dunne, and Taylor
(Mitcham) are sent off for fighting. Dunne had previously been cautioned says
Herald.

Epsom were
awarded 4 penalties in this game, yet missed them all!!! The keeper saved
three and the other one hit the bar.

2/1/32 Epsom
Tn are defeated in SIC. Former player R Williams scored HT for Sutton Utd.
Lost 5-1. Harry Payton scored for Epsom

with a shot
that took a significant deflection and was considered an o.g. by the Sutton
& Cheam Mail. Ernie Sperring in goal.

9/1/32 Started
with 9 men. 2 were late due to train delays and Epsom were 1-0 down by the
time they arrived. Lost 0-3 at Chelmsford.

9/1/32 There
is no mention of the nine man start in a full Chelmsford Chronicle report.
Epsom were unfortunate to lose by so many it said. HT 0-1.

30/1/32 Res
lose 6-0. Was going to be 7 at one point, but spectators drew the referee's
attention to a linesman's offside flag. Herald

wonders how
the res managed to win at Leavesden earlier in the season!

6/2/32 Res
lose 0-4 at Woolwich Poly.

27/2/32 Bob
Gates to return for res after time out injured. Also EF Uden, who had been
assisting Hounslow, has rejoined, and a

local lad G Williams.

19/3/32 Only 8
names listed in the BOOK.

16/4/32
Reserves win 11-1 v Grays. George Watts gets 5, with T Jones getting 4 and AT
Rance the other two.

The BOOK
disputes the two goals for Rance and says that one was scored by Behn. I will
amend.

16/4/32
Advertiser makes it quite clear that Rance scored once in each half. Check
Herald again before amending back.

Line up
refers to what looks like a Kershaw but initials look like CE or CF and the
surname may not be Kershaw. Check!

Apr 32 George
Watts and Jack Forster selected for London League Division 2 side v Northern
Suburban League on 30/4 @ Finchley.

Forster unable
to play as he is called up for the first team instead.

7/5/32 Res game
v Woolwich Poly follows first team game.

Juniors

Sutton & District League
Division 2

Position

6th out of 10

Surrey Minor Cup

Not entered

League
Handbook from 1931/32 states the following:

Secretary and address

Colours

Ground

Banstead Wood

W.H. Lampard - Holly Hill, Banstead

Green V White stripes,

Park Down, Chipstead Road

Blue knickers

Dressing Rooms on Ground

Cosy Athletic

W.Summers, 8 Colston Avenue, Carshalton

Red jerseys, White facings

Sutton Recreation Ground

Epsom Town Juniors

K.J.Nash - 4 Mansard Road, Epsom

Light and Dark Blue

Court Recreation Ground

Dressing Rooms on Ground

Fetcham

J.W.Stevens - Stoke Road, Fetcham

Red Jerseys

Fetcham Recreation Ground

Dressing Rooms on Ground

Highways Athletic

P.Walsh - Surrey County Council Depot, Ewell

Black shirts, white collars

West Ewell

Dressing Rooms at SCC Depot

North Cheam Athletic

W.W.Baxter, 8 Briar Cottages, Garth Road, Morden

Blue and White

Sutton Recreation Ground

Dressing Rooms on Ground

Palmers Sports Club Res

E.B.Hogfress - 31 Courtney Road, Merton SW19

Blue shirts with white facings

Church Road, Mitcham

Dressing Rooms on Ground

Stockwell F.C.

G.W.McNeill - 38 Fentiman Road, Clapham Road,

White shirts, blue knickers

Clapham Common

London. SW8

Dressing Rooms Mrs House, 70 South Side,

Clapham Common. SW4

Sutton Spartans

R.T.Lowles - 6 Victoria Road, Sutton

Red and White striped jerseys

Sutton Recreation Ground

Blue knickers

Dressing Rooms on Ground

Wallington Holy Trinity
OB

A.Brewer - 28 Mint Road, Wallington

Blue with Amber V jerseys

Wallington Recreation Ground, Stafford Road

Dressing Rooms on Ground

12/9/31
Juniors "open league season" with a 5-2 win over Cosy Athletic
(Sutton). Line up: P Miles, A Deane, W or B (Bill?) Weston,

E Stredwick, R
Nash, J Wheal, W Easto, B or J Smith, E Mann, C Conn, W Gubby.

19/9/31 There
appears no match this day but the Epsom Herald advises that incl 10/10/31
they have won five, scoring 27 to 6 against. This means a 6-1 friendly win
this day but v who?

26/9/31
Juniors win 4-2 at Highways Athletic. They played in Ewell, near the West
Ewell railway line. Highways House was on the

general site
until the turn of the millennium and there is now housing on the area.
Scorers, Mann (3), Gubby. Same side as on

12/9 but F
Jeacocks played for C Conn.

3/10/31
Juniors 8-1 Palmers S.C. Even for 10 minutes before Juniors scored, then it
became very one sided. Mann (4), Smith (3), and

Easto were the scorers.

10/10/31
Friendly win 4-0 v Rose Hill at Court Rec. Scorers were Easto, Jeacocks,
Smith and Gubby. 1-0 up at HT and had taken the lead against the run of play
after 20 minutes.

17/10/31
Juniors win 5-0 v Stockwell with goals by Jeacocks (2), Mann (2), and Easto.
HT was 1-0 but their right half was injured after ten minutes and they

were down to
ten men from that point. Four goals were then scored in the last 15 minutes.

Reference to
North Cheam Ath playing at Sutton Recreation, while Wallington HT O.B. played
at Mellows Park, Beddington, known then as Wallington Rec in Stafford Road.

24/10/31 First
defeat of season in 3-1 friendly defeat v West Ewell.

31/10/31
Juniors won 2-0 at North Cheam. A Deane (pen), and Mann were the scorers. HT
2-0. Deane scored after 5 minutes with Mann scoring soon after.

31/10/31
According to the North Cheam report in the Herald P.Miles played well in goal
for us.

7/11/31
Juniors draw 3-3 with Stockwell, played at Epsom but match must have been
switched as Stockwell's home ground was on Clapham Common, and

this was their
home game. 2-0 down to two penalties after 10 minutes, but HT was 2-3, and
the Juniors forced the draw. Scorers: Smith (2), and Mann.

14/11/31
Juniors lose at Sutton Spartans 3-1. Broke a sequence of 6 league wins say
papers but Juniors drew the week before!

Both sides
mispens in the first half. Weston for Juniors slipped and put his wide! HT
0-0 then 0-1 before Deane equalised, but

they were the
better side and would go on to take the title this year.

21/11/31 Cosy
Athletic 3-0 Juniors. HT 1-0. Miles played in goal in this match at Sutton.
Also probably this day (but maybe 28/11) Easto played up front while Deane
and Gubby were the backs.

28/11/31
Juniors beat Banstead Wood 2-0. They were outplayed in most of the first
half, but two goals from Mann in the second half

did the damage.

5/12/31
Juniors lose 6-0 at Fetcham. A 1st minute goal set the tone. New juniors
listed were R Robinson, and K Hindmarch. P.Miles did well in goal despite the
scoreline.

12/12/31 ET
Juniors v Fetcham p-p

19/12/31 No
game for Juniors.

19/12/31
League table for Juniors advises Played 10 W6 D1 L3 F30 A20. My records match
this except for goals scored where I have 31. As I have all the scorers
listed for all these games except one

which was
clearly marked as a 5-2 win, I believe it is the table that is wrong.

25/12/31
Juniors lose on xmas day at home to Sutton Spartans in league 2-0. Game at
West Street refereed by FJ Roome, new S & D Secretary.

2/1/32 Juniors
win 6-0 v Palmers S.C. Scorers were Smith (3), Mann, Gubby and Henton. HT
3-0. More new juniors are R Henton,

C Clements, and E Brice.

30/1/32
Juniors lose 2-1 at Wallington HTOB. HT 1-1.

27/2/32 Juniors
drew 2-2 with Fetcham after being two goals down before Mann and Deane
scored.

Other affiliated Local
Teams:

Secretary

From SCFA Handbook

Affiliated

Epsom and
Leatherhead Postal

HC Brown

34 Northcroft Road, West Ewell

Aug 1931

Epsom Athletic

Claret and Light Blue shirts

H Ellis

79 Hook Road

July 1922

Epsom Wednesday

D Stephenson

74 Parkhurst, Epsom

Sept 1923

Epsom Ramblers

Royal Blue and white

A (T)? Blackman

17 Adelphi Road

Sept 1930

Epsom United

Red and White

ECS Allen

Tower House, Ashley Road

Oct 1929

Ewell Colony

R Horsman

Colony Mental Hospital

Nov 1927

Aug 31
Blenheim Hotel opens in Manor Green Road, Epsom.

Oct 31 Kaye
Don, who presented prizes at Epsom in a few years is the World Water Speed
record holder at 110 mph.

Dec 31 Queen
Adelaide pub to be knocked down and replaced by a more modern building. Had
existed since the 1800's.

Feb 32
Chessington Zoo called Surrey Zoological Gardens, at Burnt Stub, Chessington

20/4/32
Balmoral Road School was to be opened by Sir Arthur Glyn, but he was late,
and SH Marshall opened it instead, with

Sir Arthur
arriving soon afterwards, claiming that he had been told it was a 3.30 start
not 3pm. Became Cheam Common School

and I went
there from 1972-76. "A landmark in the history of education in Worcester
Park" The school, not me :) :)