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

CL

Position 10th out of 14

FAC

2q

Hounslow

1-4

AC

3q

Worcester Park

0-2

LC/MS

2nd

Hounslow

2-3

SSC

F

Corinthian Casuals

0-2

@ Crystal Palace

SSS

do not appear to have entered, yet SF the year
before and winners next year. Is a game missing? Check!

I
believe that our cup runs meant that we had no choice but to decline an
invite but this is not confirmed yet.

FINALISTS IN
SURREY SENIOR CUP. Lost 2-0 to Corinthian Casuals at Crystal Palace 8/5/54

Home
Ground:

West Street, Ewell

Club Colours

Light & Dark Blue

President

Alderman G.C.A.Mann J.P.

Chairman

Grant (HG) Sherman

Secretary

Ernest Fletcher

281 London Road, Ewell.

Manager

Selection Committee

Treasurer

A.M.Thompson

Player/Coach

Pat Lynch

3/6/53 or
4/6/53 Supporters Club AGM. Grant Sherman is elected Chairman of Supporters
Club ahead of WC Taylor.

He won vote 23-22 after a tie in the first vote. Even the
Herald was brought in as independent tellers to adjudicate! Sherman

didn't really want the job, it appears. Taylor took over
as Secretary as AG Bradley resigned. Club now has 420 supporters.

Proposal submitted to change name of club to either Epsom
Town again, or to Epsom & Ewell FC. This proposal was defeated

as it was felt that the club might lose some identity, and
there may be legal ramifications regarding the lease. This must have

been considered as a serious problem, because as soon as
John Martin buys the lease in 1959, the proposal to change name

is then passed for the following season
(1960/61). There was also another minor club called Epsom Town apparently.

2/6/53 Pony Derby run as part of the Coronation
celebrations that day. A member wanted to know if the pitch would be ok

afterwards. He was assured that it was. AT Hall re-elected
Treasurer, and gave a cheque for £50 to the parent club. Balance

of £30 remains in Supporters Club accounts. Tom Walls the
actor and local resident started the races while Lord Rosebery

and Lord
Derby were the stewards. 5,000 attended despite the poor weather. Event was
marred when one of the ponies

jumped the rails and went into the crowd! Four injured
including one with suspected broken ribs. Prog Y - donated by Bill Eacott.

29/6/53 AGM
originally planned for 28th May at Foresters Hall

At AGM a
member of the Committee Mr WD Mahoney suggested that Epsom should put out
shares along

the lines of a
limited liability company. The proposal was well received and possibilities
were to be explored.

Chairman H.G.
Sherman presided over a fair attendance at AGM say papers.

At AGM it was
reported that although 1951/52 was one of the best seasons since the war,
52/53 had been

even better,
although there was a deficit of £60 against last years profit of £28. Pat
Lynch was staying on

as Player
Coach, and H.G.Sherman was re-elected as Chairman.

Slight query
about this, as WC Taylor (Supp Club Secretary) raised the subject of a
gentleman's agreement

in the past
where it was determined that no official could be in the supporters club and
the parent company, but

Mr Sherman
currently was. Ernest Fletcher (Secretary) said he could not recall such an
agreement, but it

was proposed
by Mr W Mansey that an official could do both jobs, and this was seconded by
Mr Taylor and

carried
unanimously.

Alderman GC
Mann was re-elected as President, along with all principal officers of the
club. A ballot was held

for the
Management Committee, and the following were elected. HJ Wright, JE
Greenleaf, Sid Bristow,

DD Rice, VV
Tatlock, G Mason, J Martin (was this John Martin?), WD Mahoney, W Mansey,
R.H.Gurr, J Rose,

Bill Townsend,
GC Osborne, D Sims. 14 in total plus officers made for a big committee!

27/6/53 Roger
Bannister runs a mile in 4 minutes 2 seconds at Motspur Park. Would break 4
minutes next May.

No A Team this
year, and it starts from 54/55 for a year or two.

July 53
Banstead Athletic move pitches at Merland Rise. They had been using the
current reserve pitch.

5/8/53,
8/8/53, and 15/8/53 trial matches for Epsom. Many local players are expected
to join.

July 53 Fred
Chitty appointed Assistant Coach to Pat Lynch, and made responsible for the
Reserves. He had

been in
charge of a good juniors side, and would now attend Lynch's team talks and
pass this on to the reserves, so

if any were
promoted, the transition would be easier.

27/7/53 Boxing
at West Street Open air event, but rain affected the attendance. At the event
the following fights

ended as
follows: Wally Beckett (Carshalton) defeats Ron Pudney (Croydon) for the
Southern Area Middleweight title

on points.
Malcolm Ames (Australia) KO Brian Goodwin (Fulham) 8th round featherweight
contest. Mick Cowan

(Sutton) ko
Jack Burrows (Woolwich 3rd round. Clem A'Court (Morden) defeated George
Connors (Islington).

Event promoted
by regular local promoter Bill Goodwin. Originally planned for June 5th.

July 53 Mick
Simmonds joins Sutton. Nickname is "Sailor"

Aug 53 Future
player Jan Sorensen leaves Sutton for Walton & H but does not stay long.

Aug 53 Season
tickets announced as 27s 6d for all league matches with reserved seat in the
stand.

Supporters
club membership is 2s. Hon Sec W.C. Taylor

Supporters
Club Office, with other offices is adjoining the left of the changing rooms.

Aug 53 Ron Holloway (26) joins from Walthamstow Avenue.
Played 15 times last year for their first team, and would have

played more if
not for the versatility of Trevor Bailey (Essex and England cricketer)

All players
said to have rejoined except Reg Walker who has gone to Sutton.

Aug 53 Jan
Sorensen goes from Sutton to Walton & H.

19/8/53 Fred
Looseley joins from Guildford and scores twice v Leatherhead in a Challenge
match.

Ht unknown,
but Leatherhead's goal came in the second half.

This is
disputed by Herald, who say Looseley only scored one, and final score was 5-1
not 6-1. Check!

Advertiser is
very clear on this report, and it is easier to miss a goal, than to credit an
extra one. I will go with 6-1.

No HT recorded for this match, but Leatherhead's goal was
in the 2nd half. Eric Bristow and Bernard Canham played v Epsom.

19/8/53 First
match at Meadowbank sees Dorking beat Walton & H 3-1 in front of 800
people.

Aug 53 Free
scoring striker Henryk (Henri) Mikrut (25) signs from Wealdstone. Only plays
twice.

Aug 53 Gordon
Brogdale is at Leatherhead

Aug 53 Bernard
Canham is at Leatherhead

Had been
previously with Wycombe, and lives in Beaconsfield. Had helped Wealdstone to
the Athenian Lge title.

Bill Goddard
leaves for Sutton as Mikrut looked like taking his place. Ron Digweed his
brother in law also leaves.

Apparently
Goddard had got a HT in the trial match on 15/8/53.

Aug 53 Fred Marshall ex-Epsom and Sutton joins PO
Engineers. Had a two and a half year break who had rheumatic fever in
the

Army. Then
went sick while at Enfield.

22/8/53 Official opening of Meadowbank - Dorking FC by Sir
Stanley Rous. 1,500 saw a 1-4 defeat by Corinthian Casuals,

Future player
Robby Craze scored the first goal at Meadowbank.

22/8/53
"Not a 100% thriller" says programme. Epsom win 2-0 v Slough.

29/8/53 Fans
don't think much of Mikrut. Plays in a different style to Goddard.

29/8/53 Brian
Brumwell unavailable after dental visit. Epsom changed shirts at Half time in
this game v Maidenhead.

2/9/53 Ken
Elbrow and Stan Scott play for Rest of League team against champions
Carshalton Ath. Lost 3-2.

Programme issued by Carshalton for this match. Prog Y.
Ex-players Gordon Cairns and Ron Webb play for Carshalton Ath.

Sept 53
Committee member Don Simms's wife is Secretary to the Maharanee of Baroda
(ex-president's wife) and

through the
connection a lawn mower with a 4 foot cutter was donated to the club which is
proving very valuable.

5/9/53 no game
for first team.

Sept 53 Frank
Lee retires.

Sept 53
Henryk Mikrut returns to Wealdstone. Bill Wiles (30) is signed from Guildford
City. Previously with Woking.

and Aldershot
in Third Division of Football League. Rep Honours: Surrey and Army

Bill Wiles was born at Wood Street in Woking and went to
Northmead School in Stoughton. He was a Surrey Schoolboy and joined

Stoke Rec from school, signing Amateur forms for Aldershot
for whom he played until war broke out. He had a few games for Guildford

in 1939/40 before joining the Royal Artillery - Demobbed
in 1946 then played for Guildford City, mostly for the Reserves in the London

League before joining Woking in 1947/48 where he remained
until March 1953 when he was dropped and left, briefly for Guildford City

in the Southern League before joining Epsom. Would only
stay one year though and would leave for Farncombe in 1954/55.

Sept 53 Club
deny that Hendon keeper Reg Ivey is joining.

Sept 53 Ken
Elbrow selected for Corinthian League v Delphian League @ Slough on 16/9/53

12/9/53 Vic
Honey injured just after HT. Passenger. Future player Robby Craze playing and
scoring for Dorking.

Sept 53
Banstead Athletic's new stand is ready.

16/9/53 Ken
Elbrow selected for Corinthian League, but can't play because of Epsom's FAC
Replay at Dorking.

16/9/53 1,500
see Epsom win "deservedly" 1-0 in their first visit to Meadowbank
in FAC replay says Dorking Advertiser.

Sept 53 former player Gordon 'Mick' Disborough lives in
Biggin Avenue, Mitcham but is now playing for Betteshanger Collier

Welfare Reserves in the Kent League. Former player Alec
Graham used to make the journey with him but he is now at Sheppey United.

19/9/53 An appeal is made in the programme for volunteers
to help with the terracing on the far "popular" side of the ground

amongst other
things. Harold Wright is again running the club canteen.

19/9/53 Bill
Wiles HT v Civil Service in 5-0 win, but programme the week after says it was
5-1, but it is wrong.

19/9/53 future
player Trevor Hall plays in goal for Athenian League v Isthmian League at
Sandy Lane. Lost 0-3.

26/9/53 Jim
Crane hits the bar at Met Police from 60 yards, while Bill Wiles hits the
post from 40!

69th minute
Ken Elbrow kicked in mouth, so Ernie Watkins took over in goal for ten
minutes.

Oct 53 William
John Boardman (26) joins from Marine (Crosby). Brought to club by ex-captain
George Mackesy.

Played 17
times for New Brighton in Football League in the Third Division, and also
Everton Reserves.

He had moved south with business, but never played for the
first team and was at Corinthian Casuals by the end of the season.

Oct 53 Jan
Sorensen @ Walton & Hersham

3/10/53 Gosport Boys defeat Epsom & Leatherhead
Schools 5-3 at Privett Park. In the line up for Epsom was a young centre
forward

by the name of Johnny Byrne who would go on to play for
Crystal Palace, West Ham and England! He scored in this match too. Prog Y

3/10/53
Bernard Canham playing for Malden Town v Epsom

3/10/53 programme for Reserve game v Grays carried a full
page advert for a Boxing Tournament at Baths Hall East Street, on

12th Oct.

7/10/53
Trinidad FA v Corinthian League at Selhurst Park. Any Epsom players selected?
Tickets 4s.6d each. KO 7.15.

10/10/53
Future player Les Peake plays for Hounslow v Epsom and scores from 35 yards.
Gives Lynch a tough game.

10/10/53 Bill
Wiles scores at 3rd attempt after his first two shots hit bar and post!

10/10/53 Hounslow defeat Epsom 4-1 in the FA Cup. Brumwell
was not fit but instead of playing Farrington in his place, he came in

at left back
and moved Crane forward. The Epsom Herald says that neither had good games.

10/10/53 Dance at Drill Hall, London Road, Ewell at 7.30
pm. Tickets are 3s.6d. The New Paramount Dance Band to perform.

A cheerful
affair but the attendance was disappointing.

15/10/53 Whist
Drive at West Street. Tickets 1s.6d. Every Thursday evening.

17/10/53
Brian Brumwell unavailable as he has an important table tennis commitment in
Cardiff. Plays for Essex too.

Oct 53
reference is made to the opening of Epsom & Ewell Harriers new HQ at the
Warren Epsom Downs.

17/10/53
Reference to ex-Epsom Pat Jordan playing for Surbiton Town v Epsom, also
Norman and Ken Ambrose..

17/10/53 Gate
receipts only £12 so Epsom lost money on the game. Approx 300 at the game.

Pat Lynch involved in both goals. Bill Wiles scored the
first from a rebound off the bar after Lynch hit it from 40 yards, while the

second "a
Lynch, Wiles, Holloway, Wiles effort was a classic".

24/10/53
Ernie Watkins collapses four times during game at Grays and is a passenger
after 20 minutes in first half

before leaving
the field after 35 mins. Returned at the start of the second half but had to
leave again.

After 70
minutes a Grays player suffered a broken ankle, but it didn't stop them from
scoring a 3rd goal.

Ernie is
originally diagnosed with a torn leg muscle, but cartilage problems surface
as a result.

24/10/53
Farrington is injured at Surbiton and is still unavailable for the game at
Grays.

24/10/53 Vic Honey is dropped for Ron Ruffell, with Herald
saying that it is Honey's last chance. Bill Carpenter writes in to

strongly refute this, and explains that Honey has a future
at the club, but had been struggling with injury. He advised that

Honey was a
sportsman and clubman, yet within a month, he was at Leatherhead.

31/10/53
Epsom crash out of Amateur Cup to Worcester Park. However the second goal
went through a hole in the

side netting and ended up in the goal. As Pat Lynch
retrieved the ball from the net, the referee D.V.Wallis (Raynes Park)

awarded a
goal. Referee made no comment to the papers afterwards. Papers quote this as
"the biggest upset

in Amateur
local soccer this season so far"

The Herald is more scathing, advising an obituary notice
ought to be published in Epsom's next programme reading "Epsom

football died here and the Ashes will be taken to
Worcester Park" Both goals were disputed, but there were no excuses,
as

Park were the
better side. First goal was flagged offside by the linesman, but this was
ignored by the referee.

After the
second goal was allowed, the referee was surrounded by players "within
seconds".

Epsom would
have been away to Brentwood and Warley in the final qualifying round.

Oct 53 Supporters Club advise Whist Drives each Tuesday
with admission at 1s.6d in the club room. Also considering running

trips to the theatre if there is sufficient interest. They
secure a block of seats for Sinbad on Ice at Empress Hall for 5/2/54, and

combined coach
and seat tickets are 12s.6d. With a deposit of 2s.6d. Tickets sell out by
December 12th.

Nov 53 Ivor
Hughes returns from Sutton.

Nov 53 Ernest
Fletcher advises papers that the club are on the look out for new players.

Nov 53 future player Ray Fillery is selected for Surrey v
Middx @ Wealdstone on 18/11/53. He is at Tooting & Mitcham currently.

7/11/53 Ron
Holloway was late arriving so Gordon Sanders took his place. The same
evening, and after playing

for Epsom,
Brian Brumwell beat English International and Former World Champion Johnny
Leach at table tennis

at Plaistow to
reach the final of the Eastern Suburban Open Championships, but lost in final
later that evening.

Lost to K
Craigie (Surrey) 21-19 14-21 17-21

7/11/53 2nd
Club Dance of season at Drill Hall. Tickets 3/6 again.

Nov 53 Jim
Langley (23) joins club from Kingstonian

Nov 53 Gerry
Saffery is at Tooting & Mitcham United.

Nov 53 Bob Avis (26) joins from Hendon. Had played in both
AC SF's v Pegasus in 1951. Rep Honours: Middx & London FA

He had been at
Hendon for ten years.

Nov 53 Glyn
Hinshelwood (28) (Hendon and Eastbourne) joins club from Redhill.

Major problems
at Eastbourne which went to court in April 1954 - following this the FA
announce

that they will
look into the running of the club and this has a knock on effect as
Hinshelwood will be declared

a professional
in 1955 as a result and cannot then play in the Corinthian League any more.

Nov 53 With
Avis's arrival, Vic Honey may leave club. Club refuse to comment on this.

Nov 53 Geoff Porter (21) is described as one of Epsom's
best discoveries in years says Epsom Herald. However "I can't see him
taking

over from
Elbrow" Three weeks later, he is in goal, and remains for the year.

7/11/53 Epsom
are bottom of the table, and a 2-0 loss at Uxbridge doesn't help matters.

Ivor Hughes chosen for Surrey v Kent in Southern Counties
Championships (junior section) @ Redhill on 14/11/53. Prog Y

14/11/53 Grays
are beaten 4-2 but had 10 men for 75 minutes, and were down to 9 in the last
10 minutes.

Nov 53 future
player Peter Wood joins from Sutton from Kingstonian. Formerly with Banstead
Athletic.

Jim Crane scored from the halfway line from a free kick.
Best goal was a Bill Wiles header from a Ron Ruffell cross. First

win over Grays
in 15 years. Bob Crane also played well.

21/11/53
Consolation goal 88 mins. 6-0 down to Edgware at the time. Edgware rumoured
to use a club hypnotist!!

Nov 53 Pat Lynch denies poaching Bob Avis from Hendon. The
crowd had been getting to him so he had decided to leave

but the club
had a policy of not allowing ex-players to train, so he followed Lynch to
Epsom to train there.

Nov 53 Ernie
Watkins diagnosed with torn ligaments in his knee.

Nov 53 Bill Fraser leaves after 7 years at Walton & H.
They did not want to lose him, but couldn't afford to keep him! He is

helping
Kingstonian a little at present.

Nov 53 Fred Chitty looking after 2nd team. Epsom are also
looking for an unnamed junior side to become a nursery side.

28/11/53 Pat
Lynch suffers concussion during game and actually passes to the opposition
for their third goal. Does not

recall the
incident, or even the score after the game.

Nov 53 Denis
Ford and Vic Honey both join Leatherhead.

Nov 53 future
player Peter Iles joins Sutton United from Corinthian Casuals. A keeper.

4/12/53 Grand
Christmas Bazaar in the clubhouse.

5/12/53 Bill Farrington plays in goal for the Reserves. He
is a male nurse at Manor Hospital, and used to play for Epsom

Town in goal during the war. Once approached by a Scottish
club to do the job professionally. Manor Hospital won many

cups while he
was in goal.

5/12/53 Ken
Elbrow is dropped in favour of Geoff Porter (21). Porter also works at a
hospital and is a storesman at

Long Grove. Lives at Bucknalls Close, Epsom and was
previously with Epsom Old Scholars and watched by pro scouts.

As of November 2005 Geoff Porter is alive and well and
living in Stoneleigh. I saw him on 31/10/05 together with Ray Chenery,

the former Reserve manager, first team manager and player.
Ray is 81 while Geoff is now 73. Geoff did his national service in

Korea and
Singapore, where he was involved in setting up the first ever floodlit
football match in Singapore, using two

search lights to criss cross the field, and more lighting
in the corners! He has photos! He was there as an electrician, and

the game lasted 40 minutes each way with a 30 minute break
to allow for the lights to cool down and be changed! Game was

R.E.M.E. v
Royal Navy.

According to Ray Chenery and Geoff Porter, Ken Elbrow was
a policeman, who worked in Brixton, then retired to the coast

to become a
funeral director. His ex-wife still lives in Epsom, as he remarried one of
Ken Allan's brother's wife's!

Was popular with the ladies and "had few
complaints". Once took the licensee's wife from the Blenheim on a
cricket tour!!

Geoff was an enormous help in the construction of the
Epsom History Book Two Legs Not Four and I last saw him in 2015 when he

attended
Epsom's FA Cup game at home to Erith & Belvedere, against whom he had
made his debut back in 1953.

Dec 53 Mention of club selector Bill Townsend who had been
associated with the club for 35 years. Nearer to 27-28 as official.

Dec 53 Bill
Goddard leaves Sutton and it was rumoured that he would be returning to
Epsom. He was selected for the

game v
Hounslow but actually played for Leatherhead that day instead. He had even
applied to be a member at Epsom!

Dec 53 Ivor
Hughes also joins Leatherhead

Dec 53 Future Manager Bill Fraser becomes Coach at
Kingstonian with another future Manager Doug Whitehead as an Assistant

Dec 53 Mention
of future player Peter Wood playing for Sutton. Listed as ex-Kingstonian.

Dec 53 Ernie
Watkins is back in training again, but is not yet fit enough for the Hounslow
game on 12/12/53.

Dec 53
Programme 12/12 advises that the Supporters Club has taken out an insurance
policy to covers for all members

who suffer an injury while watching a match in any part of
the country. £500 for death, £250 for limb or eye and £3 per week for

one year for
"total disablement".

Dec 53 Tommy
Wright is at Edgware - former Hounslow

12/12/53 Geoff
Porter pen save v Hounslow but can't stop the rebound.

12/12/53 Poor refereeing costs Epsom two goals in 4-4 draw
in League Cup match v Hounslow. One advantage was not

played when
Ron Ruffell was clean through, and a penalty was given to Hounslow even
though a player was offside.

12/12/53 Ron
Ruffell scores through the same hole in the net that existed for the
Worcester Park game.

The ball went
in legitimately, but went out through the hole. This time the goal is
correctly given.

Dec 53 future
player Gordon Cairns has a second son Peter on 04/12/53. They live in Norman
Road, Sutton.

Dec 53 West
Ewell Athletic are announced as Epsom's Nursery Club. Fred Chitty will act as
trainer and coach, while

Trainer Fred Aldridge will look after the players. They
will recommend any good players and Epsom will give a player back

in return. West Ewell play in the Sutton
League and will also train at West Street on Wednesdays.

They would
largely become our A team in 1954/55.

Dec 53 Banstead install temporary seating for an
anticipated crowd of 2,000 for Leytonstone in Amateur Cup. 1900 attend.

Dec 53 Ivor Hughes has left for Leatherhead after yo-yoing
between Epsom and Sutton. Ex-player John Hoy joins Tooting & M.

Dec 53 former
player Dennis Dodd leaves Sutton United for Leatherhead.

19/12/53 Leatherhead's forward line was Dodd, Hughes,
Goddard, Ford and Honey, all former Sutton and Epsom players!

Dec 53 Jan
Sorensen will guest for Epsom v Carshalton Ath on xmas day. Currently with
Walton & H.

19/12/53
Another dance to be held this evening at Drill Hall, Ewell. Date wrongly
advised. It was 9/1/54.

19/12/53 Epsom
deservedly lose 2-0 at Eastbourne.

Herald says it was a boring 90 minutes, and both teams
played negative football. Second Eastbourne goal was missed by

many of the
home fans, as they were streaming out of the ground in their hundreds!

19/12/53 Ron Ruffell scores for Reserves but ball goes
through the same hole in the net and out afterwards. Fortunately,

referee sees
it, and it is allowed.

19/12/53 Res
programme issued number 17. This is the same as the week before (H) v
Hounslow. Duplication.

25/12/53 Future player Gordon Cairns hits winner for
Carshalton Ath. Ron Holloway misses two good chances for Epsom.

26/12/53
Epsom end Carshalton's unbeaten home record after taking an early 2-0 lead.
Carshalton pulled it back but an

Epsom winner after 75 minutes made it 3-2. Carshalton's
George Shailer dislocated his shoulder after 35 minutes and had

to leave
field, but Micky Mays their trainer put it back in and he was on the field
again for the last 30 minutes!

26/12/53 2nd ever game for Johnny Hitchcock (guest 51).
Had previously played for United Services (Plymouth) and Fulham 'A'.

26/12/53
Future player Ron Webb scored for Carshalton Ath v Epsom.

Dec 53 Ernie won't be available for at least two months.
Played for the Reserves but it was very sore afterwards and looks

like an
operation will be necessary.

Dec 53 A
supporter writes in debating the point of xmas day matches because of
availabilities. It would change soon.

Jan 54 Dennis
Dodd returns to Carshalton from Leatherhead. Peter Wood returns to
Kingstonian from Sutton.

2/1/54 Fog
causes an abandonment of the Erith game at West Street after 31 minutes. You
could see the length of the

pitch at the start of the game but by 30 mins visibility
was down to ten yards. Erith equalised after 29 minutes, but reporter

didn't see how
it happened, nor did Epsom's programme editor!

Jan 54 A supporter writes in to ask about the decline of
the Epsom side since last year. This is mainly due to the loss of

Goddard,
although many of last year's front line have now left.

Jan 54 Pat
Lynch pulled muscle and unavailable for Addlestone SSC game. Jim Crane took
over the captaincy.

9/1/54
Bernard Canham now playing for Epsom again is ineligible for SSC as he had
played earlier for Malden Town.

Addlestone were Parthenon League in those days, and were
bringing so many fans that London Transport laid on a special

excursion for
them. Epsom win 5-0 and play Malden Town in next round, because....

9/1/54
….Malden Town, currently bottom of Surrey Senior League beat Sutton in SSC
3-0 at Gander Green Lane.

Their
reserves lose 11-0 at Hitchin the same day, and the manager, George Holling
is sacked. He joins Leatherhead.

9/1/54 Club New Year Dance. Tickets were 3s 6d each,
available from the club house or supporters club office. At Drill Hall.

Jan 54 Brian
Brumwell applies to join Barking in Isthmian League, as he lives in East Ham,
and travel was difficult.

16/1/54 Ernie Watkins plays for reserves after injury but
gets injured (calf). Passenger on wing. Thought to be a minor injury.

23/1/54 Epsom miss at least six one on one situations.
Bernard Canham scored in the first minute and it was the only goal.

Jim Crane
kept striker Arnell quiet, even though he was on Liverpool's books and had
played three times for their first

team in the
First Division of the Football League that season.

Jan 54 Herald says that Army life has filled out Bobby
Musto, and he is not as thin as before. Soon to be demobbed. (Feb 54)

Jan 54 Epsom
sign Gordon Hurst (24) from Leytonstone. Sunderland res (5 yrs), and played
for a year with Bishop

Auckland. Rep Honours: Durham. Also played once for
Northampton's reserves as guest, and Epsom's table tennis team.

He is
currently a geography schoolmaster in Bookham.

Jan 54 Also Mick Simmonds joins from Sutton. Had been with
Epsom's juniors a few years back, and also Malden Town.

30/1/54
Frozen pitch and extreme cold but game goes ahead. Avis is unavailable with
an injured foot. Epsom win 4-0.

Jan 54
Supporters Club are running a Grand National Draw. 2s for book of 5 tickets
or 6d per ticket.

Supporters Club have also provisionally booked a coach for
a trip to the Royal Tournament in June. Tickets 10s inc coach.

Feb 54 Brian
Brumwell rejoins Epsom as he prefers the atmosphere.

Mention of
Glyn Hinshelwood living in Three Bridges.

6/2/54 Meant
to be Tilbury (H) but League switched this to Eastbourne (H) as they had
played far less games.

6/2/54 Pitch
still had snow on it, and was still being cleared as game was about to start.

Feb 54 Herald
reports that Ewell FC are the forerunners of the current Epsom club. I think
this is speculation!

13/2/54 Ashtead to play West Ewell Athletic at West Street
in Sutton League game. Ashtead win 8-5 but it was played at

Gibraltar Rec
not West Street as pitch was unfit.

13/2/54 SSC QF
is goalless at HT mainly due to the elements, but Epsom coast through in the
end.

Malden Council
did not want the game played, but Referee A J Stone said it was playable, and
should go ahead.

Two different
programmes issued. Programmes - Y

20/2/54
Tickets for SSC SF v Dulwich Hamlet @ Wimbledon are on sale after the game at
3s each.

20/2/54 former 15 year old playing debutant F.Reid is now
playing for Fulham Reserves at Leytonstone this day. He was a member

of the Fulham
Playing staff back when he played his one match for us, and was clearly still
there! Also playing for

Fulham Reserves that day was Roy Dwight who would go on to
play in the 1959 FA Cup Final, become Tooting & Mitcham manager

and have a
famous nephew Reg who became Elton John.

20/2/54 Ron
Ruffell getting married at St Joseph's Church at 1pm. Unavailable. Bernard
Canham takes his place.

Geoff Porter
is the best man, and then lets in 7 against Tilbury in a 2-7 defeat, but
confirms he had NOT been drinking!

Ron now lives
in Ayrshire according to Geoff.

Ron married former captain (20's) Reg Sperring's daughter.
Reg lived in Temple Rd, and was a very good player, and golfer too.

Reg's daughter
is Elizabeth and she lives with her daughter Nicola Barnes in Hazel Way,
Fetcham.

I met Ron,
Nicola and Liz in April 2011 with Geoff Porter and although Ron is starting
to suffer with dementia, he did

very well on the recall of certain things from back in the
fifties. They have divorced though, and Ron lives in Scotland now.

20/2/54 Epsom lose their first game in five by a score of
7-2. They were 5-0 down at HT despite dominating large parts of

the match. 1st
goal was 27 minutes. Papers said at HT "Epsom nevertheless were still
well in the picture!"

Surrey Comet
also said that Epsom outplayed Tilbury for long periods in "a strange
game"

20/2/54 Jim
Crane has penalty saved, but referee says that the keeper moved, and he
scores from the retake.

March 54
Permission given for the Hogsmill pub to be built.

27/2/54 Epsom
led twice but lose in League Cup replay at Hounslow. Future player Les Peake
played for Hounslow.

6/3/54 Special
train being run for Epsom supporters to Wimbledon for the SSC SF v Dulwich.
Leaving at 2pm from

Epsom, 2.03 at
Ewell West, and 2.05 at Stoneleigh.

Dulwich score
after 9 minutes, but Epsom put Dulwich under pressure and equalise after 37
minutes. Roy Dymott short

notice
replacement for Ron Holloway had a shot which took a deflection on the way in
to the goal. Dulwich miss two

sitters near
the end. Bad ground conditions. ATTENDANCE App
7,000.

Herald says the attendance was nearer 6,000, and said that
Epsom were a bit nervous about playing in front of that many.

10/3/54 Epsom
jockey apprentices play Newmarket apprentices at Epsom K.O.2.30.

Mar 54 Vic
Honey returns to Sutton from Leatherhead.

Mar 54 Tommy
Rochester is at Leatherhead

Mar 54 Despite being at Carshalton Athletic earlier this
season future player Ron Webb is advised as joining Bromley from Navy.

March 54 Bill Townsend refers to a SSC SF against Dulwich
in 1937/38 which Epsom lost 3-2 to Dulwich after a replay, but

Dulwich lost
in the final, and hoped this wouldn't prove to be the case for Epsom.

10/3/54 Vic
Honey also becomes a father to a daughter.

Mar 54
Guildford City approach the club regarding Ron Ruffell but he isn't
interested.

13/3/54 Ron
Holloway had been dropped for Ron Dymott but is reinstated for the replay at
Tooting & Mitcham.

Ruffell is
unavailable through injury, and Johnny Hitchcock plays instead. It was going
to be Ernie, but he didn't want to

take the risk
and let his team mates down if he was unable to continue. Ernie does require
a cartilage operation, but will

continue
playing while he is waiting for the call from the hospital.

13/3/54 Epsom are 2-0 down in replay on a windy day, but
pull a goal back through Gordon Hurst after 72, and Bill Wiles got the

equaliser in injury time as some people were on their way
out. They all came back for extra time, where a shot from Avis

early in the second period of ET is the winner. Was driven
in from 25 yards off the post. Final to be played at Selhurst Park.

March 54
Johnny Hitchcock is an army PT Instructor

13/3/54 Jan Sorensen playing for C.Palace reserves. Lost
3-1 to Watford. Transferring back to Sutton from Walton & Hersham.

Mar 54 reference to former players Len Lowder and Gerry
Langdown who are both now at Croydon Amateurs. Langdown is Captain.

Lowder
formerly with Sutton, Epsom, Banstead, Croydon Rovers and Whyteleafe. Is
married and living in Tadworth.

20/3/54 Pat
Lynch unavailable as he is watching the other SSC SF between Tooting & M
and Corinthian Casuals.

Ernie Watkins
went with him.

20/3/54
According to Tilbury, Epsom were the first club to offer help to them after
the 1953 floods. They consider us as

particularly
good friends.

20/3/54 Gordon
Hurst knee injury. Unavailable for one week..

20/3/54 Bob
Avis kicked on the foot early in the second half. Passenger. Diagnosed
afterwards as a cracked shin bone

and misses the rest of the season. Bill Wiles scores a
second half equaliser from 30 yards at Tilbury as the game ends 1-1.

24/3/54 reported by Comet that it is a mistake having SSC
final at Selhurst Park. Corinthian Casuals have a small regular

following, "and Epsom cannot claim to be well blessed
with supporters". "I cannot see many other than their ardent
supporters

making the
wearisome journey to what must be considered one of the worst grounds in the
county" Should be elsewhere.

March 53 Ken
Elbrow and Bernard Canham are chosen for the Corinthian League Reserve
Section v Great Western

Combination @
Chesham on 3/4/54.

27/3/54 Gordon Hurst hits bar from 40 yards and also
knocks out opposing centre half from the same range. Also scores from

20 yards to
put Epsom 3-2 up at HT and eventually beat Worthing 5-3.

27/3/54
Programme advises a pen picture of Pat Lynch is in this week's (month's?)
edition, on sale at the club today.

Also tickets
are on sale for coaches direct to the ground through the Supporters Club at
3s.

Apr 54 Mention
of Sutton Beavers baseball team with captain Frank Adey (ex-player)

Apr 54
Drainage problems at Meadowbank. 19 sump holes drilled and refilled with
hardcore.

Apr 54 Jim
Crane plays for Corinthian League - date unknown.

3/4/54 Jim
Crane's wedding day, but was scheduled to play that afternoon! He didn't
though.

He was due to
receive a wedding gift from the President at 7pm in the Club canteen.

3/4/54 Geoff Porter did not have to make a save against
Maidstone. Pat Lynch refers to Gordon Sanders being "the most

improved
player in the side"

3/4/54 Ken Elbrow and Bernard Canham unavailable, as they
have been selected for a Corinthian League reserve team v Great

Great Western
Combination this day at Chesham that lost 3-2.

3/4/54 A
Gordon Hurst mispen is not costly as Epsom defeat Maidstone 3-0 with three
second half goals.

3/4/54
Programme advises that only seats in the centre stand can be reserved at 4s.

Prices for Privilege tickets: Admission 6d and stands 1s.
Ordinary admission is stands 10s 6d, and 5s. Ground only 2s 6d.

These can be booked by seeing either Ernest Fletcher or
A.M.Thompson in the small office adjoining the tea bar which is

next door to
the players dressing rooms.

10/4/54 Brian
Brumwell unavailable as he is participating in the World Table Tennis
Championships at Wembley.

10/4/54 Johnny
Hitchcock unavailable, as he was sent back to Plymouth by the Army.

10/4/54 Gordon
Sanders unavailable due to pulled back muscle. Chenery deputises

12/4/54 Eamonn
Andrews at Epsom Baths to commentate on the Boxing Promotion.

Apr 54 Chick Hinshelwood apparently still trained at
Edhill, and was rarely seen at West Street unless there was a game.

16/4/54 Jim
Crane selected for Corinthian League v Athenian League this day as a late
call up.

17/4/54 Gordon
Hurst on holiday up north for a week. And misses 4 games as a result!

19/4/54 Court Athletic v Banstead Juniors. E & E
League Cup final to be played at West Street 3pm k.o. on Easter Monday.

21/4/54 Ernie
Watkins has his cartilage operation.

21/4/54 Hounslow started with ten men for the first 26
minutes, and by the time they were up to 11, Epsom were a goal up.

Final score was a 1-0 win! Many reserves in both sides.
Debut for Gordon Tillyer. Goal from Wiles was "a grounder" which
hit

a bump and
went over the Hounslow keeper. Future Epsom player Derek Evans played for
Hounslow v Epsom.

According to Geoff Porter, Gordon Tillyer worked for
Midland Bank and was a small right winger, who lived in Courtlands Drive,

and lived with his aunt. He was connected with Chessington
& Hook after he left Epsom, but Geoff has lost contact and would

like to meet
up with him. Lived briefly in Walsingham Gardens.

22/4/54
Maidstone had to work hard for their win on a bone hard surface says Kent
Messenger "before a goodly crowd."

The third goal
was a bit special as Burnett met a cross full on the volley, leaving Elbrow
helpless.

Messenger says that J.Farringdon plays, but records
suggest it would be Bill Farrington. This needs further checking, but I will

leave it as Bill for now. Paper was probably just
referring to our former player from a few years back by accident as the
names

are similar.

24/4/54 Epsom
2-0 up after 3 minutes but lost 4-5 to Edgware.

24/4/54 Played
in Red & Black v Edgware for some reason

24/4/54 Future
player Ray Colfar (17) of New Malden was chosen for the National Federation
of Boys Clubs v Sea

Cadets in the
GB Youth Tournament semi final at Southall. He plays for Kingston Boys Club
and is the leading scorer.

Last week he signed for Chase of Chertsey and has
attracted the attention of many pro & Am clubs in the south of England.

28/4/54 Epsom
and Ewell League play North Surrey Minor League at West Street. KO 6.30 1-1
draw.

Future players
Ray Watkins and Ray Colfar both play in this game.

28/4/54 Geoff Porter plays well, although at fault for the
third goal says County of Middlesex Chronicle. Lost 2-4 at Hounslow.

Future manager and player Derek Evans reported as playing
well for Hounslow v Epsom this day. Epsom were 3-0 down, then

got it back to
3-2 before conceding. Jim Crane played but most of line up unknown.

29/4/54
Reported that Bourne Hall would be a good place for a library and plans are
set in motion.

29/4/54 Surrey Senior League Reserve Cup Final Worcester
Park Res v Dorking Res at West Street KO 6.30 - 2-2 aet - trophy shared.

29/4/54 Only 3
first teamers played at Maidenhead. Hurst and Wiles were two of them.

Even Fred Chitty turned out to play for Epsom, as he gave
at least 5 years to every other player! Epsom were 1-0 up early at

one stage, and looked like pulling off a surprise win at
one stage, as they were the better side in the second half. HT 1-4 and

was 1-5 after 60 minutes. Maidenhead had two
"guests" from Reading, Barry Matthews and Keith Abbiss, who scored
one

and made the
other four! I believe our keeper this day was Reg Taylor, last season's
Reserve keeper.

May 54 Molesey
buy Walton Road ground.

8/5/54 Ray
Colfar plays at Wembley Stadium this day for National Federation of Boys
Clubs.

8/5/54 Bob Avis still unavailable for SSC Final at Crystal
Palace. Did not want to risk breaking down in such an Important

match. At least 300 were travelling by coach and a special
train was also leaving from Epsom at 2.05 and arriving at Selhurst

at 2.43,
returning at 5.38 unless extra time was required.

Epsom outplayed Casuals for long periods but had no-one to
finish off the moves. Epsom were denied a penalty in the second

half as a defender handled a shot from Simmonds. 1st goal
40 minutes on a counterattack from an Epsom shot. KERRUISH.

2nd goal 85
minutes as SANDERS shot through a crowd of players after a corner.

Attendance 6,159, and 2,000 Epsom supporters were present.
Team photo has a picture of 9 year old Roy Oldacre as mascot.

I got to know
Roy years later through pool commitments and spoke with him about it in the
summer of 2009.

According to Ray Chenery and Geoff Porter, the team photo
has Grant Sherman in it with grey hair at the back, while Alderman

GCA Mann also in the photo. L Stapeley is on the left,
with Ernest Fletcher on the right, then Johnny Hitchcock (not in kit).

LA Stapeley
was a Detective Sargeant in the police, while Geoff Porter would eventually
become a policeman. He used

to get some of
the police along to help out at the ground!

GCA Mann was
connected with Tuck and Mann solicitors, and former Chairman Albert Tuck was
probably the

reason that
Mann got involved in the club. - Supposition, not confirmed.

GCA Mann used
to live in West Street on the big house on the hill, mid way along, just
before you start to go downhill.

The team photo
is also included in the book Association Football Volume 1. It is a big hard
back green book.

Reserves:

Corinthian League Reserve Division

Position

11th out of 14

Neale Trophy

1st

Grays Ath

1-2

SIC

2nd

Limpsfield Blues

0-3

22/8/53 Goals
from Farnham and Golding recover a 2-2 draw after trailing 2-0 at HT to
Slough.

29/8/53 2-1
down at HT but won 5-2 at Maidenhead.

05/09/53
Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter, Ray Chenery, Bill Rowe, Ron
Hunt, Bob Crane,

Danny Evans,
Ron Holloway, James "Jock" Wilson, Ken Allan, Gerry (listed as
George) Wiltshire, Ron Ruffell

5/9/53 Epsom defeat Tilbury 4-2 at West Stret with two
goals from Ron Holloway, while Ron Ruffell and Ken Allan also score.

19/09/53
Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter, Ray Chenery, Bill Rowe, Ron
Hunt, Bob Crane,

Danny Evans,
Ron Holloway, James "Jock" Wilson, Ken Allan, Gerry (listed as
George) Wiltshire, Ron Ruffell

19/9/53 A number of late changes to the team and lost 5-1
at Hounslow. Chitty came in for Ruffell and Looseley, Wiltshire and

Sanders were
all crossed out in the programme I have, although no other new names were
advised in their place.

26/09/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Ray Chenery, Bernard Smith, Fred Looseley, Bob Crane, Ron Hunt,

Peter Golding (listed as L.Goulding), James
"Jock" Wilson, John Farnham (listed as R.Farnham), Reg Oakes, Ron
Ruffell

26/9/53
Uxbridge defeat Epsom 2-1 at West Street.

03/10/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Ray Chenery, Bernard Smith, Fred Looseley, Bob Crane, Peter Golding,

Ron Hunt,
James "Jock" Wilson, Ken Allan, Gerry Wiltshire, Ron Ruffell

3/10/53 Geoff
Porter "excelled himself" and saved us from a heavier defeat as we
lost 2-0 at home to Grays Athletic.

10/10/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Ray Chenery, Bernard Smith, Danny Evans, Bob Crane, Fred Looseley,

Roy Dymott,
John Farnham, Ken Allan, Jim Boardman, Ron Ruffell

10/10/53 Epsom
are defeated 2-1 at home by Maidstone United in a League match.

17/10/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Ray Ellis, Ray
Chenery, Bernard Smith, John Farnham, Bob Crane, Danny Evans,

Roy Dymott,
John Brady, Ken Allan, Gerry Wiltshire, Brendon Gaynor

17/10/53 Many
more late changes advises programme as we lose 2-1 at home to Edgware.

24/10/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Ray Chenery, Bernard Smith, Danny Evans, Bob Crane, Gerry Wiltshire,

Roy Dymott,
John Brady, Ken Allan, John Farnham, Vic Honey

24/10/53 Ken Allan HT v Slough (H), but reserves still
lose their sixth straight match 4-3. Geoff Porter played well in goal.

31/10/53 No
game for Reserves which was a relief as they had lost their last six.

07/11/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Ray Chenery, Bernard Smith, Danny Evans, Bob Crane, Gerry Wiltshire,

Roy Dymott,
John Brady, Ken Allan, John Farnham, Vic Honey

7/11/53 Paddy Moore appears for the reserves while on
leave from Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers and before sailing to Kenya.

He is made
Captain this day and also scores in a 4-0 win over Caterham this day in SIC.

7/11/53 Also
this day Colin Bennion makes a promising debut even if he is called Benhill
in programme.

14/11/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Roy Dymott, R.Gibbs, Gordon Sanders, Bernard Smith, Ron Orme,

Bernard
Canham, John Farnham, Ken Allan, Colin Bennion, Vic Honey

14/11/53 It is
only 1-0 at HT but Epsom lose 5-0 at Maidstone United.

14/11/53 reference in programme to newcomers Ron Orme and
T.Leaming. Not sure if they actually played this day though.

21/11/53 Programme Line Up for this match: Geoff Porter,
Roy Dymott (listed as Bill), Ken Allan, Gordon Sanders, Ray Chenery,

Ron Orme
(listed as B.L.Orme), Bernard Canham, Stan Scott, Reg Oakes, T.Leaming, Colin
Bennion

21/11/53 First win after seven defeats 3-2 v Hounslow. Reg
Oakes scores twice and Geoff Porter saves one penalty, and nearly

stops a second
one. Stan Scott gets the other goal and was "as fine a goal as one could
wish to see."

5/12/53 Res
crash out of SIC 3-0 at home to Limpsfield Blues. Described in programme as
"a pathetic exhibition".

19/12/53
Programme Line Up for this match: Ken Elbrow, Roy Dymott, Ken Allan, Peter
Adams, Ernie Watkins,

Bernard Smith,
G.Guest (was this a made up name?), John Farnham, Reg Oakes, G.Grace, Colin
Bennion

19/12/53 Ron Ruffell (who wasn't in programme line up)
scores for Reserves but ball goes through the same hole in the net and
out

afterwards.
Fortunately, the referee sees it, and it is allowed.

Jan 54 Reference to Bert Portt, who took over the reserves
once Fred Chitty took over West Ewell as the nursery team. It is

a tough job as the side is always changing. Many local
players. Pragnell, Rose, and Bennion are all Epsom Old Scholars.

as was Geoff
Porter. Bert Pragnell and Colin Bennion. According to Geoff Porter, Bennion
is still around, but a bit fat!

Elbrow, Allan,
Chenery, Smith, Watkins and White all live locally. HB Umpleby is head of
Epsom County

Secondary School for Boys in Lintons Lane,
and has a lot to do with the Old Scholars.

Bert Portt was
around in the early 80's, as he sponsors a match ball on 25/11/80.

Jan 54 Colin
Fisher joins from West Ewell Athletic. An inside left.

2/1/54 Uxbridge defeat Epsom in a League match. Advertiser
reports score as 4-1 but I believe it was 4-0. Check Herald.

Table Tracking
suggests it was 4-1 also.

9/1/54 No game
for Reserves.

16/1/54 Ernie Watkins returned from injury but injured his
calf and had to play out on the wing. Lost 2-3 at home to Eastbourne.

Epsom Advertiser says it was a 2-3 loss but Eastbourne
Gazette provides a full report confirming a score of 1-3 which agrees with

table
tracking. Check Herald. It advises our scorer as Rose, which may have been
Rowe.

23/1/54 Bob
Crane and Ken Elbrow were outstanding as we defeated Worthing 1-0 at West
Street.

30/1/54 Ernie Watkins plays in goal for Reserves who win
3-1 at Chesham. Original keeper "Bruton" didn't show. He was meant
to be

out on the left wing, testing his knee. Colin Fisher
(listed as J.Fisher) and Simmonds debuts as we win 3-1 at Chesham.

6/2/54 Reserve
game at Worthing postponed.

13/02/54 Programme Line Up for this match: Ken Elbrow, Roy
Dymott, Ken Allan, Ray Chenery, Bob Crane, Reg Oakes,

Ernie Watkins,
Bernard Canham, Bert Pragnell, Mick Simmonds, Johnny Hitchcock

13/2/54 Ernie Watkins again played in goal in 4-2 defeat
at Edgware. Ken Elbrow (a policeman) was unavailable. Roy Dymott played

well as we
lost 4-2 at Edgware.

20/2/54 No
game for Reserves.

27/2/54
Reserves defeated Erith & Belvedere 4-0 at West Street.

27/02/54 Programme Line Up for this match: Ken Elbrow, Roy
Dymott, Ken Allan, Bill Smith, Ernie Watkins, Bob Crane,

Johnny
Hitchcock, Mick Simmonds, George Fisher, Bert Pragnell, Gordon Tillyer
(listed as George)

6/3/54 No game
for Reserves. Was this because of SSC Semi-Final?

13/3/54 No
game for Reserves. Was this because of SSC Semi-Final?

10/4/54 Last
reserve league game sees a 6-1 defeat at Eastbourne.

16/04/54 Programme Line Up for this match: Ken Elbrow, Ray
Chenery, Ken Allan, Bernard Smith (listed as W.Smith), Bob Crane,

Reg Oakes, Gordon Tillyer, Bert Pragnell, Colin Fisher,
Mick Simmonds, Danny Evans (probably, although listed as E.Evans)

16/4/54
Friendly at Tooting & Mitcham Reserves on Good Friday but no idea of
score. Prog Y.