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

CL

Position 4th out of 15

FAC

Pr

Bexleyheath & Welling

1-3

AC

4q

Sheppey

2-3

LC/MS

F

Maidenhead United

0-2

@Dorking

SSC

SF

Wimbledon

1-2

@Tooting & M

Home
Ground:

West Street, Ewell

Club Colours

Light and dark Blue quarters

Change Colours Red and Black - or just Red

President

Alderman G.C.A.Mann JP

Chairman

Derek Carpenter

Secretary

W.R. (Bill) Carpenter

replacing John Mitchell

Mitchell had
resigned after a year as Secretary, but it was a much bigger job than he had
originally thought.

Bill Carpenter
lived at 12 Cunliffe Road, Stoneleigh at this time. Ewell 8375.

Manager

Bill Fraser

Replacing Doug (Jock) Whitehead who had to
quit through ill health

Fraser came
from Kingstonian, as did Whitehead, but on October 27th Fred Chitty took over
as manager.

Trainer:

Jim Conlon

Res Manager

Ray Chenery from November 1956

Res Captain: Jim Crane

Treasurer

W.F.(Bill) Inkpen

Committee:

George Head, George Tarran

Programme
notes appear to be written by George Tarran, future Chairman. - Signed G.L.T.

Paper states
that Fred Chitty's debut was 27/10/36 but THE BOOK states 28/11/36. THE BOOK
is right.

The story of
the Johnny Bangs scoring record:

Club says
that Bangs beat Bill Goddard's record of 54 on 24th April at Edgware, scoring
his 55th goal. Papers say

this too.
However, he only scored 53 according to press reports. Somewhere the press
have credited the wrong

players with
2 Bangs goals, OR the club was wrong. Secretary Carpenter was in his first
season. Also, some stats

were produced
for the club by Committee member George Head, and there were inaccuracies
here too.

inc 9/3/57
Bangs is advised as on 45 goals, which tallies with my scores. Any anomaly
must be after 9/3/57.

In my opinion,
either Bangs didn't get 55, or he scored two for Corinthian League v
Isthmian, and the

club counted
them. I'm certain they wouldn't have played him in the reserves, as so many
games were o/s still.

I am now
comfortable with the fact that he only reached 53 goals.

Also club says
Dave Hermitage had scored 23 but this is also one too high. All other scorers
agree.

According to
Ray Chenery and Geoff Porter, Johnny Bangs died back in the eighties at a
fairly young age. He had

been married
twice, and his son Steve was Manager at Corinthian Casuals in 2005 after
spells at Sutton and Dorking.

Carshalton
Athletic elected to Athenian League from Corinthian League. Replaced by
Dorking & Wembley making 15 teams.

28/5/56
Supporters AGM at West Street on Monday evening. A call for more help is made
by Mr LR Stapeley, but WC Taylor

says they have
raised £115 in 4 months. This response was supported by President PB Cooke.

Cooke was
re-elected, while R Batchelor (Chairman), D Marlow (Secretary), and FE Hadley
(Treasurer) were all elected.

June 56 Doug
Whitehead resigns through ill health and Bill Fraser is appointed.

Bill Fraser
had a pro career with Fulham & Northampton, and had 3 Corinthian League
Championships with

Walton &
H, and 2 Amateur Cup semi finals. Previously manager at Salisbury before W
& H then Kingstonian.

Was not
involved in football last year as a result of eye trouble.

Doug Whitehead
had been manager since August 1955, having been reserve manager since
November 1954.

Had previously
been player and coach with Kingstonian, and was a member of their Amateur Cup
winning

team of 1933.
Also a Scottish Amateur International. Whitehead lived in Kingston, but said
that he hoped

to return one
day, which he eventually did.

June 56 Bill Whittaker, a former Trainer of the club in
1951/52 leaves Carshalton Athletic. Formerly with Brentford, Kingstonian and
Bromley.

June 56 John
Mitchell resigns as Secretary. Lived in Cox Lane, and was previously
Secretary of West Ewell F.C.

for 5 years
before joining. Brief football career ended after knee injury while playing
for the Army. Now taking

a complete
break from administration but will continue to watch.

June 56 Epsom
also state that they will have dressing rooms and floodlights sorted out
within the year. They do both.

Posts were in
place for floodlights at this time, but no lighting had ever been situated.

June 56 future
player Sid Law (22) joins Carshalton Ath from Worcester Park who have just
built their new stand.

He had played
for Tottenham's midweek side and for Fulham 'A'.

June 56
Mention of Carshalton Athletic and British Athletic Masseur Micky Mays having
an operation to remove a

lung. Was
unable to travel to Melbourne for the Olympics in late 56, and died on
12/12/56 at 1.30pm at home at

Lavender
Grove, Mitcham. Micky Mays Memorial Trophy started and played for by Epsom in
1976 season.

AGM between
8th and 14th June said that no A team would be running. No press were advised
of AGM so it was not reported.

Bill Fraser
announced as Manager at this time.

July 56 Talk
of a 500 foot stand at Worcester Park. Must have meant 500 seater! Either
way, it never appeared.

17/7/56
Training starts at Epsom.

July 56 Epsom
invited to enter a minor team in the Epsom & Ewell League, but there is
no record of them entering.

Ex players
John Hoy and Ron Ruffell leave Leatherhead for Dorking. Hoy had also been at
Erith since leaving Epsom.

July 56 future
player Johnny Blizzard joins Tooting & M after spells with Sutton, Hayes
and Southall. Rep Honours:

Ath Lge, Isth
Lge, and Berks & Bucks.

July 56 Epsom
have new dressing rooms. The club brought a prefab and get planning
permission shortly afterwards. There had

been
complaint about players clothing getting damp from the steam from the baths,
but the new dressing rooms have the

baths in the
same room still. They are completed in August.

July 56 Epsom
are invited to put a team in the Epsom & Ewell League, but decline.

Aug 56
ex-player Gordon Brogdale (39) reveals that this season will be his last.
Currently with Croydon Amateurs.

According to Advertiser, he once scored 76 goals in a
season for Epsom, and turned down pro terms with C.Palace. He scored 44 once.

Bernard Wales
leaves (Hounslow) but rest of first team remain, although George Mitchell
takes a while before returning.

New dressing
rooms renovated for Aug 56 ish

Aug 56 Don
Butler on holiday and misses first game.

Aug 56 Gordon
Tillyer and Reg Oakes at Wimbledon

Aug 56 Brian
Pell is at Banstead Athletic

Aug 56 former
player Gordon Tillyer is at Wimbledon.

Aug 56 Future
player C.McLaughlin joins Croydon from Aylesbury. Has recently moved to
Holmesdale Road, South Norwood

Aug 56 Bill
Blazey is back with Epsom after leaving to play for his works side just after
xmas last year.

Aug 56, George
Wood (Redhill), Ken Elbrow (rejoining) and Bill Blazey (rejoining) all join
Epsom.

George Wood
was a porter at Smithfield Market who lived in Battersea.

11/8/56 Trial
at West Street. Don Butler is on holiday as was his reserve George Clarke and
Ray Ellis, the Reserve keeper at

Banstead who
had asked for a trial had a slight injury!

RM Patton played in goal and new faces included Pickard
(Walton & Hersham), W.Perkis a half back, J.Wingrove (Devas) and P.Adams

who had
apparently played previously for Epsom. G.Challoner (Windsor & Eton) and
B.Friend a county Youth player.

The younger element contained R.Duley, B.Woolins (spelt
Woollens in Herald), R.Smith, Brian Hayes, Colin Tong, G.Morecambe,

Bill Blazey,
CW Ferri and G.Hastings.

18/8/56 Led
2-0 before losing 2-3 at Slough

Radio
Luxembourg giving results out for all the main Amateur Leagues on a Saturday
night.

25/8/56 Don
Butler cuts short his holiday to play in this Tilbury match. Dave Hermitage
scores the winner in the second half.

25/8/56 twice
during game a long ball caught Ernie Watkins out, so using his experience, he
caught it and gave away a

free kick.
Even the Epsom supporters thought that this was wrong. 2nd half rainstorm.
Ref took players off for 5 minutes.

Mention of
Aquarius F.C. still going and playing in Southern Amateur League. Still based
in Honor Oak.

25/8/56
Mention of Whist Drive in September and Jumble Sale in October run by
supporters club. Membership 2s and 1s

for adults and
juniors. Season tickets advised at 27s 6d. Whist Drive is at Myers Hall,
Ashley Road on 21/9/56 and

admission is
2s 6d.

Aug future
player Ray Dowse is at Canterbury but comes from Banstead and guested for
them in a match.

Aug 56 future
player Ron Webb, also ex- Carshalton and Tooting & M joins Cray
Wanderers.

1/9/56
Champions from last season Maidstone play host this day to a rest of League
XI including Ted Day from Epsom. Prog Y.

1/9/56
Uxbridge (A) programme is wrongly dated 22nd August. Game was definitely
played this day and Epsom won 1-0.

1/9/56
Poisoned toe - Brian Jenkins unfit to play.

Sept 56 Petter
Sports had changed their name this season, and were previously McLaren
Sports. Petter & Bryce.

Petter Sports
were briefly Petter - Bryce sports after changing from McLaren Sports. Hence
P & B ground in Egham.

Sept 56 former
player Gordon Cairns resigns from Carshalton but 12 hour later withdraws his
resignation!

Sept 56 future
player Derek Roshier is at Croydon

Sept 56 Bill
Nuth applies to join Chesham United. More local.

Sept 56 George
Challoner returns to Windsor & Eton.

Sept 56 Gerry
Saffery joins Carshalton Athletic. Had played for Hendon in 1955 Amateur Cup
Final. A future Epsom player.

1/9/56 John
Berry pulls leg muscle 55 minutes. Passenger.

Sept 56
Bernard Pickard joins. Ex-Walton & H, and Hawker Athletic.

8/9/56
programme refers to George "Porky" Mitchell a recent signing! HT
for Johnson of Bexleyheath & Welling.

Attendance
for this game was referred to in a future programme as the same as for a
general league match last season.

It was a poor
game though, and many of the youngsters look like they need training. Ted
Murphy's last game for the club.

15/9/56 Epsom
5-0 down after 60 minutes, but fight back, with Johnny Bangs HT on debut.
Lost 3-5 at Maidstone.

Bangs had
signed from Redhill. Rep Honours: Surrey & F.A.

Don Butler
broke his arm, but played on. Never able to regain his place though.

George Wood
was also carried off unconscious, but returns 20 minutes later!

Ted Day
selected for Corinthian League v Athenian League at Yiewsley on Wed 19/09/56
under lights.

Ted Day plays
in this game, as does future player Derek Evans (Hounslow) - Prog - Y

22/9/56 Brian Stevens, Navy keeper helps out for a few
games. Nicknamed "Sailor" unsurprisingly! George Mitchell scores
from

40 yards.

22/9/56
programme advises that the club now has 201 members, but that Dorking have
1,000. Also arranging a trip to the

Reference
also to the club running out of programmes. Also a minimum number are being
printed for reserve games.

Horse of the
Year show at Haringey on 12/10/56. Cost inc coach 12s.

Sept 56 Future
player Tommy Kerner is currently leading scorer with W & H in Athenian
League with 7.

Sept 56 former
player Dennis Dodd retires on doctor's advice - leg injury.

Sept 56
Kingstonian may sell the reserve pitch for building. Earlier this year the
ground had sold part of Richmond Road to

Sept 56 former
player Ray Dowse joins Kingstonian.

Shell for £5k
for a garage.

Epsom's FA Cup
conquerors Bexleyheath & Welling win 9-4 at Carshalton Ath in next round!

29/9/56 Epsom
beat Malden Town 2-0 in AC, but for some reason, the club advises this at 3-0
with Hermitage scoring the third.

All three local papers confirm the score as 2-0, so club
was wrong. The same person listed this as did the stats in the programme

referring to
Johnny Bangs scoring record. He was wrong on this too. - Mr G Head.

2/10/56 Epsom
summoned to FA Hearing, as Crawley had complained about Johnny Bangs joining.
They said he had

advised them
he was joining them. Appeal dismissed.

Oct 56
Reference to Epsom drawing Leatherhead in the revived Wells Cup. 4 teams in
cup, Dorking and Walton & H

are in the
other semi. However, by April, Epsom seemed to have withdrawn, and
Leatherhead were playing Carshalton instead.

Oct 56 future
player Gerry Saffery is at Carshalton. He is former Wealdstone but also
played for Ilford.

Oct 56 future
player Trevor Hall (33) T & M keeper dropped after 290 consecutive
appearances for them.

Described in
papers as "the best amateur keeper in league football"

Had previously
played for Sutton and Tooting before doing National Service, then Graveney
(Balham League).

Gained first
team place at Tooting in 1949 and not missed a game since.

Mick Simmonds
is now at Leatherhead.

Oct 56 future
player Johnny Wood (20) joins Sutton from Wimbledon because they kept playing
him at centre forward.

Oct 56 future
player Peter Freeman misses Sutton game as he is getting married to Pam
Galvin of Cheam. Sutton

approached
the FA to see whether they could give him a wedding present, or whether it
compromised "amateur" tag!

Oct 56 Epsom
sign Bob Harte ex Sheppey and Carshalton Athletic.

Oct 56 Don
Butler allowed to play occasionally for Isthmian league Bromley.

Oct 56 Bernard Wales signs amateur forms for Tottenham
while playing for Hounslow, yet still living in Adelphi Rd Epsom. - Plumber.

Oct 56 Future
player Peter Wood signs amateur forms for Leyton Orient while playing for
Kingstonian.

Oct 56 Peter
Freeman leaves Sutton. Former Crystal Palace junior.

Oct 56 Bobby
Smith ex Epsom and Beddington Corner joins Sutton

Not to be
confused with Bob Smith (16) right back now playing for Reserves with Bill
John, both Fulham ground staff boys.

6/10/56
Supporters arrange Jumble Sale for 17th November at Foresters Hall,
(presumably not 3pm!). Also a dance is

arranged for
24th Nov at the Granada Restaurant, Epsom at 8pm with tickets at 4s and 7s 6d
for two. Jumble can be deposited

at the club,
or at the Red Lion pub in East Street. Membership is now at 250. Also another
whist drive for 19/10/56.

6/10/56 Johnny
Bangs mispen but he scores two others in our 3-1 League Cup win at home to
Worthing.

13/10/56 Epsom
go 1-0 down but win 10-1 v Devas Institute. 7 goals in the last 15 minutes!
Brighton scout watches

Bangs and
Hermitage and asked to speak to them. Hermitage previously connected with
Brentford. Bangs scores 13

in his first
5 games. Les Dowding ex-Epsom Town (war time) "and 24 years Ray Colfar's
senior" was in goal for Devas.

Game was
originally drawn to be a Devas home tie in Battersea but they switched the
game to West Street.

13/10/56
Johnny Bangs was carried off towards the end, when he was kicked in the
stomach, but recovered after treatment.

Oct 56 future
player Bernard Willis and ex player Vic Honey both leave Sutton.

Oct 56 Ray
Ellis and Dave Forbes are at Banstead this season. Bill Blazey leaves for
Edgware.

20/10/56
Epsom score early through Ray Colfar, but Brian Stevens was then kicked in
the face while making a save. He

continued but
was still in a daze at the end of the game!

20/10/56
Devas are thrashed 10-1. The programme the following week refers to the
programme editor feeling sad that his

previous team
took such a hiding. This one is not signed GLT though, so may not have been
George.

27/10/56 Reserve programme advises that the new Tea Bar is
almost complete. The old one had been pulled down, while this one

was almost
certainly the one at the end of the old clubhouse and near the stand, close
to where the old one stood.

27/10/56 Fred
Chitty (37) appointed manager after resignation of Bill Fraser. Fraser was
having trouble making training

due to night
work shifts, says Advertiser. However, he was also very ill, and this was not
publicised.

Chitty
previously had an International Schoolboy trial, and also played occasionally
for Sutton before the war. During the

war, he was
the only Amateur in the 8th Army team that contained Tom Finney. In 1950 he
was put in charge of Epsom

juniors, then
A team, and was made Assistant Team Manager last season.

Before
playing, he lived in West Street, and trained here and sold programmes.
Almost lived at the ground says papers.

Chitty also
guested for Palace, Norwich and Falkirk. Represented Surrey and London
League.

Played for
London League v Isthmian Lge on 4/12/46 at Leytonstone and was told that who
ever played best out of him and

Leon Joseph
would play for England Amateur. He played best, but then injured his leg
playing for Epsom and so wasn't

selected.
Joseph got the cap. However, Surrey Comet says that Chitty didn't play in the
representative game, as his tube

broke down on
the way to Leytonstone and he arrived 5 minutes late and missed the game. A
bit confusing!

Oct 56 Peter
Freeman joins from Sutton.

Oct 56 Bernard
'Podge' Willis joins after a brief spell at Frinton Rovers after leaving
Sutton.

26/10/56
Regular whist drives at Clubhouse from this Friday onwards again - alternate
weeks.

27/10/56
Twickenham are Parthenon League this year.

27/10/56
former Epsom player Ron Holloway plays for Twickenham v Epsom. K.O. 2.30

Oct 56 Reg
Oakes leaves Wimbledon for Carshalton

Oct 56 Tommy
Temlett is at Ashtead

Nov 56 Joe
McLaughlin is at Leatherhead

Nov 56 Pat
Lynch is Coach at Wingate (London League)

Nov 56 Brian
Stevens leaving soon as he is on exercises with the Navy.

Reported on
1/11/56 that floodlighting started this weekend at Epsom. Very basic I would
imagine, and doubt it was

used for
anything but training.

3/11/56
programme advises a working party on 4th Nov to erect standards for the
lighting to go on. About 20 volunteers helped.

Nov 56 Future
player John Strange joins Carshalton Ath from Walton & H. Would only play
once for Epsom.

Nov 56 Jim
Crane applies to re-join Epsom.

Epsom try to
persuade Ruislip Manor to switch Amateur Cup tie but fail. Epsom still won
there 6-1.

3/11/56 Epsom
2-0 down at HT but win 8-2, although, Chesham keeper Jim Morris suffered
bruised ribs at 2-2 and had

to play
outside right instead.

Nov 56 John
Berry is contemplating retirement. He has been struggling for fitness.

Nov 56 Bangs
and Hermitage turn down Brighton scout who was at the Chesham game.

Nov 56 Ray
Chenery appointed Reserve Manager.

Nov 56 Trevor
Hall (33) and Alan Parker (31) join from Tooting & M bringing 24 years
combined experience. Parker was

married and
had a boy and a girl. Works in Mitcham. Fred Boultwood (23) also joins from
Twickenham.

Trevor Hall
was a departmental manager for a refrigeration company. Rep Honours Isth Lge,
London, and Surrey.

10/11/56
Archery at Ruislip Manor. Still there 40 years later! 3 coach loads of
supporters go to Ruislip.

10/11/56 Ray
Colfar scores two goals of his hat trick direct from corners.

Future player
Don Gillings joins Sutton from Wandle United. Offered pro by WBA but turned
them down in Jan 57.

Nov 56 Reg
Oakes 23 a painter living in Meadow Walk, Ewell joins Carshalton from
Wimbledon

Nov 56 Tommy
Wright is at Leatherhead

Nov 56 former
pre war player Bryn Evans is now coaching Ashtead Athletic in Sutton &
District League - former Tottenham

and Welsh
International says Advertiser

Nov 56
Dorking try to reduce matches over xmas, so no Christmas Day game v Epsom.
Instead they play on 26/12/56.

Other matches
in the league are played that day.

Nov 56 Herald
refer to Epsom having "certainly" the best side since the war.

17/11/56 Club
Jumble Sale at the Foresters Hall this day. Jumble can be donated at Club Hut
or Red Lion Pub in East Street.

17/11/56
Epsom hit Erith & Belvedere for 8 as they win 8-1 at West Street. It was
only 1-0 at HT. Johnny Bangs scored four

but Ray Colfar
mispen. Originally advised in error by Corinthian League to be at home to
Worthing.

24/11/56 4
coaches of supporters taken to Sheppey United Approx 140.

24/11/56
Programme 13 does not appear to exist. Reserves have no home game that day,
possibly a late postponement.

The same
weekend the club was broken into and cash, spirits and a radio were stolen.

24/11/56 Club
Dance at Granada Restaurant Epsom at 8pm. Tickets 4s for one and 7s6d for
two.

24/11/56
reference to Sheppey's pitch being much smaller than Epsom's (which wasn't
large by any means!) and so no room

for Epsom's
wingers.

1/12/56
Sheppey replay saw the referee blow 2 minutes 10 seconds early, just as Epsom
equalised and it appears that

the FA are
looking into as a result of an official protest from Epsom. It failed. This
was the closest Epsom would ever get

to repeating
their 30's feats and reaching the First Round proper, although they would
occasionally get back to the 4th Q.

Referee Band
Sargeant J W Lyle (Deal) allegedly blew for full time far too early.

It was a
Watkins equaliser that was denied, and Epsom would have been at home to Hemel
Hempstead (bottom of Delphian)

and gain £150
as a share of the Amateur Cup pool. A large crowd gathered outside the
dressing room, but dispersed when

Epsom
officials said they would consider a protest.

Dec 56 Future
player Derek Westley described as a "rather cumbersome centre half"
while with Sheppey.

Dec 56 Ron
Applebee at Eastbourne - is he R.Appleby? Yes

1/12/56 Future
player Derek Westley scores o.g. for Epsom in AC replay v Sheppey.

8/12/56 Peter
Freeman injured ligaments first half. Passenger 2nd half, and out until
March.

15/12/56 Epsom
programme advises "quiet confidence" to the outcome of the
Kingstonian game.

15/12/56 Epsom
deservedly batter Kingstonian 5-1. Ex K's players Sorensen and Day both
score.

15/12/56
Surrey Comet says that Bangs scored two today, and Jenkins didn't score.
Comet error.

Doug
"Jock" Whitehead is at the game. Credited in programme with
bringing about the revival of the club.

Future player
Micky Williams was in the Kingstonian side this day, but didn't play for the
first team regularly.

15/12/56
Programme announces the death of previous coach Bill Fraser. Also
ex-Kingstonian.

Passing was
sudden, even though he was not in robust health while in his spell at Epsom.

15/12/56
Programme advises that Whist Drive is cancelled due to mix up with dates.
Originally planned for 21/12/56.

Also, the
club is discontinuing his regular club whist drives at clubhouse. Also
reference to booking coaches early due to

petrol
rationing.

15/12/56 Programme also advises that a Christmas Day
fixture with Dorking is off and we would play on 22/12 instead due to
petrol

rationing!
However, we ended up going to Yiewsley on 22/12 and played Dorking at home on
Boxing Day instead.

16/12/56 One
day after battering Kingstonian, Brian Jenkins scores 5 for Teddington
Gremlins, and Ray Colfar plays too..

Dec 56
ex-player Reg Oakes failed to turn up over xmas for Carshalton Ath. Later
left telegram "Not playing - Oakes"

He had
originally joined Carshalton from Wimbledon and would then join Sutton.

Dec 56 Bernard
Canham rejoins Malden Town

Dec 56 former
keeper Don Butler applies to join Kingstonian.

22/12/56
Yiewsley miss penalty (over bar) but still win 2-1.

Dec 56 ex
player Johnny Hitchcock applies to join Sutton.

26/12/56 Snow
covered but game goes on, and Epsom beat Dorking 9-0. Boultwood, Purkiss, and
Murphy played for Dorking

along with
ex-player Ron Ruffell, and future player Robby Craze and Ted Murphy.

D & L
Advertiser says it was the biggest defeat of recent times, and possibly of
all time. Epsom had two reserves in too.

Johnny Bangs
slightly injured, and left field at 8-0 "to admiring applause"
which was joined in by Dorking supporters too.

Including the
Dorking game, Johnny Bangs is now on 30 goals DEFINITE. Any problem is after
here. E&E HERALD.

29/12/56
Programme wrongly numbered as 18 + s/b 19. Previous one v Dorking was 18.
Corrected for 5/1/57 v Slough (20).

Programme v
Slough 5/1/57 refers to the most encouraging size of the crowd for the
Maidenhead match. "The Committee are

pleased to see
so many join them in their support for one of the best Epsom sides for
several years."

Jan 57
reference made in papers to some of the players doing long cross country runs
through Epsom and up to the downs.

About 6 or 7
regularly ran. George Mitchell was organiser, Hermitage, Jenkins, and Day
were regulars. Ran on Tuesdays.

5/1/57 Johnny
Bangs had injection to kill pain of 4 boils on the back of his leg below the
knee. Still played and scored.

Slough missed
a penalty (wide) with the score at 1-1, which would have knocked Epsom out of
the Memorial Shield.

Epsom survived
to win the replay.

Jan 57 future
player Joshua (Joe) McLaughlin (20) is at Leatherhead but signs for
Portsmouth

Jan 57
mention of crowds having doubled from last year's figure of 500-600. Best
gate of season so far was Maidenhead

which must
have been over 2,000, as Sheppey AC was just under that figure. Similar
figure for LC v Slough.

However,
supporters club only just announce their 300th member, well short of 1,000
target.

5/1/57
Frinton Rovers awarded 5 penalties in a league match. Their captain Ernie
Newhouse scored three, and they won 7-0!

12/1/57 Johnny
Bangs dislocates bone at Chesham but will be fit.

Jan 57 Epsom
give Millwall permission to approach Hermitage.

Jan 57 Epsom
sign Geoff Fowler (20) (right back, not 70's keeper) from Sutton. Just
returned from Malaya on National Service.

12/1/57
Johnny Bangs scores Epsom's fourth goal but hits chin on upright and was off
for 5 minutes. Came back and

completed his
HT. Jim Morris in goal for Chesham that day.

12/1/57 Due to
pressure from supporters, a list of goal scorers is produced in
programme.

It shows that
Epsom beat Malden 3-0 in AC not 2-0, and I missed a goal from Hermitage. Now
corrected.

19/1/57
Linesman dies during game between Cor Casuals and Sutton at the Oval. Mr
C.E.Jones (44)

Sutton
Supporters club secretary A.C.Evenden took the flag and game continued.

19/1/57 due
to host Dulwich Hamlet (H) in SSC but they have an Amateur Cup replay with
Cambridge so the match is put back.

19/1/57 Ernie Watkins scores classic back pass lob own
goal in friendly v Woodford. Johnny Bangs not fully fit, so Brian Hayes

(20) makes his
debut instead and scores. 2-1 down at HT but won 5-2.

Jan 57 Bernard
Willis breaks jaw in 3 places in Sunday game. Currently in East Grinstead
Hospital.

Jan 57 Johnny
Hitchcock(21) leaves for Sutton as he saw no prospect of replacing Ray
Colfar. He was a former policeman who

had also played for Corinthian League Reserve side this
year. Living in Collingwood Road meant he was very local to Sutton too.

Jan 57 Epsom
retain 100% home league record. Remained unbeaten at home until April

Dave Hermitage
and Ernie Watkins selected for Surrey FA v London Univ at Motspur Park Wed
06/02/57

Ernie drops
out of match after an ankle injury against Slough

26/1/57 Prog
says that Jock Bryson (28) signs from Tooting . Hadn't been playing this year
as he was working outside the area.

Gordon
Sanders unable to travel with Reserves as wife had just given birth. Made
stand by for the first team instead.

26/1/57 Johnny
Bangs warned by referee for boisterous play.

26/1/57
Future player Dave Mollatt plays for Surrey Youth as they lose 4-2 @ Park
Royal to Middlesex in Home Counties

Youth
Championships. Scored one of the Surrey goals. Playing for junior club
Leatherhead Rovers at the time.

26/1/57 Club
announce no more dances this season, as they are losing out to the dances at
the Baths Hall.

26/1/57 Terry
Wackett (16) makes debut for Wimbledon Reserves

Feb 57 Robby
Craze is at Dorking

Feb 57 Future
players Ray Ellis and Brian Pell both at Banstead this season.

Feb 57 future
player Barry Bradstreet plays for Mitcham Schools

2/2/57 Epsom
get 16 corners in 2nd half v Slough.

2/2/57 Slough
programme has a poem in it.

The first time
we went to Epsom our opponents wouldn't yield,

And so we
finished level when we played them in the Shield

We went again
last Saturday- two points we had in mind,

But Epsom
collared both of them, which wasn't very kind

We still are
pleased to see them, though for victory we yearn,

So if by
chance, we beat them, it will only be "our turn"

8/2/57 First
Whist Drive of new year at Myers Hall, Ashley Road at 7.45. Tickets 2s 6d.

9/2/57 3-0
deficit v Wembley recovered

Feb 57 Mention
of an RAF Instructor taking training on 12/2/57 at Ewell Castle gym

Feb 57 future
player Peter Wood chosen for Isthmian Lge v Royal Navy at Wycombe on 27/2/57.
Currently with Kingstonian

and living at
the Victoria Hotel, Banstead.

Feb 57 mention
of a grass running track for the Harriers. Eventually opens with a match on
4th May 57.

16/2/57 Epsom
expecting a "capacity crowd" at West Street for the Dulwich game.
Attendance is 2,505.

Gates were
open at 1.30 for a 2.45 kick off.

Dulwich
legend Reg Merritt scored an o.g. for Epsom which was their fourth goal.
Papers advised it as their 100th goal of

but Malden
game was 2-0, not 3-0 as club stats had advised. Epsom's fifth goal was in
fact their 100th for the season.

Papers appear
reliant on club details here, so assume that is the case with Bangs too.

Herald states
"what a crowd" "Epsom must be favourites to beat
Wimbledon"

Leslie Brown
for Dulwich was detained at Oxted Hospital on the way home where it
transpired that he had a broken leg!

23/2/57 At
short notice the Wembley (A) match is changed to Grays Athletic (A).

23/2/57
Waterlogged pitch at Grays but game goes ahead with miniature lakes on pitch.
Jan Sorensen unable to play after

aggravating an
old injury. Originally thought to be appendicitis.

23/2/57 Res
prog this day says that Brian Jenkins scored Epsom's fourth v Dulwich. Not
according to my records.

Mar 57 Brian
Hayes (20) leaves for Dorking.

Mar 57 Ron
Webb joins Leatherhead

Mar 57 Ted
Murphy signs Amateur forms for Millwall

Mar 57
Dorking's old pre-war Pippbrook ground is now housing - Fairfield Drive.

Johnny Bangs
reported to have a duodenal ulcer but still playing.

2/3/57 Les
Henley, Wimbledon coach and ex-Arsenal and Reading player watched 2nd half of
Epsom game.

No Epsom
players selected for Cor Lge rep match v Navy at Eastbourne on 9/3/57 due to
Surrey Senior Cup SF.

Rumour about
Fred Chitty resigning, but this was not true. He was just off on holiday to
Barcelona on 11/3/57.

9/3/57 SSC v
Wimbledon at Tooting. Special train was run by British Rail to Tooting
Junction for Epsom fans!

Epsom
dominated game v Wimbledon according to papers. "A large territorial
advantage". Bangs scored once and hit post.

Wimbledon
first goal was a cross from Munday that dropped over Hall into the net. The
Herald report is kinder to Hall though,

as is the
Epsom programme. Papers said that Ernie was man of the match for Epsom,
although Wimbledon keeper Alan

Hooper played
"the match of his career" according to Surrey Comet.

Crowd of 5,232 had between 1,200 and 1,500 from Epsom.
Supporters home made banners also referred to by the programme.

16/3/57 Dave
Hermitage injured late 1st half. Reappeared 5 minutes late in the second
half.

16/3/57
Programme has a list of stats produced by George Head - Committee member.

16/3/57 Future
player Frank Whitehouse playing for Yiewsley v Epsom.

Mar 57 former player Tommy Sealey is now 48 and played for
Mitcham and T&M - played for Morden Park until a few years ago.

May 57 former
player Les Walters still playing at T&M

16/3/57 One
minutes silence is held for a former official Mr J.E.Greenleaf, who died on
13/3/57. Lived in Green Lane, Ewell

Whist Drive
announced for Myers Hall on 22/3/57. Admission 2s 6d.

23/3/57 Epsom
should have won by six goals but won 1-0 instead.

Announcement
30/03/57 that Res admission of 9d covers every part of the ground except the
members stand.

30/3/57 3
coaches went to Chesham for the LC SF

30/3/57 Epsom
all over Chesham, and do everything but score a second goal.
"Disappointing crowd of 600" say papers.

Papers say
that Epsom only seem to raise their game when playing the better sides.
Sounds familiar!

Keeper Jim
Morris made some spectacular saves in this game, and was almost a one man
team say papers.

Programme
refers to Johnny Bangs scoring his first goal "for a week or two"
which tallies with my records.

Mar 57 Epsom
apply for Athenian League but Maidstone get the vote instead. Epsom noted for
their poor facilities at this time.

Apr 57
ex-player Ted Murphy signs amateur forms with Millwall, while at Dorking.

Apr 57 Future
manager Bill Kennedy was living at 6 Chesfield Road, Kingston.

Apr 57 Fred
Boultwood flaked bone in his ankle at Dorking

Apr 57
Yiewsley have floodlights at Falling Lane.

3/4/57
Epsom's ground used for a match between Surrey and Essex grammar schools.
K.o.3pm. The report in the papers from

the schools
FA reported the bumpy state of the pitch. The following week the Schools FA
wrote to express its regret at the

choice of
words and issued a sincere apology to the club in the Epsom Herald.

6/4/57 Ruxley
Lane School defeat Fetcham School 7-0 in the Final of the Epsom and
Leatherhead Junior Shield at West Street.

6/4/57 During
game, papers reported an interloper on the pitch who "appeared to have
been celebrating and insisted on

sharing his
joys with the players". He invaded the pitch twice more during the game.

6/4/57 During game the Grays wing half picked up a
horseshoe from the pitch, and threw it off the field!! What was it doing
there!

Johnny Bangs
only scored once this day. Confirmed with Grays and Thurrock Gazette.

Apr 57 Epsom
receive their share of Surrey Senior Cup receipts. £64.14s.1d

Epsom players
not chosen for Surrey v Cornwall due to MS Final on 27/4/57. Hermitage was
chosen but released.

13/4/57 Epsom
hit bar 4 times and post once, yet had to wait for 87th minute with only ten
men before they scored winner.

Ernie Watkins
was hit by a car during the week but was fit to play. Hermitage was
passenger, and Parker off after 70 minutes.

Parker
suffered a strained ligament which kept him out until April. Not fit enough
for MS final although he did play three days

earlier and
scored at Edgware!

13/4/57
Future manager Tony Williams plays for England Under 18's @ Celtic Park v
Scotland. Lost 3-0. Only capped once.

17/4/57 2
minutes silence at Wembley for Ron Clarke who died playing for Wembley the
week before.

19/4/57
Scheduled to host Eastbourne on Good Friday but match was moved back.

22/4/57
Dorking severely weakened. Had to play two reserves who had played v Epsom
Res in the morning

Brian Hayes,
Ron Ruffell, and Ted Murphy all played v Epsom, despite being Epsom players
recently.

Also Dorking
had an injury after 10 minutes. Returned as passenger 2nd half. Crowd was
"well over 2,000"

D & L
Advertiser says the crowd was "approaching 2500" and that it was a
"record for a league match at Dorking".

D & L
Advertiser says that Johnny Bangs HT on 22/4 put him on 54 goals for the
season.

Ray Colfar and
Johnny Bangs selected for Corinthian League v Isthmian League @ Dulwich on
24/4/57.

24/4/57 Not
sure if this game was played then, as Epsom had a game that day, and Johnny
Bangs scored v Edgware.

Herald is
wrong. Bangs did not reach 54

24/4/57 Epsom
are on top of the Corinthian League after win at Edgware.

Unfortunately
3 straight losses led to them finishing 4th.

24/4/57 Alleged that Johnny Bangs broke the club scoring
record this day in a 2-1 win at Edgware. He scored but didn't break any

records (see
blue bit above).

24/4/57 Bill
Purkiss' 21st birthday. He received a call up for National Service, and went
to hospital with pleurisy!

27/4/57
Memorial Shield Final - Lost 2-0 to Maidenhead United at Meadowbank.

27/4/57
Maidenhead were the better side says papers. Johnny Bangs suffered a cut
between the eyes early on which

required
stitches after the game. George Mitchell also required hospital treatment
with an injured arm.

Players
received runners up medals after this 2-0 defeat at Dorking. A.Denton and
J.Reardon were their scorers.

29/4/57 Sutton
& Cheam Charities Cup Final at Epsom - Epsom O.S.II v Wandgas (Epsom)

30/4/57 Avis
scored for Eastbourne v Epsom. 4/5/57 Avis scored for Maidstone v Epsom. Were
either Bob Avis, ex-Epsom?

30/4/57 First
league defeat of season at West Street 2-3 v Eastbourne. Two days later,
Epsom lose 1-0 in return fixture.

30/4/57 Epsom
Supporters are doing a Derby draw. Tickets available in the office.

1/5/57 Epsom
& Ewell League Cup Final at Epsom - Park Albion Juniors v Tweeddale
O.B.Juniors

4/5/57 Epsom
produce "Souvenir programme" for the Maidstone game with picture of
team line up and details of players.

Included
within are messages of support from Alderman GCA Mann, Derek Carpenter, Bill
Carpenter and Fred Chitty.

4/5/57 Epsom
receive "considerable crowd" for Maidstone game. K.O. 7.15pm. A win
would have got 2nd place.

Epsom
criticised for not using guest players after a heavy season, but Committee
wanted to stay loyal to the club men.

future
players Derek Westley (Sheppey) and Johnny Blizzard (Tooting & M) guest
for Carshalton Athletic in Holland in May.

Current
Carshalton Ath players Sid Law, Eddie Clack John Strange and Bernard Smith
all go too.

11/5/57 Dave
Hermitage represents Surrey for the first time at Wealdstone v Middlesex. Won
2-0 to take the Southern

Counties
Amateur Championships for the first time since sharing it with Essex in 1951.
First outright win since 1938.

Hermitage was
awarded his white cap with a Southern Counties badge on it, in addition to a
County tie for first appearance.

May 57 Epsom
unhappy about Surrey Senior Cup Semi Final receipts, as they say that the
home club gets too much.

Bill Inkpen
addressed an SCFA meeting at Sutton in early May on the subject. Not known
whether the procedure changed.

SSC F
Wimbledon v Walton only attracted 4,532 at Crystal Palace. Lowest crowd since
the war, and lower than Epsom's

semi final v
Wimbledon which had 5,232.

Sutton
Olympics Club created in 1956 by Noel Bell and son Robert who didn't want to
see youngsters wasting

their time in
the streets. Eventually this club would be absorbed by Epsom in the early mid
60's, and Noel Bell.

would
eventually become Chairman, and Robert Bell would be Secretary. Colin Bell
was the younger brother of Robert.

Reserves:

Corinthian League Reserve Division

Position

12th out of 15

NT

1st

Eastbourne

1-4

SIC

3q

Garratt United

0-6

SICC

3rd

Leatherhead

0-3

July 56 George
Challoner (28) joins from Windsor & Eton but doesn't stay long and
returns there in September..

18/8/56
Programme Line Up for this match: Ray Ellis, B.Friend, G.Challoner,
S.Hatshorn, Lew Tucker, Reg Green,

Johnny
Weaving, G.Morcomb, R.Smith, Bernard Pickard, Johnny Hitchcock

18/8/56 Led
but lost 4-3 to Slough Town on opening day at West Street.

25/8/56 Bill
Blazey gets HT at Tilbury in 3-1 win.

8/9/56 No game
for Reserves.

15/9/56
Programme Line Up for this match: George Clarke, G.Challoner, B.Friend, Ted
Murphy, Lew Tucker, Reg Green,

Bill Blazey,
Brian Hayes, Johnny Weaving, Bernard Pickard, Johnny Hitchcock

15/9/56 Sutton
Corinthians are blitzed 10-0 in Surrey Intermediate Cup.

Sept 56
R.Harte joins from Carshalton Athletic.

13/10/56 Epsom
lead 3-1 but have to settle for 3-3 draw at Maidenhead.

20/10/56
Programme Line Up for this match: keeper unknown, R.Smith, Lew Tucker, Les
Boatfield, R.Harte, Reg Green,

Brian Jenkins,
V.Carr, Bill John, Brian Hayes, Johnny Hitchcock

20/10/56 Epsom
lose 3-4 against same team in return fixture at West Street.

27/10/56 Epsom
lose 6-0 at Garratt United in SIC but only play with ten men.

Oct 56 Charlie
Mutimer returns to Epsom from Devas Institute.

10/11/56
Bernard Willis makes debut for the reserves.

1/12/56
Worthing Herald says Epsom are due to play there this day but they are wrong
and Worthing host Yiewsley.

08/12/56 Programme Line Up for this match: Charlie
Mutimer, P.Cooper, Gordon Sanders, Les Boatfield, Jim Crane, Reg Green,

R.Duley, Brian
Hayes, Johnny Weaving, Ray Chenery (only ten listed)

8/12/56 Ray
Chenery plays his first game in "ages" but has a "lack of
conditioning" as Worthing win 2-0 at West Street. Epsom

only played
with ten men this day, even with Ray in the team.

22/12/56 Johnny Weaving, Brian Hayes and Jim Crane were
all with the first team, Sanders and Mutimer were ill while Boatfield

was working
and Willis was unfit. Experience was provided by Chenery, Canham and Reg
Green as Epsom hold Erith & B to a

2-2 draw at
West Street.

12/1/57 Peter Freeman was injured but Bernard Willis
played for the first time after 8 weeks out and Johnny Weaving played as

Brian Hayes
scored twice in a 3-1 defeat over Croydon Amateurs in Surrey Intermediate
Charity Cup.

19/1/56 Crane
and Willis were out injured as Epsom crash 4-1 at Eastbourne.

26/1/57 Jock
Bryson debut for Reserves as Epsom lose 1-0 at Wembley.

02/02/57
Programme Line Up for this match: Charlie Mutimer, Gordon Sanders, Reg Green,
Peter Freeman, Jim Crane,

Les Boatfield,
Bernard Canham, F.Corby, Jock Bryson, M.Palmer (only ten listed)

2/2/57 Meant to be Chesham Reserves at home but switched
so Wembley were the visitors and they beat us for the second time

in seven days
by 3-1 at West Street.

23/02/57 Programme Line Up for this match: Charlie
Mutimer, Peter Collett, Geoff Fowler, Peter Freeman, Jim Crane, A. Morris,

J.Fisher,
F.Corby, D.Hoye, Brian Hayes, M.Palmer

23/2/57 Meant
to be Dorking Res (H) but this game was switched to Maidstone (H) instead and
Epsom drew 1-1.

02/03/57
Programme Line Up for this match: Charlie Mutimer, Peter Collett, Geoff
Fowler, Bernard Willis, Jim Crane,

Gordon
Sanders, J.Fisher, F.Corby, J.Bryson, Brian Hayes, M.Palmer

2/3/57
Reference to Johnny Weaving playing in the Reserves for "several
weeks".

9/3/57,
23/3/57 and 30/3/57 Res progs not issued. Looks like club stopped producing
res games at this point.

16/3/57 No
game for Reserves.

30/03/57
Programme Line Up for this match: Charlie Mutimer, Peter Collett, Les
Boatfield, Bernard Willis, Jim Crane,

Gordon
Sanders, J.Fisher, F.Corby, J.Bryson, Bernard Canham, John Rowe

30/3/57 John
Rowe gets HT home to Chesham. Unnumbered programme single sheet issued - Y.

Club advises
it was a great performance. HT was 1-0.

Programme
actually apologises for the modified issue but I don't know if any others
were issued between now and the end of

the season. It
was reduced in size due to a lack of sales and a minimum print run that was
required.

6/4/57
Sanders, Boatfield and Crane are unavailable v Grays as Epsom lose there 5-0.

13/04/57
Programme Line Up for this match: J.Stent, Peter Collett, Jim Crane, Bernard
Willis, D.Baker, P.Marshall,

J.Fisher,
F.Corby, J.Bryson, M.Palmer, Bernard Canham

13/4/57 Epsom
are defeated 5-1 at Erith & Belvedere's Park View ground.

20/4/57 John
Rowe gets HT home to Edgware who are beaten 4-0.

Team Player
Profiles in Maidstone programme 4/5/57

Ernie Watkins
- Admits to being 30+ (was 35 at time of report) and is married with one
daughter. Local boy played for Epsom

&
District Schools and RAF Rep sides. Also Captain of Delphian League side
whilst at Leatherhead. Had experience with

Millwall
where for a war period he was the regular 1st team centre half. Previously
selected for Corinthian League and Surrey,

and hobbies
include tennis and squash.

John Stephen
Bangs - Aged 22 and married with a 2 year old son. 3 years at Watford Boys
and Herts County teams. 3

Schoolboy
Caps (England?) and represented London Boys. Served in RAF where he was long
jump champion. Previous

Athenian
League and FA honours whilst with Redhill. Since selected for Corinthian
League. Hobbies are anything sporting.

Peter John
Freeman - Aged 27 and married. Good solid club type that is the back bone of
any team. Played for Sutton for

seven years
before joining Epsom. Hobbies are athletics.

Brian Peter
Jenkins - Aged 21 and single. Singed Amateur forms for Crystal Palace and
also RAF representative side. Hobbies

are all
sports.

John W
Weaving - Aged 22 and single. Local lad who came through District League
football and West Ewell Juniors before

joining 3
years ago. A good club man.

George James
(Porky) Mitchell - Aged 27 and married. Originally with Devas Inst and
Sittingbourne, Dover and Sheppey.

Had several
offers from Port Vale, Brighton and Millwall and joined from Redhill. Hobbies
are cricket and storytelling.

David Gordon
Hermitage - Aged 22 and married. Played for RAF and signed amateur forms for
Millwall and Fulham. Joined

Epsom 2 years
ago from Surbiton. Chosen for Surrey last week (April) but turned them down
to play for Epsom. Previously

played for
Surrey and Corinthian League. Hobbies are tennis.

Ray Colfar -
Aged 20 and single. Gained International Honour playing for English
Federation of Boys Clubs. On West Ham's

books as an
amateur and played for their A team. Joined Epsom from West Ham and has since
played for Surrey and

Corinthian
League.

Alan Parker -
Aged 32 and married with two children. Went to Tooting & Mitcham at age
of 15 and stayed for 16 years,

holding a
regular first team place for many years. Joined Epsom in October, and lists
his hobbies as his children.

Jorgen F
(Jan) Sorensen - Aged 37 and married with three children (two of which Erik
and Mick would play for Epsom in the

future). Has
had vast experience with Kingstonian, Walton, Sutton and Erith, but also
holds a full Danish International Cap.

Has two local
men's outfitters shops, and has no time for other hobbies.

Trevor Hall -
Aged 32 and married with two children. Many pro clubs were after Trevor
whilst he was at Tooting & Mitcham,

where he was
never dropped for 7 years and made 294 consecutive appearances. Played for
Surrey and Athenian League,

and for years
regarded as best uncapped goalkeeper in amateur football. Joined in October.

Ted Day - Aged 24 and married. Signed amateur forms for
Portsmouth and has played for Surrey and Corinthian League. Joined

from
Kingstonian at start of 1955/56 season and lists hobbies as gardening.

24/6/56 Ace of
Spades Roadhouse is badly damaged by fire. It is on Kingston By Pass.