AFC Whyteleafe
AFC Whyteleafe is an English football club based in Whyteleafe, Surrey. The club was established in 2021 and plays at the Whyteleafe Stadium in Church Road, Whyteleafe following the demise of Whyteleafe FC and is currently a member of the Southern Counties East League Division One which sits at Step 6 of the National League System, Tier 10 of the English football pyramid.
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| Full name | AFC Whyteleafe | |
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| Nickname(s) | 'Leafe | |
| Founded | 2021 | |
| Ground | Church Road, Whyteleafe | |
| Capacity | 2,000 | |
| Chairman | Kelly Waters | |
| Manager | Kelly Waters | |
| League | Southern Counties East League Division One | |
| 2021-22 | Surrey South Eastern Combination Intermediate Division One, 2nd of 13 (promoted) | |
| Website | Club website | |
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History
AFC Whyteleafe was formed in 2021 by Kelly Waters, replacing another club, Whyteleafe FC, which had existed immediately before. Waters had hoped to purchase the Church Road premises before it was sold to Irama Sports in February 2021,[1] but he discovered the auction a week too late, and the sale to Irama went through. Following the withdrawal of Whyteleafe FC from the Isthmian League, and inspired by the story of AFC Wimbledon in 2002,[2] AFC Whyteleafe was born.
The new club was granted a position in the Surrey South Eastern Combination League[3] for the 2021/22 season, having formed a merge of registration with Balham FC B Team.[4] This still left the club with less than one month to build a squad from scratch, ready for their debut match on 4th September 2021 at home to Earlsfield 2018.[5]
A crucial part of the successful formation of the club was securing a ground. Church Road was the preferred choice and a 4-year deal was reached with Irama to play at what is considered the spiritual home of football in Whyteleafe.[6]
Following a successful first season, AFC Whyteleafe merged with Whyteleafe Youth FC and Whyteleafe Women ahead of the 2022/23 season to form one AFC Whyteleafe club comprising a men's first team, U23's, women's team and 28 Youth teams from U7 to U18.
In May 2022, the club was admitted into the Southern Counties East League Division One which sits at Step 6 in the National League System.[7]
Ground
AFC Whyteleafe play their home games at Church Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0AR.
The site of Church Road was formerly farmland, and the farm's existing buildings were converted into the clubhouse and dressing rooms. Whyteleafe FC originally planned to add a running track and cricket pitch to the complex, but these plans were abandoned. Floodlights were added in the early 1980s and a new main stand added in 1999 for the club's first round FA Cup match against Chester City, which saw a record attendance of 2,164. Some of the turnstiles added at the ground were purchased from Stoke City's Victoria Ground after they moved to the Britannia Stadium in 1997.
In June 2021, following the purchase of the ground by Singaporean-based company Irama, Whyteleafe FC left Church Road due to no agreement being reached with Irama for a new lease with the club.[8]
In August 2021 a new club, AFC Whyteleafe, was formed under new management and a 4 year agreement was reached to play at Church Road.
Management Committee
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Kelly Waters | Chairman |
| Oliver Keast | Commercial Director |
| Kieron Horn | Chairman (Youth) & Club Secretary |
| Nicola Adams | Youth Treasurer |
| Simon Wright | Youth Development |
| Lisa Pacey | Safeguarding Officer |
| Jane Holt | Fixtures Secretary (Youth) |
| Tim Deadman | Matchday Co-ordinator |
| Felix Baker | Supporters Association Chairman |
Team Management
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Kelly Waters | Men's First Team Manager |
| Wayne Bullen | First Team Coach |
| Nic Taylor | First Team Coach |
| Duncan Muller | Women's Manager |
Men's First Team Squad
- As of 11 February 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Records
Men's first team:
- Best League Performance: 2nd (Promoted) - Surrey South Eastern Combination League Intermediate Division One (2021/22)
- Best SCEFL League Challenge Cup Performance: 2nd Round (2022/23)
- Best FA Vase Performance: 2nd Round (2022/23)
- Record Attendance: 515 v Wimbledon Casuals - Surrey South Eastern Combination League Intermediate Division One, 9th April 2022
- Biggest Win: AFC Whyteleafe 7-1 Snodland Town - FA Vase First Round, 24th October 2022
- Biggest Defeat: FC Tooting Bec Reserves 6-2 AFC Whyteleafe - Surrey South Eastern Combination League Intermediate Division One, 11th September 2021
- Highest Scoring Match: AFC Whyteleafe 7-2 Kew Park Rangers - Surrey South Eastern Combination League Intermediate Division One, 18th September 2021
- Most Appearances: 52 - Kane Orlebar
- All-time Top Goalscorer: 28 - Joe Condon
- Most Goals by a Player in a Season: 22 - Joe Condon (2021/22)
- Most League Goals by a Player in a Season: 16 - Joe Condon (2021/22)
- Most goals in a single match: 5 - Daniel Adjei vs. Bermondsey Town - SCEFL Division One, 10th December 2022
References
- "Singapore-based firm buys up Whyteleafe's football ground". Inside Croydon. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "The story of AFC Wimbledon". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- "Intermediate Division 1: League Table". Surrey South Eastern Combination League (Football.Mitoo). 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "B TEAM". Balham FC. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- "AFC Whyteleafe kick-off thinking 'the impossible could happen'". Inside Croydon. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- "Phoenix club AFC Whyteleafe secure four-year deal to play at Church Road". SurreyLive. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "National League System club allocations – steps 5/6, season 2022–23" (.pdf). The Football Association. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- "WFC withdrawn from league". Whyteleafe FC. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.