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 are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.
| Full name | AFC Whyteleafe | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | 'Leafe | |
| Founded | 2021 | |
| Ground | Church Road, Whyteleafe | |
| Capacity | 2,000 | |
| Chairman | Kelly Waters | |
| Co-Managers | Kelly Waters & Ennio Gonnella | |
| League | Combined Counties League Premier Division South | |
| 2023–24 | Southern Counties East League Division One, 1st of 16 (promoted) | |
| Website | http://www.afcwhyteleafe.com | |
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History
editAFC 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 4 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 four-year deal was reached with Irama to play there.[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] The club achieved a respectable 8th-place finish[8] in their debut season at Step 6. The following season saw Whyteleafe promoted as champions.[9]
Ground
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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.[10]
In August 2021 the new club, AFC Whyteleafe, was formed under new management and a 4-year agreement was reached to play at Church Road.
Off the pitch
edit| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Kelly Waters | Chairman |
| Felix Baker | Supporters Association |
| Kieron Horn | AFC Whyteleafe Youth |
| Nicola Adams | AFC Whyteleafe Youth |
| Lisa Pacey | Welfare Officer |
Team Management
edit| Manager | Team |
|---|---|
| Kelly Waters | Men's First Team Co-Manager |
| Ennio Gonnella | Men's First Team Co-Manager |
| Junior James | Men's First Team Head Coach |
| Corey Holder | Men's First Team Player/Coach |
| Danny Rose | Men's Goalkeeping Coach |
| Jessicer Tshibangu | Men's First Team Physio |
| Sam Eyarhono | Men's First Team Physio |
Men's First Team Squad
edit- As of 17 November 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
edit- Southern Counties East Football League
- Division One champions: 2023–24
Records
editMen's first team:
- Best League Performance: 1st - SCEFL Division One (2023/24)
- Best FA Cup Performance: Extra Preliminary Round (2024/25)
- Best FA Vase Performance: 3rd Round (2024/25)
- Record Attendance: 821 v Greenways - SCEFL Division One, 27 April 2024
- Biggest Win: AFC Whyteleafe 7-0 SC Thamesmead - SCEFL Division One, 16 September 2023; AFC Whyteleafe 7-0 Chipstead - Combined Counties Premier Division South, 16 November 2024
- Highest Scoring Match: AFC Whyteleafe 8-3 Greenways - SCEFL Division One, 27 April 2024
- Most Appearances: Alton Leeward - 99 (as at 17 Nov 2024)
- All-time Top Goalscorer: Aaron Watson - 49 (as at 17 Nov 2024)
- Most Goals by a Player in a Season: Aaron Watson - 31 (2023/24)
- Most League Goals by a Player in a Season: Aaron Watson - 25 (2023/24)
- Most Goals in a Single Match: Daniel Adjei - 5 vs. Bermondsey Town - SCEFL Division One, 10 December 2022
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "Southern Counties East Football League Division One Table 2022/23". The FA. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "AFC Whyteleafe confirmed as First Division Champions!". www.scefl.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "WFC withdrawn from league". Whyteleafe FC. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.