Imperial Fields is a football stadium in Mitcham, London, which is home to Tooting & Mitcham United. It is also the former ground of Chelsea Ladies and Kingstonian. The stadium opened in 2002, and has a total capacity of 3,500 (612 seated).

Imperial Fields
Main stand
Map
LocationBishopsford Road, Mitcham, Greater London
Coordinates51°23′36″N 0°10′21″W / 51.39333°N 0.17250°W / 51.39333; -0.17250
Capacity3,500 (612 seated)
Opened2002
Tenants
Tooting & Mitcham United (2002–present)
Chelsea Ladies (2011)
Tooting Bec (until 2022)
Kingstonian (2022–2024)

Men's football

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Tooting & Mitcham United moved in 2002 from an all-wooden facility at Sandy Lane in Mitcham.[1]

In the 2017–18 season, Dulwich Hamlet groundshared at the ground after disagreements with the owner of its Champion Hill ground.

The record attendance for Imperial Fields was set by Dulwich Hamlet in their Isthmian Premier Division play-off final win against Hendon with an attendance of 3,321 on 7 May 2018.[2] Tooting & Mitcham's record attendance at the stadium was set by a 1–1 draw with AFC Wimbledon on 16 April 2005, which saw a crowd of 2,637.[3]

Before the 2022–23 season, Kingstonian moved to Imperial Fields.[4]

Women's football

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The stadium served as the home ground for Chelsea Ladies in the inaugural 2011 season of the FA Women's Super League, and hosted the league's first-ever match on 13 April 2011 between Chelsea and Arsenal Ladies. Gilly Flaherty scored the match-winning goal for Arsenal in the 1–0 match, in front of a crowd of 2,510.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ David Bauckham. "Tooting & Mitcham United FC". pyramidpassion.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Dulwich Hamlet 1–1 Hendon". Football Web Pages. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Tooting& Mitcham United". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 7 May 2018.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Kingstonian to groundshare at Tooting and Mitcham: What does this mean for the club?". South West Londoner. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Whole new ball game: How Chelsea Women kicked off WSL era 10 years ago today". Chelsea F.C. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  6. ^ Ronay, Barney (13 April 2011). "Women's Super League opens with less than pitch perfect display". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
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