Club History
Football started in Molesey in 1892. In fact the first organized match occurred on Saturday 24th September 1892, when, on Hampton Court Green, the ‘Hampton Court and East Molesey Football Club’ (founded by ex-Corinthian, and local G.P., Dr. James Jenkinson Knox) hosted Barnes F.C., and won by 14 goals to 5, despite the half-time score reading 3 goals a-piece! In 1896, the club changed its name to ‘The Molesey Football Club’ and the good doctor was quoted as saying,”…I looked about me and started the Molesey F.C., and was appointed its first captain. The club is gradually growing, and I have great ideas as to its future”. Indeed the following 2 seasons saw the club enter the Surrey Senior Cup travelling to Redhill, and Old Malvernians (in Norbury). However, on Xmas Day 1898, Dr. J. J. Knox passed away at the young age of 32 following a sudden illness, and the club’s fortunes began to wane. In 1900 the club changed its name to Molesey Athletic and entered league football for the first ever time, competing in the Kingston & District League First Division and finishing 4th out of 6 teams. They played at Green Lane, off Beauchamp Road. The following year, Molesey Athletic were no more, but many players and even committee members took up their place in a side called, Molesey St. Mary’s, who took over the mantle of ‘top team in Molesey’ and competed in the second division of the Kingston & District League, finishing 2nd from bottom. Their colours were black and white, and still played at Green Lane. Molesey St. Paul’s, formed as a boys team from ‘the band of hope’ by Miss Fossett in Palace-road, around 1896, were growing in strength, and finally entered the Kingston & District League in 1904, and became the main team in Molesey, playing at the Royal Oak ground (owned by Mr. J. Bourchier), following the demise of St. Mary’s in 1905.
1909/10, saw Molesey St. Paul’s first ever cup final (the first ever Teck Cup Final – the only football trophy to be donated by royalty), in their first ever season in the top division of the Kingston & District League. Unfortunately, they were up against runaway league winners Teddington, and lost 0 – 6. In 1911/12, Molesey St.Pauls, and Molesey (who played at Mole Abbey, and were a team competing in a lower division of the Kingston and District – having first entered that league in 1905) amalgamated to form ‘Molesey and St. Paul’s United F.C.’ Two cup finals were reached that season, but both were defeats, the Teddington & District, 0 – 1, Vs Teddington Constitutional, and the Teck Cup (again), 2 – 4, Vs Teddington (again!). The following year, the reserve side won the Surrey Minor Cup, defeating Tongham, 2 – 1, at Woking F.C. The scorers were L. Wheatley and C. Giles. Noteworthy is that the trophy was donated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Just before WW1 (13/14); though the Teck Cup was yet again denied us by our losing, 1 – 2 to Esher Athletic in the final, the Molesey & St.
Paul’s United F.C., finally won some silverware – the Surrey Junior Charity Cup Final, by defeating Chertsey, 2 – 1 on the latter’s ground!
Between the two World Wars, was without doubt, the most successful period of Molesey’s history, especially during the ‘roaring twenties’. In 1920/21, the ‘St. Paul’s United’ part was dropped, and the club were known just as ‘Molesey’. That season was amazing. The Surrey Junior League was entered, for the first and last time, and won, F. Richardson scoring the only goal in the final, Vs Godalming Federation. That league had been split into 4 regions, the winners of which played in the semis. In a 4 – 0 home semis win over Thornville (Croydon), he visitors reported, “The winners are the finest junior team we have met this season,… a cleaner set of players than the Molesey side (in our opinion) could not be found”. The Surrey Junior Cup was won, 3 – 0, Vs Brighton Railway, and the Surrey Junior Charity Cup, 7 - 0, Vs Shottermill.
Senior football was indulged in, during 1921/22, in the Southern Suburban League Division One, where despite performing respectably, the crippling costs of travel – often into Kent, persuaded the Molesey club to rejoin the ranks of the Kingston & District. So further honours were: winning the Teck Cup 4 times: 1 – 0, Vs Surbiton Old Boys (23/24); 3 – 1, Vs Ditton Old Boys (26/27 and again in 27/28 against the same opposition) and 4 – 1, Vs Hampton (29/30). Surrey Junior Charity Cup winners: 3 – 1, Vs Beare Green (27/28); 2 – 0, Vs Cranleigh (28/29); 5 – 3, Vs West Byfleet (29/30). Chambers Cup winners: 3 – 0, Vs Kingstonians III (24/25); 3 – 0, Vs Hanworth (26/27). Kingston League Cup joint winners: 1 – 1, 0 – 0, Vs Hampton (28/29). Loft Cup Winners (Kingston & District Premier Division Champions): 1923/24, 24/25 (joint), 26/27, 28/29, 39/40, 40/41. Also Teck Cup runners-up: 1919/20, 20/21, 28/29, 31/32, and 37/38. Chambers Cup runners-up: 1919/20, 23/24.
A truly remarkable sequence! The reserves also won the Kingston & District 2nd tier in 21/22, when the firsts were playing senior football. 1926/27, also saw the “Chocolates” (nickname due to our shirt colours) move from ‘Molesey Park’, to the racecourse at ‘Hurst Park’. Another team in Molesey, the ‘West Molesey Old Boys’ was formed in 1927/28, and started off life in the Kingston & District League Division 4a! They played their home games at St.Paul’s old place, the Royal Oak ground! This team moved through the divisions, and towards the end of the thirties, had caught Molesey up. Their honours: Kingston & District League: Division III champions – 1929/30; Division I champions – 1932/33, and Premier Division winners – 1933/34. Teck Junior Cup winners: 1929/30, 3 – 0, Vs Weston Green Old Boys. Teck Senior Cup winners: 1934/35, 4 – 2, Vs Cobham. Kingston League Junior Cup winners: 1929/30, 4 – 2, Vs Norbiton St. Peter’s, 31/32, 4 – 2, Vs Claygate. Surrey Intermediate Charity Cup winners: 1937/38: 4 – 0, Vs Woking reserves.
By the close season at the end of 1938/39, both these Molesey sides were in the Surrey Intermediate League, and Molesey merged with a Kingston & District League side, in Molesey Athletic, to form Molesey United. During the war, there was no Surrey Intermediate League and only Molesey United played 4 seasons in a reduced Kingston & District competition. Just after the War, 45/46, just West Molesey Old Boys played, and that, a series of friendlies, albeit successfully. The close season, saw the amalgamation of West Molesey Old Boys, and Molesey United to form the Molesey F.C., which has stayed to this present day. The team played across the road on the rec.
Surrey Intermediate football was played from 1946-53, and in the first season (46/47), the final of the Surrey Intermediate Charity Cup was reached, but Molesey lost 1 – 4 to Farnham Town reserves, at Guildford City F.C. Thanks to the efforts of the then club chairman, Mr. J. S. Maxwell who, in 1953, purchased our current ground at 412 Walton road (with help from an F.A. loan as well). Molesey were able to apply for, and get accepted into senior circles – this time in the Surrey Senior League, where we stayed for 6 seasons. Just before that time, the club colours changed to black and white, due mainly to the influence and connections with Fulham F.C. (their juniors had used our pitch for their matches). The Surrey Senior League Charity Cup was won in 1956/57: 4 – 1, Vs Farnham Town, and the league championship proper was won the following season – the last time a Molesey first team has won a league! In Molesey’s last season in the Surrey Senior, they finished 3rd, and were beaten finalists in the Surrey Senior League Challenge Cup, to league champions Malden Town, 1 – 3, after a 2 – 2 draw, both matches held at Richmond road, then home of leading local amateur club, Kingstonians. 1959/60, saw Molesey move up to the Spartan League, where they finished 2nd, narrowly missing out on the league title. They also finished runners-up in the Spartan League Challenge Cup, 2 – 3, Vs Met. Police, and reached the 2nd round of the Surrey Senior Cup, losing 0 – 6 to top Amateur side, Tooting & Mitcham (who the previous season, had taken the eventual F.A. Cup winners, Nottm Forest to a replay before bowing out) in front of a record attendance which stands to this day, of 1,553. 1960 saw the opening of the current club house, by the then president of the F.A., Sir Stanley Rous – the butterfly roof gaining the architect design awards. Unfortunately, as Gary Mayne tells me, the roof was not so good at keeping the rain out!! Despite finishing 3rd from bottom in 1961/62, the Spartan League Challenge Cup was won at Ruislip Manor, 3 – 2, in a final against Crown & Manor! 63/64, saw 2 finals reached, and 2 defeats - Spartan League Challenge Cup, 0 – 2, Vs Cheshunt; and the Southern Combination Amateur Challenge Cup, 0 – 1, away Vs Slough Town. In 1965/66, 1,255 saw the semi-final of the Surrey Senior reached for the first time in the club’s history at Walton road, but Sutton United proved too strong, winning 3 – 1. The following season, saw the first of 5 successive seasons where the
Moles took on foreign opposition (mostly German) thanks mainly to a Mr. Jack Anders whose Easter and Whitsun tours to the continent proved to be very popular indeed.
1968, and the construction of the pavilion, and Molesey’s first ever appearance in the F.A. Cup – they lost 0 – 5 at Leatherhead. 1972/73 was Molesey’s last season in the Spartan League, and as well as finishing 8th, they reached the final of the Spartan League Challenge Cup, but lost 0 – 2, to Bracknell, at Egham Town F.C. On Wednesday 8th November 1972, a West Ham United XI were invited down to Walton road for or first game under the new floodlights. Molesey won 2 – 0. 1973 – 77, and the Moles played in the second division of the Athenian League. 1975/76 saw a certain Mr. Cyrille Regis play down at Walton road for a whole season after our then manager, Mr. John Sullivan had spotted him playing park football in North London. He appeared in a Surrey Senior Shield match Vs Woking, held over from the previous season, at Stompond Lane, Walton, but the Moles lost narrowly, 1 - 2.
1977 - 2008, and Molesey played in the Isthmian League, first appearing in division 2, where, after a couple of near promotions, they stayed until 1990. In 1981/82, Molesey made their longest progress in the F. A. Vase, to the Quarter Finals, before losing 0 – 1 at home to Notts Alliance side, Rainworth Miners Welfare. The close season following 1985/86, saw Gary Mayne head the members in refusing the relocation of the football club proposed by the then committee, due to mounting debts. The result was that part of the club was sold off, the players, management and committee all left, but we survived at Walton road, and despite losing heavily to begin with, the appointment of manager Dickson Gill steadied the ship, and the Moles stayed in the Isthmian League as well! The following season, the arrival of Martin Eede, was to prove inspirational as the Moles embarked on their headiest campaign to date, winning promotion to division 1 in 1990, and following this up with a further promotion to the Premier division in 1993! Our promotion season of 1992/93 (our actual centenary) saw the Moles finish 2nd, and reach the final of the Diadora (Isthmian) League Cup, beating Enfield (riding high in the premier), 5- 0 at Walton road in the semis! Alas, we went down in the final, 1 – 2, to Marlow, at Aldershot Town F.C. 1993/94 saw consolidation in the Premier division of the Isthmian League – in those days, it was step 2 (no Conference South and North) and was one of 3 feeders to the Conference. The F. A. Cup 1st Round Proper was reached, but Bath City proved too strong winning 4 – 0 at Walton road. 94/95, saw the Moles finish 8th, but in 95/96, the league wanted us to do too much to our ground to keep our ‘A’ grading, resulting in our relegation half way through. Many well-known teams were played during this whole period who have since joined the football league. These are: Stevenage Borough, Yeovil Town, Cheltenham Town, Crawley, Aldershot Town, A.F.C. Wimbledon and Dagenham & Redbridge. The 1996 –
2008, period had seen a gradual decline in the fortunes of Molesey F.C., due in no small part to problems off the pitch. The turn of the century, saw celebrities such as Clive Walker, and Neville Southall, involved in a positive way for our club.
In 2007/08, a clear out of players, and a new management team of Steve Webb, Peter Lelliott, and Alan Maynard (promoted up from the reserves) were unable to stop the Moles finishing rock bottom and heading into the Combined Counties. Since then, our committee has been working very hard to right the wrongs done to the club, and gained a significant victory last season when planning permission was allowed in order for sale of part of our land to go to Rushmore Homes, and whilst legal delays have prevented the move occurring pre-season, they are confident that the work will be done by the end of this season – fingers crossed. Steve, Peter, and Alan, are still with the club, and they have just appointed a new first team coach in long-standing player, Paul Cross. Highlights of our current management trio involve travelling up to Dereham in Norfolk in the third round of the Vase back in 2008/09, and reaching the semi-finals of the Surrey Senior Cup, 10/11, beating Isthmian League Premier side, Carshalton Athletic, 2 – 0 away, en route. We are known for playing attractive football despite not always having the biggest and strongest players in the league!
1909/10, saw Molesey St. Paul’s first ever cup final (the first ever Teck Cup Final – the only football trophy to be donated by royalty), in their first ever season in the top division of the Kingston & District League. Unfortunately, they were up against runaway league winners Teddington, and lost 0 – 6. In 1911/12, Molesey St.Pauls, and Molesey (who played at Mole Abbey, and were a team competing in a lower division of the Kingston and District – having first entered that league in 1905) amalgamated to form ‘Molesey and St. Paul’s United F.C.’ Two cup finals were reached that season, but both were defeats, the Teddington & District, 0 – 1, Vs Teddington Constitutional, and the Teck Cup (again), 2 – 4, Vs Teddington (again!). The following year, the reserve side won the Surrey Minor Cup, defeating Tongham, 2 – 1, at Woking F.C. The scorers were L. Wheatley and C. Giles. Noteworthy is that the trophy was donated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Just before WW1 (13/14); though the Teck Cup was yet again denied us by our losing, 1 – 2 to Esher Athletic in the final, the Molesey & St.
Paul’s United F.C., finally won some silverware – the Surrey Junior Charity Cup Final, by defeating Chertsey, 2 – 1 on the latter’s ground!
Between the two World Wars, was without doubt, the most successful period of Molesey’s history, especially during the ‘roaring twenties’. In 1920/21, the ‘St. Paul’s United’ part was dropped, and the club were known just as ‘Molesey’. That season was amazing. The Surrey Junior League was entered, for the first and last time, and won, F. Richardson scoring the only goal in the final, Vs Godalming Federation. That league had been split into 4 regions, the winners of which played in the semis. In a 4 – 0 home semis win over Thornville (Croydon), he visitors reported, “The winners are the finest junior team we have met this season,… a cleaner set of players than the Molesey side (in our opinion) could not be found”. The Surrey Junior Cup was won, 3 – 0, Vs Brighton Railway, and the Surrey Junior Charity Cup, 7 - 0, Vs Shottermill.
Senior football was indulged in, during 1921/22, in the Southern Suburban League Division One, where despite performing respectably, the crippling costs of travel – often into Kent, persuaded the Molesey club to rejoin the ranks of the Kingston & District. So further honours were: winning the Teck Cup 4 times: 1 – 0, Vs Surbiton Old Boys (23/24); 3 – 1, Vs Ditton Old Boys (26/27 and again in 27/28 against the same opposition) and 4 – 1, Vs Hampton (29/30). Surrey Junior Charity Cup winners: 3 – 1, Vs Beare Green (27/28); 2 – 0, Vs Cranleigh (28/29); 5 – 3, Vs West Byfleet (29/30). Chambers Cup winners: 3 – 0, Vs Kingstonians III (24/25); 3 – 0, Vs Hanworth (26/27). Kingston League Cup joint winners: 1 – 1, 0 – 0, Vs Hampton (28/29). Loft Cup Winners (Kingston & District Premier Division Champions): 1923/24, 24/25 (joint), 26/27, 28/29, 39/40, 40/41. Also Teck Cup runners-up: 1919/20, 20/21, 28/29, 31/32, and 37/38. Chambers Cup runners-up: 1919/20, 23/24.
A truly remarkable sequence! The reserves also won the Kingston & District 2nd tier in 21/22, when the firsts were playing senior football. 1926/27, also saw the “Chocolates” (nickname due to our shirt colours) move from ‘Molesey Park’, to the racecourse at ‘Hurst Park’. Another team in Molesey, the ‘West Molesey Old Boys’ was formed in 1927/28, and started off life in the Kingston & District League Division 4a! They played their home games at St.Paul’s old place, the Royal Oak ground! This team moved through the divisions, and towards the end of the thirties, had caught Molesey up. Their honours: Kingston & District League: Division III champions – 1929/30; Division I champions – 1932/33, and Premier Division winners – 1933/34. Teck Junior Cup winners: 1929/30, 3 – 0, Vs Weston Green Old Boys. Teck Senior Cup winners: 1934/35, 4 – 2, Vs Cobham. Kingston League Junior Cup winners: 1929/30, 4 – 2, Vs Norbiton St. Peter’s, 31/32, 4 – 2, Vs Claygate. Surrey Intermediate Charity Cup winners: 1937/38: 4 – 0, Vs Woking reserves.
By the close season at the end of 1938/39, both these Molesey sides were in the Surrey Intermediate League, and Molesey merged with a Kingston & District League side, in Molesey Athletic, to form Molesey United. During the war, there was no Surrey Intermediate League and only Molesey United played 4 seasons in a reduced Kingston & District competition. Just after the War, 45/46, just West Molesey Old Boys played, and that, a series of friendlies, albeit successfully. The close season, saw the amalgamation of West Molesey Old Boys, and Molesey United to form the Molesey F.C., which has stayed to this present day. The team played across the road on the rec.
Surrey Intermediate football was played from 1946-53, and in the first season (46/47), the final of the Surrey Intermediate Charity Cup was reached, but Molesey lost 1 – 4 to Farnham Town reserves, at Guildford City F.C. Thanks to the efforts of the then club chairman, Mr. J. S. Maxwell who, in 1953, purchased our current ground at 412 Walton road (with help from an F.A. loan as well). Molesey were able to apply for, and get accepted into senior circles – this time in the Surrey Senior League, where we stayed for 6 seasons. Just before that time, the club colours changed to black and white, due mainly to the influence and connections with Fulham F.C. (their juniors had used our pitch for their matches). The Surrey Senior League Charity Cup was won in 1956/57: 4 – 1, Vs Farnham Town, and the league championship proper was won the following season – the last time a Molesey first team has won a league! In Molesey’s last season in the Surrey Senior, they finished 3rd, and were beaten finalists in the Surrey Senior League Challenge Cup, to league champions Malden Town, 1 – 3, after a 2 – 2 draw, both matches held at Richmond road, then home of leading local amateur club, Kingstonians. 1959/60, saw Molesey move up to the Spartan League, where they finished 2nd, narrowly missing out on the league title. They also finished runners-up in the Spartan League Challenge Cup, 2 – 3, Vs Met. Police, and reached the 2nd round of the Surrey Senior Cup, losing 0 – 6 to top Amateur side, Tooting & Mitcham (who the previous season, had taken the eventual F.A. Cup winners, Nottm Forest to a replay before bowing out) in front of a record attendance which stands to this day, of 1,553. 1960 saw the opening of the current club house, by the then president of the F.A., Sir Stanley Rous – the butterfly roof gaining the architect design awards. Unfortunately, as Gary Mayne tells me, the roof was not so good at keeping the rain out!! Despite finishing 3rd from bottom in 1961/62, the Spartan League Challenge Cup was won at Ruislip Manor, 3 – 2, in a final against Crown & Manor! 63/64, saw 2 finals reached, and 2 defeats - Spartan League Challenge Cup, 0 – 2, Vs Cheshunt; and the Southern Combination Amateur Challenge Cup, 0 – 1, away Vs Slough Town. In 1965/66, 1,255 saw the semi-final of the Surrey Senior reached for the first time in the club’s history at Walton road, but Sutton United proved too strong, winning 3 – 1. The following season, saw the first of 5 successive seasons where the
Moles took on foreign opposition (mostly German) thanks mainly to a Mr. Jack Anders whose Easter and Whitsun tours to the continent proved to be very popular indeed.
1968, and the construction of the pavilion, and Molesey’s first ever appearance in the F.A. Cup – they lost 0 – 5 at Leatherhead. 1972/73 was Molesey’s last season in the Spartan League, and as well as finishing 8th, they reached the final of the Spartan League Challenge Cup, but lost 0 – 2, to Bracknell, at Egham Town F.C. On Wednesday 8th November 1972, a West Ham United XI were invited down to Walton road for or first game under the new floodlights. Molesey won 2 – 0. 1973 – 77, and the Moles played in the second division of the Athenian League. 1975/76 saw a certain Mr. Cyrille Regis play down at Walton road for a whole season after our then manager, Mr. John Sullivan had spotted him playing park football in North London. He appeared in a Surrey Senior Shield match Vs Woking, held over from the previous season, at Stompond Lane, Walton, but the Moles lost narrowly, 1 - 2.
1977 - 2008, and Molesey played in the Isthmian League, first appearing in division 2, where, after a couple of near promotions, they stayed until 1990. In 1981/82, Molesey made their longest progress in the F. A. Vase, to the Quarter Finals, before losing 0 – 1 at home to Notts Alliance side, Rainworth Miners Welfare. The close season following 1985/86, saw Gary Mayne head the members in refusing the relocation of the football club proposed by the then committee, due to mounting debts. The result was that part of the club was sold off, the players, management and committee all left, but we survived at Walton road, and despite losing heavily to begin with, the appointment of manager Dickson Gill steadied the ship, and the Moles stayed in the Isthmian League as well! The following season, the arrival of Martin Eede, was to prove inspirational as the Moles embarked on their headiest campaign to date, winning promotion to division 1 in 1990, and following this up with a further promotion to the Premier division in 1993! Our promotion season of 1992/93 (our actual centenary) saw the Moles finish 2nd, and reach the final of the Diadora (Isthmian) League Cup, beating Enfield (riding high in the premier), 5- 0 at Walton road in the semis! Alas, we went down in the final, 1 – 2, to Marlow, at Aldershot Town F.C. 1993/94 saw consolidation in the Premier division of the Isthmian League – in those days, it was step 2 (no Conference South and North) and was one of 3 feeders to the Conference. The F. A. Cup 1st Round Proper was reached, but Bath City proved too strong winning 4 – 0 at Walton road. 94/95, saw the Moles finish 8th, but in 95/96, the league wanted us to do too much to our ground to keep our ‘A’ grading, resulting in our relegation half way through. Many well-known teams were played during this whole period who have since joined the football league. These are: Stevenage Borough, Yeovil Town, Cheltenham Town, Crawley, Aldershot Town, A.F.C. Wimbledon and Dagenham & Redbridge. The 1996 –
2008, period had seen a gradual decline in the fortunes of Molesey F.C., due in no small part to problems off the pitch. The turn of the century, saw celebrities such as Clive Walker, and Neville Southall, involved in a positive way for our club.
In 2007/08, a clear out of players, and a new management team of Steve Webb, Peter Lelliott, and Alan Maynard (promoted up from the reserves) were unable to stop the Moles finishing rock bottom and heading into the Combined Counties. Since then, our committee has been working very hard to right the wrongs done to the club, and gained a significant victory last season when planning permission was allowed in order for sale of part of our land to go to Rushmore Homes, and whilst legal delays have prevented the move occurring pre-season, they are confident that the work will be done by the end of this season – fingers crossed. Steve, Peter, and Alan, are still with the club, and they have just appointed a new first team coach in long-standing player, Paul Cross. Highlights of our current management trio involve travelling up to Dereham in Norfolk in the third round of the Vase back in 2008/09, and reaching the semi-finals of the Surrey Senior Cup, 10/11, beating Isthmian League Premier side, Carshalton Athletic, 2 – 0 away, en route. We are known for playing attractive football despite not always having the biggest and strongest players in the league!
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