Hampton & Richmond Borough

Hampton & Richmond Borough FC is a non-league football club who were formed in 1921 as Hampton FC. The club is based in Hampton, which is located on the north bank of the River Thames around fifteen miles south west of central London.

After many years of playing in local competitions, ‘The Beavers’ entered the Surrey Senior League in 1959. After winning the championship the club progressed to the Spartan League in 1964.

This move proved most successful as Hampton won the title in 1963-64, 1964-65, 1965-66 and 1969-70, leading to a move to the Athenian League in 1971.

Two years later Hampton were elected to the newly formed second division of the Isthmian League. In 1989-90 the club suffered its first relegation down to the third tier, but they regained their status a year later.

The 1995-96 campaign saw another promotion, this time to Division One, with the rise continuing with promotion to the Premier Division in 1997-98. The club added Richmond to adopt their present title in 1999 in an attempt to gain greater awareness and sponsorship opportunities with long serving boss Chick Botley at the helm.

The club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 2000-01, going out to Barnet. In the summer of 2003 former West Ham United and England midfielder Alan Devonshire took over as manager as he oversaw previous unknown successes after being relegated to Division One South the previous season.

Following the re-organisation of non-league football, The Beavers were placed in the Premier Division for the 2004-05 campaign. The team reached the play-offs, defeating Heybridge Swifts before being defeated by Fisher Athletic.

However, Hampton were not to be denied and were promoted to Conference South as Isthmian League champions in April 2006-07 thanks to victory on the final day of the season against Slough Town. In 2007-08 the Beavers made another first round FA Cup appearance; losing out at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.

The 2008-09 season almost saw Hampton promoted once more but they bowed out in the final of the play-offs. Victory over Chelmsford City could not be replicated in the final against Hayes & Yeading United.

After a couple of disappointing seasons, Devonshire left the club to take on the role at Braintree Town in the Conference National. Hampton were relegated back to the Isthmian League at the end of the 2011-12 season under manager Mark Harper.

Harper resigned in April 2013 to be replaced by joint-managers Paul Barry and Darren Powell after a successful interim spell. However, the pair only lasted until the following September before former Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson was appointed.

Dowson’s side averted relegation before lifting the Isthmian League crown in 2015-16. Fine form from youngsters Jamal Lowe and Nicke Kabamba earned themselves moves to Portsmouth. The team reached the play-offs in 2016-17; going out in the semi-final to Ebbsfleet United.

Former chairman Graham Wood returned after a spell at Gateshead to lead a local consortium that funded a promotion push. The extra finance aided Hampton gain a play-off place at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Wins against Truro City and Chelmsford City before missing out on promotion after losing in the final to Braintree Town at The Beveree after a penalty shoot out. Two days later Dowson resigned to take the manager’s job at Woking.

Hendon manager Gary McCann, who had also suffered play-off heartbreak on penalties, was appointed as the new manager at Hampton, signing many of his old team to join him. The Beavers reached the FA Cup first round, going down at home to Oldham Athletic in front of live TV cameras.

Chairman Wood stood down, leading to a cut in the playing budget, with Jacques Le Bars taking over.

Hampton & Richmond Borough FC will play in the National League South in the 2019-20 season.

My visits

Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Walton & Hersham 2 (Tuesday 29^th December 1999) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: approx 300)

Finding myself off work after returning from a Christmas visit to Scarborough, I found myself at a loose end wanting to go to a match somewhere. It was very cold but a trip down to Hampton seemed appealing at the time.

I arrived fairly early and had a couple of beers and a whisky to keep out the chill before feeding at the snack bar. Some gents were complaining in the clubhouse as Fulham fans who’d just visited a ‘brutal’ Sheffield United side under Neil Warnock, which made me laugh.

The Beveree was a really nice venue. The Clubhouse End had a small raised seated Alan Simpson Stand, named after the loyal clubman and joint Steptoe & Son writer. The far side was flat hard standing with a cover towards the near end. There was more of the same behind the far goal. 

The Popular Side had a seated stand in the centre and a decent sized covered standing area at the near end. In all honesty I can’t remember too much about the game, apart from the cold. Despite this I found it a worthwhile night out.

Tuesday 6^th September 2006

One regret I had from my visits to so many games, was that I’d never taken any photos as a reminder. With a new digital camera in my possession I’d already set out to put this right on a few occasions.

I chose a pleasant late summers day to visit the western extremes of London. Using my free staff pass I caught the train to Richmond and then a bus down to Hampton. The gates at The Beveree were open and I got chatting to a pleasant club official.

Brentford reserve team were to play a friendly behind closed doors later in the day, so he was preparing the facilities. The pitch looked immaculate. I was welcomed inside to take my photos before I headed off on the bus for a short ride to Metropolitan Police to continue my quest.

Hampton & Richmond Borough 1 Dartford 2 (Tuesday 5th December 2019) National League South (att: 451)

They say that twenty four hours is a long time in politics! Well it’s nothing compared to how fast things can move and change in the world of non-league football.

Hendon, the local side I follow were having an extended awful run; save for an occasional improvement. It looked like the board were likely to keep the faith with manager Jimmy Gray. However, I woke after night shift to find the news that he’d departed.

While I didn’t always agree with the teams’ tactics, I was gutted for Jimmy. He was a good man and never anything but 100% honest. The club would do well to find anyone who would work as hard.

As it transpired, I’d already arranged to go to a match. It was high time that I made an effort to head to Hampton to see how former Hendon boss Gary McCann was getting on with the coaching team who followed him to the banks of the Thames.

A few of us had bumped into Gary and Fabio Valenti at the Hayes & Yeading against Hendon League match a couple of weeks previously and it was a bit of a strange but really heart warming experience.

They were wonderful. Their move obviously left a few scars at Silver Jubilee Park. I don’t doubt that it was just as difficult for them. Time is a great healer and I wanted to go and cheer for them in appreciation in return.

My pal Tony Foster was driving. We arrived last night just before kick-off owing to heavy traffic. Tony found a parking spot the other side of the church before we marched the five minutes or so towards the ground; where admission was £13 with a programme a further £2.50.

The Beveree had the feel of a proper local football ground. Extra seating had been put down further along the main side to comply with the requirements for National League football along with a cover behind the far goal. The rear section of terrace we stood was being re-laid and cordoned off.

The Darts fitted into the manager theme, as they’d recently appointed Steve King as their new boss; a man with a reputation for big spending. Indeed, he’d already taken new men to Princes Park; a couple of whom would have a big bearing on the match.

As mentioned, non-league football along with players and management sometimes doesn’t stop for breath. McCann had signed seven of his play-off side from Hendon; yet none remained less than eighteen months later.

Referee Sunny Gill; who I though had a really good game, booked visiting forward Ky Marsh-Brown early in the piece. Hampton went on the offensive, with Charlie Wassmer and Matt Young both seeing headers go narrowly wide.

Up at the other end Dartford went perilously close to breaking the deadlock when a Norman Wabo header from a Marsh-Brown cross scraped the outside of the woodwork. It was developing into a good high intensity encounter.

It was the Darts who opened the scoring on twenty five minutes. Play between Cameron Brodie and Liam Gordon afforded Marsh-Brown the opportunity to fire low past keeper Dan Lincoln at his near post.

However, the Beavers were level within a couple of minutes. Good movement from Tyrone Lewthwaite allowed him room in the box. He drew forward goalie Mark Smith before laying the ball square to Sam Deadfield who slotted home into the unguarded net.

It was time for me to go for a walk around the ground; both to take photos and to head round to the benches hoping to catch a word at half time and say hello to old friends without interrupting their work.

Gary turned briefly towards the crowd in typical Gary fashion after a slack bit of play. He saw me and came straight across and said sorry for what had happened with Jimmy. Then Freddie Hyatt and Dave Smalley both took time with genuine embraces.

It meant the world and epitomised their class. It was cathartic even. I felt like I weighed a few stone less as I popped into Hammonds Bar to grab a pint and head back round to re-join my mate. If only I was!

Meanwhile, the visitors retook the lead ten minutes before the interval. Wassmer's clumsy challenge upended the excellent signing from Eastbourne Borough; Elliott Romain. The striker got up and kept his composure to put away the spot kick despite Lincoln getting a good hand on it.

Lincoln went on to make two fantastic stops from Romain before half time to keep his side in the game; first from a volley and then an overhead kick. It was top quality stuff with plenty of fireworks being provided on Guy Fawkes Night.

At half time I noticed a famous figure down against the pitchside fence. It was veteran commentator and Woking FC coach Martin Tyler. What a genuine friendly football man with an amazing knowledge he turned out to be.

We chatted about how he started out taking over from Keith Macklin at Yorkshire TV when I was a young viewer and how his career moved forward as well as lots of non-league stuff and his current coaching and previously when he and Alan Dowson were in situ at the Beveree.

He knew all about Scarborough and the rebirth of the new club; mentioning Neil Warnock and his impact in the area. His knowledge of Hendon was also impressive; though he wasn’t a fan of clubs using 3G pitches.

Grabbing another pint before the start of the second half, I bumped into Tony; Gary McCann’s father in law and tremendous fan of his teams. I was having a cracking night. Even the real ale was top class.

Tony had also been chatting extensively to the bloke stood alongside of us. Originally from Liverpool it was the Dad of Dartford’s Cameron Brodie, so we ended up getting the low down on all things happening at the Kent club.

Tom Bonner blocked a Lewthwaite effort as the hosts pressed forward looking for an equaliser. Romain continued to be a pest to the Beavers defence with his physique and all round play; setting up Gordon who saw his effort saved by the legs of Lincoln.

The Darts looked to shore up their defence to hold on to all three points. Ruaridh Donaldson fizzed a thirty yarded over the Dartford bar with ten minutes left on the clock before a visitors’ break was well defended as the game came to an end.

The pyrotechnics lit up the sky over the Thames as we walked back to the bar with the temperatures dropping. We’d been royally entertained, and I left in good form, delighted with the entire experience.

Dartford’s win lifted them to five points outside the play-offs. I was dropped off by Tony in time for me to head to Kingsbury for a beer before bedtime.

The following evening, I was heading to Farnborough v Hendon. The Dons board hadn’t mucked about and had appointed Biggleswade Town boss Lee Allinson as the new manager after he’d resigned his post.

However, my thoughts were with the previous couple of managers and their backroom staff. All proper football people who’ve given me agonies and ecstasy from the terraces but always gave nothing less than 100%. 

Hampton & Richmond Borough 2 Tonbridge Angels 0 (Tuesday 17^th December 2019) FA Trophy Round One Replay (att: 238)

It’s a strange phenomenon but I often go years without visiting a place, football ground, pub or restaurant but find myself back within a few weeks; as exemplified with a quick return to the Beveree.

The weather had played its part. My originally intended match, Westfield v Tooting & Mitcham United had fallen foul to the weather. When Tony said he was driving down to Hampton I jumped at the opportunity; especially as I was off work the following day.

The traffic was light. Perhaps people were starting to knock off before Christmas? The good news was that there was time for me to enjoy a couple of most palatable pints of Faversham Pale Ale before kick-off.

Hampton were leading 2-0 in the first game going into stoppage time before somehow surrendering the lead; thus, necessitating the replay. They made their intentions clear from the off under the lights and went ahead on eight minutes through Danilo Orsi-Dadomo.

The goal brough a grin to my face. Former Hampton and Hendon defender Rian Bray; someone Gary McCann and his coaching team knew all about had been exposed for pace. Perhaps a deliberate ploy from the home staff?

Ryan Hill was having an excellent game up front for the Beavers, continually stretching the visiting defence. Angels were giving it a good go and looked dangerous for spells cheered on by their support who were not huge fans of the referee.

Home keeper Dan Lincoln made a couple of tidy saves before the interval when I caught up with Dave Smalley and grabbed another pint. The goalie coach must have been pleased with his student; as he made another important stop shortly into the second half.

More excellent play from Hill secured the tie when he laid square for Ruaridh Donaldson to double the lead just after the hour mark. The Hampton defence were put under quite a bit of pressure in the closing stages and one good chance went begging.

An extended amount of stoppage time was added when a Tonbridge player needed treatment before being stretchered off. Boro closed out the remaining time to secure a second round tie away to Yeovil Town.