Farleigh Rovers

Farleigh Rovers FC is a non-league football club located in the village of the same name in the North Downs a few miles south of Croydon in Surrey, who were formed in 1922. 

For sixty years 'The Foxes' competed in the local Edenbridge & Caterham and Croydon Leagues and then the Surrey Intermediate League. From the start of the 1982-83 season, the club became founder members of the Surrey Premier League, going on to become champions at the first attempt.

A send successive title followed in 1983-84 which led to Rovers joining the Combined Counties League, where they went on to finish sixth in 1990-91. After ending in midtable in 1993-94 the club returned to the Surrey Premier League.

That competition became known as the Surrey County Premier League from 2000-01, with Rovers remaining there until rejoining the Combined Counties League as members of the newly formed second tier Division One in 2003-04. The club also introduced youth teams, known as Farleigh Foxes.

The Division One title was sealed in 2014-15 but were denied promotion as their ground at Parsonage Field didn't meet ground grading requirements. The FA later enforced all clubs to comply with those standards which saw Farleigh return to county football as members of the Surrey Elite Intermediate League for the 2018-19 campaign.

After finishing second from bottom and then two consequent seasons being abandoned owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the league became known as the Surrey County Premier League. The team finished bottom in 2022-23 and were relegated to the Surrey South East Combination where they were placed in Intermediate Division One

Farleigh Rovers FC will play in the Surrey South East Combination Intermediate Division One in the 2023-24 season.

My visit

Farleigh Rovers 4 Mole Valley SCR 5 (Wednesday 8th May 2013) Combined Counties League Division One (att: approx 20)

The back end of any football season often sees random midweek fixtures crop up, especially when bad weather intervenes. The 2012-13 season had suffered with lots of rain waterlogging pitches. I scanned my weekly Non League Paper looking for a game at a new venue.

The game at Farleigh grabbed my attention. Years ago I came across some of their match programmes when not too many clubs of their level produced them. The match was to kick off at 6.45pm as Parsonage Field didn't have floodlights, so this would get me home a little earlier. 

This was an added attraction as I was at work at 6.30am the following morning as I caught a train to East Croydon and then hopped aboard the 403 bus, which went to Warlingham. This large village was nearly two miles from Farleigh, but a walk didn't bother me. 

I set off down to a field, which on Google maps looked like a huge playing field. I was disconcerted to find it surrounded by a fence, but I didn't have any other options apart from a huge detour, so I clambered over and marched through the field like some mad pioneer.

I could see the near goal of Parsonage Field in the distance. The game was kicking off as I climbed out of the field at the other side as the referee sensibly kicked off five minutes early with the skies darkening earlier than expected. 

I was directed to the bar where I parted with the best three quid I was to spend all season and received a programme and my admission in return. The ground was basic with standing spectator accommodation down just one side, including a overhang roof from the changing roof and clubhouse, but I loved it. 

It had atmosphere and character. The ref showed further initiative by playing just forty minutes each way with a shortened interval. I stood near the benches and got incredible value for money on and off the pitch, though it has to be said that the game was played in good spirits from both sides with a bit of humour chucked in. 

Rovers near the bottom of the table took the lead against promoted SCR as Ross Price finished a nice move. The visiting skipper and centre forward Phil Page restored parity soon after he had missed a guilt edged chance that he had created himself with a powerful run I expected them to go on after that, as it would seem did their manager. 

However, a fine lob from Rob Depeazer after a keeping calamity made it 2-1 to Rovers. Indeed they should have made it three in stoppage time, but a forward missed a one on one when sprung from a long pass.  At half time SCR stayed outside and their manager really got stuck in to his troops.

I don't think the players were in any doubt as to his feelings. It was rather apt on the day the man of the famous hairdryer, Sir Alex Ferguson, had retired. It was too much for the number seven who stormed off, never to return! Meanwhile I enjoyed a bottle of Spitfire for a very reasonable £2.80.

The 'pep' talk seemed to work as SCR were level within a minute of the restart as Jack Wightwick finished. However a daft penalty was given away to see Rovers regain the advantage. Fabian O'Brien made no mistake from the spot.

The lethal Page hammered in an equaliser as the home keeper, nicknamed Gonzo by his team mates, stood motionless. A lovely flowing passing movement on the decent pitch which had drizzle landing on it led to SCR grabbing the lead for the first time when Lauris Chin scored.

Phil Page completed his hat trick when through as he cleverly lobbed Gonzo to make it 3-5. Farleigh weren't done yet after they were assisted with a lovely glancing header from the SCR full back Mark Toomey-Layne who found the corner of his own net. 

They also missed a couple of half chances to draw level while they had their own bar rattled by Wightwick at the last knockings and Gonzo also produced a great stop from Page. 

Everyone deserved great credit for the display. It was certainly full on entertainment. 

I walked back over the now damp deserted field to Sainsburys in Warlingham for the bus back to Croydon. I was back indoors in Kingsbury at 10.15 and most pleased that I made the effort. 

It was probably my match of the season and definitely the best value!