Molesey

Molesey FC are a non league football club who come from the town of the same name in the Borough of Elmbridge on the banks of the River Thames, around thirteen miles south west of central London. The club was officially formed in 1953 following the merger of Molesey St Paul's with another local side. History of the game in the town went back to the turn of the twentieth century.

'The Moles' went into the Surrey Senior League, where they were crowned champions in 1958. This led to a spell in the Spartan League, before joining the Athenian League in 1973. In 1977 Molesey became members of the Isthmian League. 

The 1990's saw the club at the peak of their powers as a couple of promotions saw them reach the Premier Division in 1993. Sadly, by the turn of the millennium they found themselves back in the third tier. Following re-organisation the club were placed in Division One South for the 2002-03 season.

The 2007-08 season saw The Moles relegated for the first time in their history, as they were demoted to the Combined Counties League. 

Molesey FC will spend the 2013-14 season in the Combined Counties League Premier Division.


My visits

Tuesday 6th September 2006

It was a pleasant late summers day and I had the day off work and I was in the formative days of collecting photos of new grounds. The day turned into a great way of exercise at the same time. My previous call was to Metropolitan Police at Imber Court, just over a mile away from the Walton Road home of The Moles.

A gent was working at the ground, but he welcomed me to go through the open gates to collect my snaps. I was most impressed, not least by the raised Main Stand with flat standing in front, and open sections either side. The far end had a small cover over the centre section. The opposite touchline was partly covered by a low roof which backed onto the grounds perimeter fencing. The near goal was flat open standing. 

Once my task was done I headed down some suburban streets opposite to the south bank of The Thames, to continue my day with a long walk along a footpath to the home of Walton Casuals FC.

Molesey 1 Walton Casuals 0 (Tuesday 30th July 2013) Mick Burgess Memorial Trophy (att: approx 100)

I have always found selecting pre season friendlies quite difficult in terms of finding a game with a competitive edge at a venue I hadn't previously seen a game at. This was to be my first outing of the 2013-14 season and having been impressed with Walton Road on my previous call, plus seeing the match was for a trophy and having a 7.30pm kick off, my mind was made up.

The train from Waterloo dropped me at Kingston-upon-Thames from where I jumped on board the 411 bus. My timing was ideal as I arrived to pay my £6 admission, as well as an extra quid for a steady programme around twenty minutes before kick off. The crowd was small initially, but grew as kick off neared and even began.

A fine cheeseburger for £3, along with a tea for an additional £1 provided me with sustenance as I clambered up the stairs into the Main Stand to enjoy my feed and read the programme. The match was played in memory of Mick Burgess. He had previously played for and managed Molesey as well as assisting Walton Casuals in their early years. He had been mayor of Elmbridge and sounded like and all round top bloke. The match was played each season at alternate home venues of the two clubs.

It was a warm and sunny evening as I surveyed the scene. Walton Road was now called The Hand Stadium after a local sponsorship deal. The end to my left was now just flat open grass with hedges and bushes some way back. A small cover had been placed behind the Walton Road goal.

I hope Mick Burgess had a sense of humour. The ref had blown his whistle to start the minutes silence in his honour. Unfortunately the PA man seemed unaware as he read out the substitutes. The ref blew his whistle so the silence was given a second go. 

The match was certainly competitive as challenges went flying in. Casuals nearly went ahead on fifteen minutes, but the header went over. They also hit the post after Liam Collins dithered and delayed his shot. Molesey were giving it their best against their opponents from a division above.

At half time I went inside the roomy clubhouse, which seemed geared to getting the community involved for a pint of keg OBB from the Sam Smith's Brewery. It wasn't fantastic, but fair enough at £2.50.

I had noted that the Casuals centre back Martin Dynan looked to take his clubs name literally, and so it proved just after the break as the impressive Hanif Boyle dispossessed him and fed Matt Baxter who rolled in Ross Chalke to slot the ball home past the visiting custodian Louis Bragg. Tackles increased and the mood became fractious in parts following the goal. 

Molesey should have doubled their lead, but Boyle had his effort turned around the post by Bragg following more shoddy defensive work from the visiting rearguard. Soon afterwards Walton made wholesale changes to their team.

Casuals got their collective heads together towards full time. A header went just over the home bar, before they had a stone walled penalty appeal turned down. They carried on piling on the pressure and saw a header come back off the underside of the bar and scrambled away.

However, it was to be Molesey's evening. At full time I walked most of the way back up Walton Road before jumping on the bus to Kingston and then the train to Vauxhall. I was back home around 11pm, after having a really good night out. It had been a really good start to the new season.