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University of Surrey Football Club - a 'potted' history
There has been a football club based amongst students studying at the University of Surrey for some years. The club has competed regularly on Saturdays in the Guildford & Woking Alliance Football League, since that league was formed in 1995, although it did have a promotion to the Surrey Intermediate League (Western) but only for short stay. However, in season 2007/08, having again been crowned champions of the Guildford & Woking Alliance Premier Division, the club was accepted for promotion to the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) from season 2008/09.
The club operates three teams on Saturdays: in the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) - the 1's and 2's, known as the First Team and the Reserve Team, and a third team, known as the 'A' team in the Guildford & Woking Alliance (thus maintaining its links with that league).
On Wednesdays, university football teams participate in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) football championships. This competition involves a complex set-up of divisions of university teams grouped in Tiers and promotion is not simply a case of a team winning its respective division. Currently, the university has 4 teams competing in the South East Conference in various divisions. In 2008 the club also entered a 5th team in the UniSport social league which arranges inter-society/club matches also on a Wednesday, alternating between using the grass football pitches and the astroturf. Also in 2008 the club entered a team in the UniSport FUTSAL challenge and WON the competition.
Up to and including season 2008/09 the club has had a successful time. The First Team won the Guildford & Woking Alliance Football League’s Premier Division Championship three times (1996/97, 2006/07 & 2007/08) and been Runner-Up on three occasions (1995/96, 2004/05 & 2005/06). At the same time, the club’s Reserve Team has been Runner-Up in the Guildford & Woking Alliance Division One twice (1995/96 & 1997/98) and won the League's Intermediate Cup (2007/08). The Reserve Team went one better in 2008/09 by doing the 'double' in our first season back in the Surrey County Intermediate league (Western) - winning the Reserve Division One league and then adding the Reserve Challenge Cup.
In the Guildford & Woking Alliance League Cup, the First Team won the Premier Division Cup four times (1999/00, 2002/03, 2004/05 & 2006/07) and been Runner-Up also three times (1995/96, 1996/97 & 2003/04).
Perhaps distinguishing itself in the field of Sportsmanship, the club won the Guildford & Woking League's Premier Division Sportsmanship Cup on no less than 7 occasions (1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06 & 2006/07). The Reserve Team won its respective Division’s Sportsmanship Cup twice (1995/96 & 1996/97) and even the third team won their respective Division’s Sportsmanship Cup in 1995/96). In the days when the University operated four teams in the Guildford & Woking Alliance, the club won the respective Divisional Sportsmanship Cup five times (1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 2000/01 & 2004/05). In 2008/09 the club came 6th overall in the Sportsmanship Trophy for the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western).
Although not reaching any finals of the County Cups in recent years, season 2006/07 saw a unique double: both the First team and the Reserves reached the semi-finals of their respective County Cups only to fall at the last hurdle. The First team lost 3-2 to Frensham FC of the Aldershot & District Saturday League in somewhat controversial circumstances, whilst the Reserves lost 2-1 in the final minute of extra time against Kingston Albion Reserves. Nevertheless it is a magnificent achievement to have two teams from the same club competing in two different County Cup semi-finals played on the same day. We shall have to wait a while longer to have any teams in a County Cup Final, because in 2008/09 season the 1st team were beaten in the Quarter Finals.
In 2007 the club was awarded FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHARTER STANDARD ADULT CLUB status, with Club Captain, Dan Meijles attending as part of a University of Surrey delegation to collect the ward at FA HQ in London from Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's football development director. The club keeps the award until 2010, but can then reapply.
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