The controversy surrounding this small South London club has cast a pall over Non League Day. The 64 bus is your best bet to Croydon Athletic if you’re not taking the car. It passes all three Croydon railway stations before its final destination at Thornton Heath Bus Garage.
From there, you’re in for a trek. It’s a good half a mile walk down the anonymous suburban road which changes its name at least twice before reaching an end where a narrow lane compels you to turn left into an un-tarmaced track. Once you pass the allotment you finally arrive at the Keith Tuckey Stadium round the back of the municipal cemetery.
I have been making this journey, on and off (more off than on, in truth) for close to twenty years and it was a journey I made last Saturday as part of Non League Day, possibly for the last time. I remember the main stand having temporary seating when they were a small non-league club in the London Spartan League. The ground is still pretty small although the main stand has fixed seats with turnstiles (purchased from the The Dell if I recall). The club house has a decent bar with Sky Sports. Much has changed since the club was formed in 1986 when the Norwood FC and Wandsworth FC merged to form Croydon Athletic and moved to Mayfields as it was known.
The predominant change of course, has taken place on the pitch with the club rising through the non league pyramid to the Ryman League Premier Division after winning the Division 1 Championship last season.
In recent years, questions have been asked about the squad’s funding. More whispers really. I recall the first home game of last season where the Rams thrashed Ashford Town 7-0. Gary Noel scored four and the Croydon side were almost literally head and shoulders above their opponents.
I think it was after the fourth or fifth goal that I started to rethink this scenario. Looking around there were only a handful of supporters populating the home end and a half full grandstand. I’m no judge of a crowd size but it was hard to believe that there was much more than 100 paying supporters. Where were they getting the money from to pay for these players (brilliantly coached by former Grays Athletic manager Tim O’Shea), many of whom were clearly capable of playing in a higher league?
What has emerged in recent weeks does not necessarily answer that question. However, it does add fuel to the fire and bolster the argument by supporters of rival clubs that Croydon Athletic were living beyond their means.
It started with the arrest and imprisonment of former club chairman Dean Fisher for defrauding his former employer and one time club shirt sponsor TCS Media to the tune of £500,000. Some of which is believed to have been given to the club. Then of course came the story that is shaking the very foundations of cricket. That of Mazhar Majeed, co-owner of Croydon Athletic and filmed by the News Of The World admitting to paying Pakistan test cricketers to bowl no balls during test matches. Majeed stated that the only reason why he invested in the club was to launder money made from match fixing.
It should be stressed that O’Shea insists that none of his players were paid excessively and resents strongly any suggestions to the contrary. Nevertheless, with the club’s money men otherwise engaged Croydon Athletic is in danger of meltdown. After three weeks without pay, the squad and coaches announced to the crowd at the end of last Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Concord Rangers that they were leaving the club.
The game itself started well for the Rams. Those experts at scenting death, Sky Sports News, were in attendance. The small group of ultras were shouting “NO BALL!” every time there was an opposition goal kick. However, the visitors went ahead with a magnificent long range half volley from Bertie Brayley after 30 minutes. James Lawson doubled their tally shortly after the restart before Croydon got one back thanks to an own goal from Marc Sontag. The result was settled with a third from Concord. Croydon keeper, Andy Little, charged out of his box to kick the ball out so that his team mate, Leslie Thompson, could receive treatment. However, the referee did not signal for the physio to come on the pitch and the Concord players took that as their cue to continue. Rather than throw the ball back to the opposition, they took advantage of an out of position ‘keeper to score a third, much to the Croydon player’s and fans chagrin. It should be said however, that moments after the goal had been scored Thompson reluctantly got to his feet and trudged back to his own half. No treatment was required.
Things got a little tastier a few minutes after when a rough challenge instigated a mass brawl, but after that the game settled down as all parties waited for the inevitable post match announcement. And so with the Concord players noisily celebrating their vitory in their dressing room, Tim O’Shea and his squad said goodbye.
It was an emotional moment, free of cynicism, particularly when Tim O’Shea broke down in tears. The immediate future for Croydon Athletic looks grim. The Ryman League have agreed to postpone the next two league matches (the first of which was supposed to take place on the following Monday) while the club try to find the money, players and coaches to fulfil their fixtures. A difficult task, especially during a recession.
Whether Croydon Athletic survive or not, it is most likely that the glory days are behind them. Without additional funds the club will almost certainly have to sustain itself on gate receipts and from its facilities. While not being an expert on non-league club finances, it is hard to see how the Rams can exist this far up the pyramid, if at all. It may well be incumbent on the fans to find a way through this mess, perhaps with the help of Supporters Direct.
Tags: Croydon Athletic, Ryman Premier
Great article Terry. Makes me wish I’d been to Croydon before it was too late.