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Club History
In 2004 UCF'B' Manager James Webb decided to form a new club after becoming disillusioned with politics at UCF. Backed by Thai based sponsor Asia Worldwide and Captain Steve Ponter, AW London Football Club was founded. The Club appointed Jeff Webb as Chairman and Paul Lucas followed from UCF as Assistant Manager. Within a few months AW London had been affiliated to the Kent FA, entered into the Sevenoaks & District League and secured a much sort after venue Hayes Country Club. The squad was initially made up of 14 players from the existing UCF team plus a handful of new signings.
The club celebrated success in its first season with promotion from Sevenoaks Division Two into Division One following a third place finish. This success probably came too early for the club and as a result they struggled to find their early form during the next few seasons. A disappointing second season resulted in the loss of some key players and on the first day of the 2006 pre-season only 7 players remained. The club moved home to Warbank Sports Ground because Hayes Country Club was sold off to a developer. This worked in the clubs favour as all of the summer training was able to take place there. A huge recruitment drive was needed and eventually a squad was put together. The clubs third season was as difficult as their last. With so many new faces it was difficult to get the team to gel, London were in a relegation fight and only secured their Division One status on the final day of the season with a 2-2 draw against Orpington.
In the summer of 2007 the club appointed Arron Tarry as Assistant manager with a view to improve the quality of the squad. The club added 7 new players to the squad and managed to finish in 3rd place. This was enough to gain promotion to the Sevenoaks Premier League. This was a massive achievement by the club who almost didn't make it past those initial two seasons.
Plans were then put in place to form a reserve team. This was needed to compete in the Premier Division and also to give game time to some of the younger players at the club. James Webb stepped down as manager to concentrate on running the club with Arron Tarry and Marcus Alcindor taking the first team reigns. Jason Daniels and Tony Jordan looked after the reserves. The club held trials with the aim of having a 40 man pool of players for both teams to select from. The trials were very successful and a very talented squad was put together. Both first and reserves had good seasons finishing 4th and 6th in their respective leagues. The reserves also finished runners up in the Fisher Shield final.
The club seemed to be going from strength to strength as it held its first 11-a-side tournament in the close season. This was very successful and raised vital funds. Pre-season was good but disaster was just around the corner. First team assistant manager Marcus Alcindor was appointed Manager of Redhill FC and took Arron Tarry along with him to run their reserves. James Webb was forced to retake the reigns after just a couple of games into October 2009 and take half of the reserve team up to the first team to replace players who had left to join Redhill and those who didn't wish to stick around. Jason Daniels was promoted to 1st team assistant manager and Bill Payne was appointed joint manager of the reserves with Tony Jordan. Dave Gunner also came in to help out with the reserve team. The club struggled massively and where previously the club vetted players for ability and attitude this was no longer the case. To fill both teams each week was a task but due to the hard work and efforts by the management team the club stayed afloat and finished the season with its integrity intact.
A special general meeting was ordered in May 2010 and the direction of the club was questioned. The argument for keeping a reserve team was an easy one. The difficult question was whether the first team took their relegation to Division one or if they regrouped and took the place of the reserves in Division Three. After much deliberation the latter was decided and later approved by the SDFL. The club would basically start from scratch with James Webb as manager and Dave Gunner as his assistant and the players who were deemed worthy to wear the club badge and push the team forward. It was like a weight had been lifted and optimism once again prevailed.
Working the way back through the leagues was by no means a forgone conclusion. The young AW London team had a decent first season in Division Three. Winning more than it lost but finally finishing in 4th place. The team also reached the Smiths League Cup Final but unfortunately lost to Chipstead B at Otford United's ground. The club whilst performing well on the pitch was slowly being transformed off the pitch. New policies and financial targets were put in place by Secretary James Webb and the newly appointed Club Chairman Dave Gunner. The aim of being as self sufficient as possible with money in the bank to push the club forward. Regular training was also reintroduced at Oasis Academy and the future was looking bright.
The club was building momentum and over the next three years the core of the newly built squad was coming of age. A 7th and 3rd place finish in 2011/12 and 2012/13 plus another cup final was followed by a truly exceptional season. The team romped home league winners by 15 clear points. It was a real experience for the lads and the success was long overdue. Winning silverware for the first time was massively deserved by everyone involved and the celebrations were enjoyed by everyone both at the final game of the season and at the clubs annual presentation night at The Swan Pub in West Wickham.
It was now 10 years since the clubs formation and the team strangely found themselves back where it all began. A new found optimism was in place and the clubs model of being a forward thinking and impeccably run club, who prides itself on trying to improve their players technically whilst playing good football was now a reality. The team took a few weeks to find its feet in Division Two following winning its own 9 team 11-aside Tournament, 4 points from the opening 3 games but before long the lads knuckled down and the football started to flow. The team recorded its highest league goal tally and finally finished runners up to runaway leaders Tonbridge Baptist Church. The team also finished runners up in the Fisher Shield final.
After a few years of uncertainty the club said goodbye to its home of 7 seasons Warbank Sports Ground and secured a three year rolling deal with Darwin Leisure and we are fortunate enough to be the resident home side boasting a brand new international standard 3G pitch for matches and training plus use of the gym facilities. This will be a massive boost to the style of football and will also push the club to another level off the pitch.
The club currently has three sponsors in Unigold Shipping, LogPlus and PPYC. Without their funding and support the quality of kit and equipment used would not be possible. The bond between players, Management, supporters and sponsors is crucial to the future success of the club.
Over the years the club has had many players and it is testament that over 21 players have played over 100 matches, including 6 of those on over 200 (Sam Marden, Bill Payne, Rob Enoch, Dan Hodder, Mike Morriss and Dave Chambers) and 1 on over 300 (Danny Webb). Of those 21 players only 4 have no involvement still which again shows the level of commitment we have as well as the tight bond between a fantastic set of lads.
The club celebrated success in its first season with promotion from Sevenoaks Division Two into Division One following a third place finish. This success probably came too early for the club and as a result they struggled to find their early form during the next few seasons. A disappointing second season resulted in the loss of some key players and on the first day of the 2006 pre-season only 7 players remained. The club moved home to Warbank Sports Ground because Hayes Country Club was sold off to a developer. This worked in the clubs favour as all of the summer training was able to take place there. A huge recruitment drive was needed and eventually a squad was put together. The clubs third season was as difficult as their last. With so many new faces it was difficult to get the team to gel, London were in a relegation fight and only secured their Division One status on the final day of the season with a 2-2 draw against Orpington.
In the summer of 2007 the club appointed Arron Tarry as Assistant manager with a view to improve the quality of the squad. The club added 7 new players to the squad and managed to finish in 3rd place. This was enough to gain promotion to the Sevenoaks Premier League. This was a massive achievement by the club who almost didn't make it past those initial two seasons.
Plans were then put in place to form a reserve team. This was needed to compete in the Premier Division and also to give game time to some of the younger players at the club. James Webb stepped down as manager to concentrate on running the club with Arron Tarry and Marcus Alcindor taking the first team reigns. Jason Daniels and Tony Jordan looked after the reserves. The club held trials with the aim of having a 40 man pool of players for both teams to select from. The trials were very successful and a very talented squad was put together. Both first and reserves had good seasons finishing 4th and 6th in their respective leagues. The reserves also finished runners up in the Fisher Shield final.
The club seemed to be going from strength to strength as it held its first 11-a-side tournament in the close season. This was very successful and raised vital funds. Pre-season was good but disaster was just around the corner. First team assistant manager Marcus Alcindor was appointed Manager of Redhill FC and took Arron Tarry along with him to run their reserves. James Webb was forced to retake the reigns after just a couple of games into October 2009 and take half of the reserve team up to the first team to replace players who had left to join Redhill and those who didn't wish to stick around. Jason Daniels was promoted to 1st team assistant manager and Bill Payne was appointed joint manager of the reserves with Tony Jordan. Dave Gunner also came in to help out with the reserve team. The club struggled massively and where previously the club vetted players for ability and attitude this was no longer the case. To fill both teams each week was a task but due to the hard work and efforts by the management team the club stayed afloat and finished the season with its integrity intact.
A special general meeting was ordered in May 2010 and the direction of the club was questioned. The argument for keeping a reserve team was an easy one. The difficult question was whether the first team took their relegation to Division one or if they regrouped and took the place of the reserves in Division Three. After much deliberation the latter was decided and later approved by the SDFL. The club would basically start from scratch with James Webb as manager and Dave Gunner as his assistant and the players who were deemed worthy to wear the club badge and push the team forward. It was like a weight had been lifted and optimism once again prevailed.
Working the way back through the leagues was by no means a forgone conclusion. The young AW London team had a decent first season in Division Three. Winning more than it lost but finally finishing in 4th place. The team also reached the Smiths League Cup Final but unfortunately lost to Chipstead B at Otford United's ground. The club whilst performing well on the pitch was slowly being transformed off the pitch. New policies and financial targets were put in place by Secretary James Webb and the newly appointed Club Chairman Dave Gunner. The aim of being as self sufficient as possible with money in the bank to push the club forward. Regular training was also reintroduced at Oasis Academy and the future was looking bright.
The club was building momentum and over the next three years the core of the newly built squad was coming of age. A 7th and 3rd place finish in 2011/12 and 2012/13 plus another cup final was followed by a truly exceptional season. The team romped home league winners by 15 clear points. It was a real experience for the lads and the success was long overdue. Winning silverware for the first time was massively deserved by everyone involved and the celebrations were enjoyed by everyone both at the final game of the season and at the clubs annual presentation night at The Swan Pub in West Wickham.
It was now 10 years since the clubs formation and the team strangely found themselves back where it all began. A new found optimism was in place and the clubs model of being a forward thinking and impeccably run club, who prides itself on trying to improve their players technically whilst playing good football was now a reality. The team took a few weeks to find its feet in Division Two following winning its own 9 team 11-aside Tournament, 4 points from the opening 3 games but before long the lads knuckled down and the football started to flow. The team recorded its highest league goal tally and finally finished runners up to runaway leaders Tonbridge Baptist Church. The team also finished runners up in the Fisher Shield final.
After a few years of uncertainty the club said goodbye to its home of 7 seasons Warbank Sports Ground and secured a three year rolling deal with Darwin Leisure and we are fortunate enough to be the resident home side boasting a brand new international standard 3G pitch for matches and training plus use of the gym facilities. This will be a massive boost to the style of football and will also push the club to another level off the pitch.
The club currently has three sponsors in Unigold Shipping, LogPlus and PPYC. Without their funding and support the quality of kit and equipment used would not be possible. The bond between players, Management, supporters and sponsors is crucial to the future success of the club.
Over the years the club has had many players and it is testament that over 21 players have played over 100 matches, including 6 of those on over 200 (Sam Marden, Bill Payne, Rob Enoch, Dan Hodder, Mike Morriss and Dave Chambers) and 1 on over 300 (Danny Webb). Of those 21 players only 4 have no involvement still which again shows the level of commitment we have as well as the tight bond between a fantastic set of lads.