The History of Crawley Green FC - Saturday Side
Crawley Green Sports & Social Club was formed in November 1989 after arsonists caused the virtual destruction of the present building. Members of Stopsley Harriers, The Wyvern and Ramridge Rangers Sunday Football Clubs amalgamated to form the present club and were successful in securing a 99 year lease from the Council. The New Club house was formally open on 19th June, 1992 by then Luton Town manager, David Pleat.

The badge incorporates all the elements of the three founding clubs but also local history. The club badge was adopted in 1996 after many years of discussion. Maroon was the colour of the largest single club Ramridge Rangers and it was adopted as the club colour. It is incorporated in the Club badge as the bar across the middle. Stopsley Harriers were well known for their red and blue quarters, whilst Wyvern Members were predominantly blue since their foundation. Both these colours are reflected in the badge. Crawley Green FC Saturday side was formed in 1993 after another local team, Somerset Tavern came under the Crawley Green umbrella. The club colour of maroon was adopted by the team.

In 2018 Luton Town FC and Crawley Green FC further enhanced their club partnership with the announcement that Crawley Green FC will play their home games at The Brache training ground from season 2018-2019. Crawley Green, who are the only Luton based team to play at step 5 or above of the National League System, have been trying since 2008 to get permission to build a suitable stadium. Unfortunately in that time they have failed to receive the support needed from Luton Borough Council, despite there being no cost involved for the Council. This decision has meant that they have had to ground share with Barton Rovers FC for 11 years now, to enable the team to continue to play at that level.

This is a poor indictment of the Council’s attitude to football in Luton, considering that other major towns in Bedfordshire have at least one team each playing step 6 or above. Their lack of support in comparison to the likes of Biggleswade (3 teams), Bedford (2 teams), Dunstable (2 teams), Leighton Buzzard (1 team) and Kempston (1 team), means that even our local leagues have the ignominy of having to travel to local villages to host their cup finals.

Luton recently installed a brand new all-weather surface down at the training ground and to comply with national ground grading criteria Crawley Green will complete the remaining requirements. This will include new changing rooms, dugouts, turnstile and spectator standing area. Tony Talbot, Chairman of Crawley Green stated: “We would like to thank Gary Sweet and Kevan Platt and everyone at Luton Town FC for firstly affording us this opportunity and then their support in making this happen.

“In the past we have seen a number of ex-Crawley Green players go on to play for Luton, but our partnership has really continued to grow in recent years. It’s with great satisfaction for us that we are currently seeing James Justin starring for the first team. In addition the recently transferred Tyreeq Bakinson and four of the current U18s team, Josh Neufville, Joe Mead, Ciaren Jones and Michael Shamalo all came through our youth system.

“A town the size of Luton needs a successful professional club, as well as teams playing in the national league pyramid”. This gives our talented youngsters a pathway to development, without having to go outside the borough to develop. “In addition, underneath these clubs is a large community hub, which affords lots of youngsters the opportunity to play football. These community hubs ensure all young people have the opportunity to participate in football in a safe supportive environment, which preserves the dignity and respect of the individual regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religion, disability, income and any other social deprivation. With Government statistics showing a concerning rise in childhood obesity throughout the UK, these community hubs encourage our children to stay active and engage in physical activity. This all helps promote health, self-confidence and importantly social cohesion, and hopefully leads to the wider benefits in raising standards.”

Hatters chief executive Gary Sweet said: “We see ourselves as guardians of elite football in our region and part of that responsibility is to help – wherever possible – other local, aspirational clubs develop and thrive, staying at the core of their roots. “The challenges faced at Crawley Green were difficult and, with the great relationship we’ve had over the years, having recruited numerous young players from their excellent development structure, we’re proud to help Crawley Green retain a local home for their competitive games, just as we are happy to utilise our existing training facility at perhaps the only time when it won’t get used.”

In recognition of his services to the community and sport, Crawley Green Sports & Social Club Chairman, Tony Talbot was awarded a BEM – British Empire Medal - in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List.

Finally Crawley Green would like to sincerely thank all their programme advertisers, match ball and match day sponsors for their generous support throughout the season.

Year Crawley Green FC - A Brief History

1995-96 Joined South Midlands League Division One

1997-98 Founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One North

1998-99 Left Spartan South Midlands League for Luton & District league

1999-00 Re-joined Spartan South Midlands League. Alan Clark and Eddie Downey joined Crawley Green to manage the 1st Team & Reserves respectively. Alan Burgess took over as Club Secretary.

2001-02 Division One renamed Division Two

2002-03 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two Cup Winners. Beat Buckingham Athletic 2-0. Martin Fensome and Leon Holton (pen).

2002-03 Bedfordshire Junior Cup Winners. Reserves beat Potton United 1-0 (Andy Bath).

2004-05 Gary King takes over as 1st Team Manager and wins the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two and the Bedfordshire Senior Cup beating Kent Athletic 4-0 with goals from John Coley 2, Adey Bascombe 2. Crawley were denied the treble when they lost a penalty shoot out to Dunstable Town in the League Cup Final.

2005-06 Neil Tattersall takes over as 1st Team Manager

2006-07 6 pts deducted (ineligible player), costing the Club runners up spot

2007-08 Started ground share with Barton Rovers FC. Spartan South Midlands League Division Two runners up to Kings Langley. Promoted to Division One

2009-10 Bedfordshire Senior Trophy Winners. Beat Potton United 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out. Scores finished 1-1 after extra time. Ryan Smith (pen). Successful penalty takers Rian MacNabola, John Cooper, Jermaine Hall, Ryan Smith and Phil Cusack

2011-12 First Team Manager Neil Tattersall steps down after 6 seasons in charge and is replaced by Darren Salton. Darren Salton resigned in September after only 1 win in 10 games. Mark Smith is appointed manager in October 2011 with Assistant Terry Shrieves.
Bedfordshire Senior Trophy finalists - lost 0-1 to Ampthill Town. Spartan South Midlands League Division One Cup winners. Beat Kings Langley 2-1 with goals from Courtney Massey and Chris Gibson

2013-14 First Team reaches the final of the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy but loses 2-3 to Bedford. Scorers Sean Downey and Jon Butler.
Reserves win the Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup with a 2-0 victory over Elstow Abbey with goals from Lewis Billington & Anthony Wright

2014-15 1st Team win the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy. Beat AFC Oakley M&DH 4-0 with goals from Sean Bishop, Stuart Strange, Tom Barnett & Sam Halfpenny. Reserves lose in the Reserve Challenge Trophy Final 1-0 to Risborough Rangers.

2015-16 1st Team – Runners-Up Division One – promoted to Premier Division.
1st Team winners – Division One League Cup. Beat Edgware Town 2-1 with goals from Fabio Buffano and Aarron Browne.
Reserves–Winners Reserve Challenge Trophy. Beat Hoddesdon Town 2-1 with goals from James Potter and Andy Randell.
Reserves lose Beds Intermediate Cup Final to Sundon Park Rangers 6-5 in a penalty shoot out after game finished 2-2. Scorers own goal and Rob Newman (pen).

2016-17 1st Team finish a creditable 11th in the their first season in the Premier Divisiion. Manager Mark Smith steps down to spend more time with his family. Dean Bull takes over and Richard Smith joins as Assistant Manager.
2nd Team move to the Bedfordshire County League and finish 4th and move up to the Premier Division.

2017-18 Dean Bull and Richard Smith step down after 22 games in charge. They are replaced by new manager Chris Devane and his assistant Craig Meyrick.

2018-19 Craig Bicknell joins the 1st Team as coach and Bobby Males steps down and joins the Committee.

2018-19 In recognition of his services to the community and sport, Crawley Green Sports & Social Club Chairman, Tony Talbot was awarded a BEM – British Empire Medal - in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List.

2018-19 Manager Chris Devane resigns due to work commitments. Craig Meyrick takes charge assisted by Craig Bicknell. Steve Tucker joins as coach. Jimmy Sherlock steps down from the Reserves and is replaced by Craig Savage and Richard McKinley.

2019-20 The 1st team were 8th and the Reserves 6th in their Leagues when the season was cancelled due COVID-19

2020-21 Ricky Clark joins the 1st Team coaching staff

2021-22 Manager Craig Meyrick resigns and is replaced by Paul Blackman assisted by Matt Harding. 1st Team avoid relegation with a point against Tring Athletic in the last game of the season. Reserves miss out on Champions spot and finish Runners-Up with a draw in the last game of the season.
Alan Burgess, Alan Clark & Eddie Downey step down after 23 years’ service to the running of the Saturday football at Crawley Green.

2022-23 The 1st Team was joined by Head Coach Chris Robson and Physio Deep Patel and finished a creditable 12th in the League. The Reserves had another fine season finishing 3rd in the table.

2023-24 The 1st Team finished with 2 wins to finish 17 in the League. The Reserves finished 8th in the League and their last game was abandoned after Craig Savage was badly injured. Craig and Richard McKinley then stepped down after 5 seasons and have been replaced by Ian Temple & Mark Doran..
Matt Harding took over from Kate Binns as Chairman of the Club and Stuart Beddell joined as Paul Backman’s Assistant Manager. Garry McGonigle joined the 1st Team as Club Secretary.

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