History

Hamsey Rangers FC (HRFC) was formed in 1994 and was the brainchild of Phil Edmonds and Jim Sherlock who took on the roles of Club Secretary and Chairman respectively. Phil’s wife Gill became the Treasurer.

The club began with one team at the Under 9 age group. Both Phil and Jim had sons at that age, but no team. Phil had begun taking training sessions at the nearby Hamsey Infants School, but had no equipment or pitch to begin a side. Phil and Jim opted to join the local club, Purley Tigers, as they had the equipment and a pitch, but not enough boys to form a team at that age group. Within three matches the duo began to formulate plans for what was to become Hamsey Rangers.

The name Hamsey Rangers was developed as a compromise between Phil wanting to celebrate his love of West Ham, and Jim, a Scot, his love of Glasgow Rangers. With both of them living near the Hamsey Green area of Warlingham, the name Hamsey Rangers was agreed. The club colours were then a compromise between the England kit of Phil’s choice, and the red socks of Glasgow Rangers and Scotland.

The club's first matches were played at Hamsey Green Junior school pitches, and then afterwards using the field outside Warlingham Park Hospital, which is now named Great Park. The goals were made from scaffold poles and were installed with a JCB. There were no toilets and desperate boys and parents had to make do with the nearby trees and bushes! There were no hot drinks available either, and it was not unusual for the occasional horse to wander onto the pitch to add to the excitement of the football.

The first few presentation evenings were held in the field where the boys played with the last ceremony (before moving to Warlingham school) being held in the rain.

The club moved its base to John Fisher Sports Ground in 1998 with its 3 senior pitches, 2 mini pitches, changing rooms and clubhouse and nowadays form one third of John Fisher Sports and Social Club, along with John Fisher Football and John Fisher Cricket.

Jim stepped down from the Chair in 1996 and was succeeded by Jeff Barretto and Tony Griffiths. Jeff and Tony held the Chair between 1996-1997 and 1997-2004 respectively - indeed Tony (the manager of our first trophy winning team in 1999) presided over the club's recognition as an FA Charter Standard Club for Development in 2002, one of the first clubs in Surrey to achieve this status. Phil remained club secretary until the end of the 2008-09 season, to be replaced by Lisa Courtney, whilst Gill stepped down as Treasurer in 2006 to be replaced by Sarah Tomlin. In 2010 Kevin Henry stepped down as Chairman to be replaced by Martin Tomlin.

Hamsey Rangers is a club that prides itself on a real family ethos. It has developed great loyalty from its players and their parents over the years with four of the original Under 9 team (Lee Edmonds, Anthony Barretto, Daniel Chalmers and Stuart Galafant) still involved as part of the AFC Hamsey senior team.

Two landmark moments in the club's history came with our first Surrey Cup win, by the Under 10 Wildcats in 2006, followed by our first A Division title by the Under 12's in 2007, won in thrilling fashion on the last day of the season.

The trophies have kept coming ever since, with 2008-09 our most successful season to date, with 6 divisional winners, 2 further divisional runners up, 3 cup wins and another Surrey Cup Final appearance, this time for our Under 14A Boys.

Hamsey Rangers FC

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