Shalford Football Club

Shalford Football Club was formed in 1902 and is known to be the oldest and largest men's football club in the Guildford area and today run six men's sides that play competitive fixtures on Saturday afternoons as well as a Veterans team that plays occasional friendly fixtures on Sunday mornings. http://www.shalfordfc.co.uk/ 1

History

Established in 1902 and among the founding members of the Tillingbourne Valley League and Guildford & District League, Shalford FC is known to have won various league and cup honours in these competitions throughout the early part of the last Century. Progress was maintained immediately after the Great War with the club reaching the final of the Surrey Minor Challenge Cup for the first time in 1919/20 where they went down 3-5 to Thomville FC. It would be another 20 years before Shalford could again boast a side capable of challenging for County honours but by 1938/39 they had assembled another fine young team and this time they would not be denied, Carshalton Athletic being dispatched 4-2 in the final of the newly-established Surrey FA Lower Junior Cup.

The village went on to produce a string of very successful sides during the post-war period and having established themselves as a major force in local football, the decision was made to apply for promotion to the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) in time for the start of the 1977/8 season. The club floundered at the higher level and made a swift return to the Guildford & District League where it competed with mixed success success until joining the newly-formed Guildford & Woking Alliance League in 1995.

The emergence of a new generation of talented young players during the late 1990's helped to restore the club's impetus and by the turn of the century Shalford FC was again ready to mount a serious challenge for honours. Player / manager Duncan Niven and his exciting young team finished the 2000/1 season as runners-up in Alliance division 1 and the following season saw new boss Clive Jacobs and an ever-improving squad announcing their arrival in the top-flight by winning both the Alliance premier league title and the Alliance premier cup at the first attempt. The season also saw the successful introduction of an 'A' team, established to cater for the growing numbers of players wishing to play for the club.

Shalford FC's Centenary celebrations were given an early boost during the summer of 2002 when the club was elected back into the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) and a successful return to County standard football was confirmed with the first team claiming the runners-up spot in premier division 3. The club's second successive league and cup 'double' was also secured courtesy of the reserves division 3 championship and a remarkable penalty shoot-out win over hot-favourites Badshot Lea FC in the final of the reserves challenge cup. The 2003/4 season saw the club continuing its rich vein of form with new manager Mike Tydeman leading his side to the SCILW division one title, victories in the prestigious Dunsfold Hospital Cup and Isle of Wight Beach Soccer Tournament and an appearance in the final of the Surrey Intermediate Cup where his side went down 1-2 a.e.t to a very strong Warlingham outfit. Meanwhile the reserves maintained their long run of success by going unbeaten in the league all season to clinch the SCILW reserves division one title.

The 2004/5 season saw Shalford lifting the Dunsfold Hospital Cup for the second time while all three of the club's teams went on to make a good showing in their respective leagues following promotion to the top-flight. Another successful season for the reserves saw Kevin Griffin's side picking up league and cup honours after clinching the runners-up place in the premier reseves division and a second appearance in the final of the reserves league cup where they went down 1-3 to Old Rutlishians reserves.

2006/7 saw new manager Steve Plunkett making an immediate impact as he led the 1st XI to their highest ever finish after they came 3rd in the SCILW premier division. Meanwhile, the reserves secured the runners-up position in their league for the second time after once again finishing behind champions Yateley reserves.

Last season also saw the club's Youth Academy coming to the fore with a top six finish in the league and a memorable appearance in the Junior Cup Final where they went down 2-3 to a very experienced Bedfont Green FC side. http://www.shalfordfc.co.uk/history.pl 2

Joszef Szaz has returned to the club as first team manager for the remainder of the 2008/9 season following the dismissal of Istvan Hasulyo. http://www.shalfordfc.co.uk/club_news.pl 3

The Teams
Shalford Football Club run 4 senior mens teams and 2 Under-21 teams from their youth academy.

The First and Reserve teams currently play in the with the First team in the Premier Division and the Reserve team in the Premier Reserve Division.

The youth academey teams both play in the Guildford & Woking Alliance League. The Shalford Youth 'A' play in Division 3 and Shalford Youth 'B' play in Division 4S.

=="Caged Tigers"==
Away from the pitch, Shalford are far more than just a game of football and their 'Caged Tiger' spirit and brand extends way beyond the touchline. The club's founding principles of fun, fellowship and adventure guide them through the ups and downs of each passing season and the friendly set-up and legendary social scene continues to draw players from far and wide and keeps them coming back to us year after year. http://www.shalfordfc.co.uk/ 1

Committee Members
Chairman: Andy Rudman

Secretary: Dave Rowe

Treasurer: Nick Brown

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