Knaphill F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Knaphill
fullname = Knaphill Football Club
nickname = The Knappers
founded = 1924
ground = The Brookwood Country Park
Football Ground,
Knaphill
capacity = 750
chairman = Nick Croshaw
manager = Bob Pritchard
league = Combined Counties League
Division One
season = 2007–08
position = Combined Counties League
Division One, 7th

History

Knaphill Football Club is a football club established in 1924 and based in Knaphill, near Woking, Surrey, England. In 2007, they joined Combined Counties League Division One after winning the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western).

Knaphill Football Club began its life in 1924 at Waterer's Park in Knaphill, Woking, Surrey. Waterer's Park was left to Woking Urban District Council in 1924 by Mr Anthony Waterer of Knaphill Nursery.

The Recreation Ground was originally part of the nursery called "Blue Gates Field" and the park was laid out by Woking Council between 1924 and 1928 - the task taking a long time as the bottom part of the field was very "soggy", whilst the rest was uneven and infested with moles, these conditions can still be seen over 70 years later! Very little is known about the Club history between 1924 and 1980, although we do know that the original team colours were originally red and white.

In 1980 Knaphill were represented in the Old Woking and District League (now Guildford and Woking Alliance) in Division 3 under Manager Dave Holloway. Dave gained promotion that took them from Division 3 through to the Surrey Intermediate League. Dave then left Knaphill to take over Conference side Woking's reserve and youth teams.

In 1984 the late Andy Wescott then took over the Manager's position at Knaphill. Andy successfully took the Club from Division 3 to the Premier Division 1, at the same time Clive Howes was running the Reserve Team, who also won promotion from Division 3 to the Reserves Premier Division 1. Geoff Poulton then took over the running of the Reserve Team from Clive Howes.

In 1990, Mick Garbutt became the Manager of Knaphill, with Paul Bambini running the Reserve Team. Mick Garbutt left the Club in 1994 to join up with Colin Lippiatt and Geoff Chapple at Woking FC going on to enjoy the clubs most successful years.

After this time the club went into decline and was struggling for players for both the First and Reserve Teams. The decision was taken by the present Senior Secretary, Sean Carrigy, to approach local team Heathlands, who were playing in the Guildford and Woking Alliance League. Heathlands found themselves struggling for facilities but not players, this gave the two teams the opportunity to amalgamate.

The 1995-96 season saw the arrival of Greg Anderson as Manager, with Sean Carrigy running the Reserve Team.

In 1996 Dave Freeman took over from Greg and remained 1st Team Manager until 2007, when he stepped down to Assistant Manager.

The Reserve Team Manager's position was handed over to Noff Diliberto in 1997, he left the club a year later, with Carl Baker taking over.

The 2002-03 season saw two new men at the helm with Mick Garbutt back in charge of the 1st Team and Frank Walters in charge of the Reserves.

Paul Bailey took over midway through 2002-03, Carl Barker is now in his second spell as Reserve Team Manager with Danny James as Reserve Team Coach and Dave Freeman as 1st team coach.

At the start of the 2003-04 season the club formed a third team, Knaphill 'A', to play in the Guildford & Woking Alliance League due to volume of players at the club. Carl Barker took over as A Team Manager with Danny James in charge of the Reserves.

The 2004-05 season brought about further changes at team management level seeing Dave Freeman retiring from playing due to injuries and being appointed as 1st Team Manager with Mick Garbutt stepping down to Assistant Manager. There is also a new man at the helm for the A Team with Kevin Fletcher taking over from Carl Barker who has taken up the chairman's role.

The club also moved into their new ground at Brookwood Counrty Park, Redding Way; a purpose built facility supplied by the developers of the Brookwood Manor housing development and owned by Woking Borough Council. With the re-development of the Waterer's Park ground, completed in April 2005, this gave Knaphill Football Club some of the best facilities in the Surrey area.

In the 2004-05 season the Reserves finished Runners Up to Old Rutlishians and the A Team were beaten by a last gasp winner in the Junior Cup Semi-Final against Shepperton FB with 1st Team finishing in their respective division.

The 2005-06 season was destined to be a big season for the club, now firmly established at its new ground at Redding Way and the A Team now reverting back to Waterer's Park having had the facilities refurbished.

1st Team Manager Dave Freeman remained in charge for the 2005-06 campaign and appointed Bob Pritchard, former professional with Bristol City and Chertsey Town manager as 1st Team Coach. Kevin Fletcher was appointed Reserve Team Manager having impressed by running the A Team the previous season.

The 2005-06 season did prove successful as we won the Surrey Intermediate Division One title on the last day of the season against nearest rivals Virginia Water and gained promotion to the Premier Division.

The 2006-07 season continued with Dave Freeman in charge of the 1st Team and Paul Bailey re-appointed as Reserve Team Manager. The A Team management was split during the season. Martin Hobson took charge during the first few months but had to resign due to work and family commitments. Gavin Wilcox and Tim Handley then took over until the end of the season. The 1st Team claimed back to back titles by winning the Surrey Intermediate Premier Division Championship which resulted in achieving promotion to the Combined Counties Football League, the most successful period in the club’s history.

With the club entering a new era for season 2007-08, Dave Freeman, Bob Pritchard and Mick Garbutt remain in charge of 1st Team affairs; the club appointed former Ockham Manager Steve Hutton as Reserve Team Manager and Paul Bailey is now in charge of the ‘A’ Team. We also have two under 17 sides managed by Ray Coombes and Steve Baggot.

New Chairman Nick Croshaw along with Kevin Barkham have brought together Knaphill FC & Knaphill Wanderers, the junior club providing football for boys and girls of all ages and abilities, under the umbrella of Knaphill Football Club. At the same time plans to provide floodlights and further improvements to the ground are underway. The club is also going FA Community Standard Charter.

The club received the 1st Division Programme of the Year and Secretary of the Year (Bryan Freeman) at the 2007/08 end of season awards. The 2008/09 season started with the loss of Steve Hutton to Woking & Horsell FC Surrey County Intermediate League (Western). along with many players. With pre-season ready to go the club had, but a hand full of players and no Reserve team! One of the first pre-season signings was experienced player/coach Ian Savage. Ian's presence at the club was a huge bonus as it attracted a great number of quality players from local teams and higher leagues. This led to the highest quality squad Knaphill have ever had. The addition of Graham Pope & Iain MacLean to run the Reserve Team was the final piece of the jigsaw. A new management structure for the 'A' team was also finalised. The season was ready to begin.

Ground

Redding Way or Brookwood Country Park to give it its full title is located at the foot of Knap Hill and bordered by Hermitage Road, the Basingstoke Canal and Redding Way. A council owned facility, it boasts one of the best pitches in local football and we receive favourable comments from players, club & martch officials and supporters alike. Completed in April 2005 the facility was originally shared by Knaphill FC, Woking Ladies (now defunct), Knaphill Wanderers Girls and Woking District Schools. The ground is enclosed by high wire fencing on three sides and a mature tree line on the fourth. There is a car park to the front of the clubhouse. The Club house itself has four changing rooms, match officials changing room, a medical room, ladies, gents & disabled toilets, a clubroom and food prepartion facilities.

External links

[http://www.knaphillfootballclub.co.uk/ Official site]