Crowborough Athletic F.C. facts for kids
![]() |
|||
Full name | Crowborough Athletic Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Crows | ||
Founded | 1894 | ||
Ground | Crowborough Community Stadium, Crowborough | ||
Capacity | 2,000 (150 seated) | ||
Chairman | Phil Tibbutt | ||
Manager | Sean Muggeridge | ||
League | Southern Counties East League Premier Division | ||
2018–19 | Southern Counties East League Premier Division, 13th of 20 | ||
|
Crowborough Athletic Football Club, often called 'The Crows', is a football team from Crowborough, East Sussex, England. They play their games at the Crowborough Community Stadium. This club is part of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division league and is connected to the Sussex County Football Association.
Contents
The Story of Crowborough Athletic F.C.
How the Club Started
Crowborough Athletic Football Club began way back in 1894. For many years, they played in local leagues around the Tunbridge Wells area. It was a long time before they joined a bigger league.
Joining the Sussex County League
In 1974, the club took a big step. They joined Division Two of the Sussex County League. This was a more organized league. In the 1977–78 season, they even won the Division Two Cup!
Ups and Downs in the Leagues
The team stayed in Division Two for a while. But at the end of the 1983–84 season, they moved down to Division Three. They worked hard and finished second in Division Three in 1986–87. This meant they were promoted back to Division Two.
In 1992–93, Crowborough Athletic had a fantastic season. They won Division Two! It was a very exciting final day. They beat their rivals, Stamco, 3–2. Stamco only needed a draw to win the title. This win meant Crowborough was promoted to Division One.
Challenges and Comebacks
After a few years in Division One, the team finished last in 1995–96. This sent them back down to Division Two. In 1998–99, they faced another challenge. They were relegated to Division Three again.
But the Crows didn't give up! They were promoted back to Division Two in 1999–2000. Even though they finished fourth, it was enough to move up. However, they went down to Division Three again the very next season.
Winning Ways and Promotions
The early 2000s were a great time for the club. In 2001–02, they won the Division Three Cup. Then, in 2003–04, they became champions of Division Three! The next season, they won Division Two. This meant they were back in Division One.
In 2006–07, they won the League Cup. The 2007–08 season was even better. They won Division One! This big win led to a promotion to the Isthmian League, Division One South. This was a higher level of football for the club.
Tough Times and New Leagues
After their promotion, many players left the team. This was because a main supporter stopped giving money. The club finished last in their first season in the Isthmian League (2008–09). They were relegated back to the Sussex County League.
In 2014, the club moved to the Southern Counties East League. In 2016, they became part of the Premier Division when the league added a second division.
Recent Seasons
In 2022, Crowborough Athletic moved to the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League. In the 2023–24 season, they finished third in the Premier Division. This allowed them to play in the promotion play-offs. They played against Newhaven in the semi-finals. It was a very close game, but they lost 5–4 in a penalty shootout.
Where Do They Play?
Crowborough Athletic has played at the Alderbrook Recreation Ground since the early 1950s. This has been their home for a long time. The ground has been updated and is now called the Crowborough Community Stadium. It can hold up to 2,000 people. There are 150 seats for fans to watch the games.
What They've Won
Here are some of the important trophies and titles Crowborough Athletic has won:
- Sussex County League
- Champions: 2007–08
- Division Two champions: 1992–93, 2004–05
- Division Three champions: 2003–04
- John O'Hara League Challenge Cup winners: 2006–07
- Division Three Cup winners: 2001–02, 2003–04
- Mid-Sussex Senior Charity Cup
- Winners: 1951–52, 1953–54
Club Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 2008–09
- Best FA Trophy performance: First qualifying round, 2008–09
- Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round, 2007–08
Images for kids
See also
- Crowborough Athletic F.C. players