Herne Bay will be looking to put Tuesday evening’s disappointing defeat behind them on Saturday when they travel to play-off chasing Carshalton Athletic.

The Opposition

Carshalton Athletic can trace its roots to two separate teams playing in Wrythe Green in Carshalton in the early twentieth century. Whilst the club's history is dated to the formation of Mill Lane Mission in 1905 it also recognises the importance of officials, players, and supporters of Carshalton St Andrews in its history.

Carshalton St Andrews was formed in 1897 by the vicar of St Andrews, Revd. C.W. Cleaver and began playing in the Surrey County Herald League. In 1902 they were promoted into the Southern Suburban League Division 2 West. They agreed to fold and amalgamate with Mill Lane Mission in 1906 but did not formally do so until they had honoured their remaining obligations at the end of the 1907–08 season.

Meanwhile, Mill Lane Mission registered their name change with the Surrey F.A. and began playing under the name Carshalton Athletic F.C. in 1907. The first ever match under this name was on 7 September 1907 at home on the Wrythe Green recreation ground in a friendly against Westbrook (Thornton Heath).

The club did not apply to enter the FA Challenge Cup or FA Amateur Cup because facilities at the ground were not up to standard for these competitions. Fortunately, it proved possible to find volunteers and donors to enable this work to be carried out. The work on the ground proved to be needed the following season as Carshalton Athletic were elected to the Corinthian League, which had been set up in the previous year, for the 1946–47 season.

The 1955–56 season was unremarkable on the pitch but did see further advances around the ground as Carshalton Athletic's success of recent season was reflected in the size of the supporter’s club with over 2000 members. It was also the club's last appearance in the Corinthian League as the summer of 1956 saw election to the Athenian League.

For the next 17 years the club competed in the Athenian League with very little success never really threatening to win the league and finishing at the bottom of the table twice (1959–60 and 1960–61 seasons). Their best performance coming in the 1963–64 season when the club managed to finish the season in third place. Around the ground floodlights were finally erected on six pylons in 1967.

In the summer of 1973 Carshalton Athletic finally achieved a promotion of sorts when they were elected as founder members of the newly created Isthmian League Division 2. The first two seasons proved to be a struggle and in their third they just missed out on promotion finishing third in the league.

Three years of struggle paid off in the 1976–77 season when promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division after finishing as runners up in the league in a year in which they also won the Surrey Senior Shield. In 2001, they finished seventh, thus qualifying for the new Conference South.

After a £12 million plan to rebuild the ground fell through, chairman Steve Friend resigned, followed by manager Billy Smith. Under Jimmy Bolton, Carshalton retained their place in the Conference South in 2004–05. In 2005–06, the club's centenary season, the Club was relegated back to the Isthmian League.

Local businessman Paul Dipre purchased the club in 2008, paid off substantial tax bills and set out a ten-year plan to develop the club into a community hub. Dipre promised to rejuvenate the club from the bottom up.

The first year under Dipre was one of the club's most successful. On the pitch, aided with 31 goals from Richard Jolly, The Robins finished in 4th place, setting up a play-off semi-final with Tonbridge Angels. Athletic claimed a thrilling 3-2 win to meet Staines Town in the final.

More promotions and relegations were to follow over the years but Carshalton Athletic Football Club, under the management of Steve McKimm, have consolidated themselves in the Isthmian League Premier Division, when they have spent the previous five seasons, two of which were heavily interrupted by Covid-19.

Opposition so far

So far, our hosts on Saturday have enjoyed a positive campaign and find themselves sat seventh in the Isthmian League Premier Division table after 17 wins, seven draws, and 11 losses from their 35 completed matches, scoring 45 goals but conceding 41. Such is their record that they are well within the conversation for a play-off place.

In their last outing against relegation threatened Corinthian-Casuals, goals from Femi Akinwande, Crossley Lema, Calvin Ekpiteta, and Chinedu McKenzie-Atumuto saw Carshalton to a heavy handed 4-1 victory at King George’s Field.

Key Players

Femi Akinwande (Forward): Liam signed at the start of the 2022/23 season. Liam was voted Supporters Player of the Season in 2021/22 at Metropolitan Police after helping them reach the Southern League Premier South Playoff semi-final.

Also earned end of season honours at previous clubs, Farnborough, Fleet Town, Walton and Hersham and Guildford City.

Tom Beere (Midfielder): Joined the Robins from Tonbridge Angels in June 2022. Started his career with AFC Wimbledon, for whom he made around 30 first team appearances, winners in the 2014 London Senior Cup Final and in the home leg of the 2016 League Two Playoff
Finals. Twice promoted from Step 3 to Step 2, first with Hampton and Richmond Borough and then with Tonbridge and says he is looking to add a third with Carshalton.

Calvin Ekpiteta (Midfielder): Joined in July 2022. Midfielder Calvin is another familiar face to Carshalton fans, having turned out for Kingstonian and Potters Bar (for whom he opened the scoring at Colston Avenue) during the 2021/22 season.

After a youth career which included playing against Chelsea in the 3rd round of the FA Youth Cup, his non-league travels have also taken him to Grays Athletic, Bishops Stortford, East Thurrock United, Merstham, Concord Rangers and Margate.

Last time we met

The last time we faced Carshalton was earlier on in the season on November 8, 2022. On that occasion, the Bay put on a brave second half comeback, with goals scored by Kieron Campbell and Rory Smith, but it wasn’t enough as the visitors hung on to run out 3-2 winners at the MBS Stadium.

Ticket News

Over 17s (Online): £11
Over 65s (Online): £8
Under 18s (Online): £3

You can purchase your tickets online by following this link.

https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/tickets

Alternatively, you can buy your tickets on the gate, but the amended prices are below.

Over 17s (On the Gate): £12
Over 65s (On the Gate): £9
Under 18s (On the Gate): £4