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AFC Croydon Athletic

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Croydon Athletic
Full nameAssociation Football Club Croydon Athletic
NicknameThe Rams
Founded2012
GroundMayfield Stadium, Thornton Heath
OwnerAFC Croydon Athletic 2023 Ltd
Co-chairmenDanny Young, Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy
ManagerDanny Kedwell
LeagueIsthmian League South East Division
2025–26Isthmian League South East Division, 2nd of 22
Websitecroydonathletic.com

Association Football Club Croydon Athletic is a football club based in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Founded by supporters of Croydon Athletic after it folded, the club are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Mayfield Stadium. They are affiliated to the London Football Association.[1]

History

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The club was formed in 2012 by fans of Croydon Athletic F.C. after that club withdrew from the Isthmian League during the 2011–12 season and eventually folded.[2] Prior to their resignation, the club's owner Mazhar Majeed had been jailed following his involvement in the Pakistan cricket spot-fixing scandal, Majeed had been recorded admitting that he had purchased the club solely in order to launder money, and the club had been locked out of its ground by the local council due to unpaid debts.[2]

The new club joined Division One of the Combined Counties League for the 2012–13 season.[3] In their first season they finished eighth and won the Division One cup, beating Staines Lammas 5–0 in the final.[4] They finished seventh the following season and were runner-up in 2014–15, earning promotion to level eight of the pyramid. Rather than entering the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, they were transferred into the Southern Counties East League.[5] The season also saw them win the London Senior Trophy, beating Interwood 4–3 after extra time.[6] The first season in the Southern Counties East Football League saw them finish eleventh, their highest finish to date.

After four years at the club, manager Antony Williams left to join Chipstead in May 2016,although Peter Deadman was heavily linked to the role he was replaced by Kevin Rayner.[7] At the end of his first season in charge he led the team to their highest finish of his reign of seventh. At the end of the 2020–21 season the club were transferred to the Premier Division South of the Combined Counties League.

In 2023, the club was bought by a consortium consisting of Premier League footballer Wilfried Zaha, rapper Stormzy and former Crystal Palace head of care Danny Young.[8][9] Jermaine McGlashan was appointed manager during the 2023–24 season and led the club to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier Division South, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Jersey Bulls 2–1 in the semi-finals, they defeated Knaphill 2–1 in the final to earn promotion to the South East Division of the Isthmian League.[10] McGlasham left the club nine matches into the 2024–25 season and was replaced by Keith Millen. In February 2025, Danny Kedwell replaced Millen.[11]

Ground

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After its establishment the club were unable to continue playing at the former club's Mayfield Stadium, and so arranged to groundshare with Croydon F.C. at the Croydon Sports Arena.[12] In January 2013 the Mayfield Stadium clubhouse was destroyed in a fire,[12] but was rebuilt and the club moved to the ground in 2014, playing their first match there against Banstead Athletic on 15 November 2014.[13]

Mayfield Stadium

Current squad

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As of 7 August 2026[14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  CIV Amadou Tangara
— GK  ENG Frankie Beckles
2 DF  ENG Finley Marjoram
3 DF  ENG Noah Watson
4 MF  ENG Sam Blackman
5 MF  ENG Luke O'Neill
6 DF  ENG Ronnie Vint
7 MF  GUY Kadell Daniel
8 MF  ENG Jack Paxman
9 FW  ENG David Bremang
10 FW  ENG Reece Grant
11 FW  ENG Greg Cundle
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW  ENG Dan Thompson
15 MF  ENG James Taylor
16 DF  ENG Luke Dreher
17 FW  ENG Josh Williams
18 MF  ENG James Dunne
19 MF  ENG
20 DF  IRL Cian McCarthy
21 DF  ENG Ben Wynter
22 FW  ENG Brandon Pierrick
— DF  ENG Sonny Black
— FW  ENG David Boateng

Club officials

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Position Name
ChairmanDanny Young
Vice-chairmanPaul Smith
SecretaryPaul Smith
Matchday CommunicationSean Ryan
ManagerDanny Kedwell
Assistant ManagerDean Beckwith
Goalkeeping CoachBen Kilsby
Data CoachDave Kast
PhysioSam Oyarhono

Managers

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As of matches played 1 May 2026. All competitive matches are counted.[15]
Name From To G W D L %W
Antony Williams 29 May 2012 4 May 2016 166861763051.81
Kevin Rayner 26 May 2016 18 May 2023 2868958139031.12
Lee Roots & Kevin Rayner 19 May 2023 13 September 2023 15834053.33
Danny Young (Caretaker) 16 September 2023 11 October 2023 5302060.00
Jermaine McGlashan 11 October 2023 16 September 2024 4827417056.25
Michael Kamara (caretaker) 16 September 2024 18 November 2024 14572035.71
Keith Millen 18 November 2024 13 February 2025 14347021.43
Danny Kedwell 14 February 2025 current 68381020055.88

Honours

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  • Combined Counties League
    • Premier Division South Play Off winners 2023–24
    • Division One Cup winners 2012–13
  • London Senior Trophy
    • Winners 2014–15

Records

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ AFC Croydon Athletic Football Club Southern Counties East League
  2. 1 2 Croydon Athletic FC revival plans get underway[permanent dead link] Croydon Advertiser, 13 April 2012
  3. 1 2 3 4 AFC Croydon Athletic at the Football Club History Database
  4. ↑ Staines Lammas beaten in Final Middlesex Football Association, 7 May 2013
  5. ↑ AFC Croydon Athletic join nineteen-team SCEFL next season Kentish Football, 27 May 2015
  6. ↑ London Senior Trophy 2014–15 London Football Association
  7. ↑ AFC Croydon Athletic have announced their new manager for next season[permanent dead link] Croydon Advertiser, 26 May 2016
  8. ↑ "Club announcement: Exchange of contracts with new consortium". AFC Croydon Athletic. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Wilfried Zaha and rapper Stormzy are set to buy AFC Croydon". BBC Sport. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. ↑ @AFCCroydonAth (7 May 2024). "Rams promoted! Play Off winners! Yes, this is real! The Rams are going up! 🐏🐏🐏 ⏭️ Next stop, Step 4 football!" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  11. ↑ "Keds' new managerial role". Kent Online. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  12. 1 2 AFC Croydon Athletic in race against time to return to 'spiritual home' for new season Wirral Globe, 8 July 2014
  13. ↑ Saga of the Rams David Bauckham
  14. ↑ Men's First Team. AFC Croydon Athletic. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  15. ↑ Hall of Fame AFC Croydon Athletic
  16. 1 2 "Official matchday programme: Croydon Athletic vs Sheppey United". Croydon Athletic. 4 January 2025.
  17. ↑ "Official matchday programme: Croydon Athletic vs Beckenham Town". Croydon Athletic. 27 December 2021.
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51°23′36″N 0°07′36″W / 51.3934°N 0.1266°W / 51.3934; -0.1266

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