| Club
History
Knaphill Football Club began its life in 1924 at Waterer's Park.
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 so long as the
bottom part of the field was very "soggy", whilst
the rest was uneven and infested with moles. And these conditions
can still be seen over 70 years later!
Very little history is know about the Club between 1924 and
1980, although we do know that the team colours were originally
red and white.
In 1980 Knaphill were represented in the Old Woking and District
League (now Guildford and Woking Alliance League) in Division
3 under Manager dave Holloway. Dave took them from Division
3 through promotion to the Surrey Intermediate League. Dave
then left Knaphill to take over Conference side Woking's reserve
and youth teams.
The late Andy Wescott took over the Manager's position at Knaphill
in 1984. 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 was to go on to take over the running of the Reserve
Team from Clive Howes.
In 1990, Mick Garbutt became the Manager of Knaphill and Paul
Bambini was running the Reserve Team. Mick Garbutt left the
Club in 1994 to join up with Colin Lippiatt and Geoff Chapple
at Woking.
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.
Season 1995/96 saw the arrival of Greg Anderson as Manager,
with Sean Carrigy running the Reserve Team.
In 1996 Dave Freeman took over from Greg and is still the current
First Team Manager.
The Reserve Team Manager's position was handed over to Noff
Diliberto in 1997, he left the Club a year later, when Carl
Baker took over.
Season 2002/03 saw 2 new men at the helm with Mick Garbutt in
charge of the 1st Team and Frank Walters in charge of the Reserves.
Paul Bailey took over midway through 2002/2003, 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 2003/2004 season the club formed a third
team named 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 2004/2005 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 role.
The club also moved into there new ground at Redding Way and
the re-development of the Waterers Park ground, due to finished
by April 2005, giving Knaphill Football Club some of the best
facilities in the Surrey area.
In the 2004/2005 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 there respective division.
Season 2005/2006 was destined to be a big season for the club
with the club established at its new ground at Redding Way and
the A Team now reverting back to Waterers Park having had the
facilities refurbished.
1st Team Manager Dave Freeman remains in charge for the 2005/2006
campaign and has appointed former professional with Bristol
City, Bob Pritchard, who has also managed at senior level with
Chertsey Town, amongst others, as 1st Team Coach. Kevin Fletcher
was appointed Reserve Team Manager having impressed by running
the A Team the previous season.
The 2005/2006 season did prove successful as we won the Division
One title on the last day of the season against nearest rivals
Virginia Water and gained promotion to the Premier Division.
Season 2006/2007 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 Premier Division Championship
which resulted in us 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 2007/2008, 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.
The club is also going F.A Community Standard Charter.
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