I'm a wanderer...
It's safe to say I have never been a historian, always preferred geography, probably where the love for football tourism came from. But every now and then, an opportunity presents itself, a historic football team, in an historic venue.
Wanderers 3 - 3 Warlingham FC
17th September 2022
Crystal Palace National Sports Stadium
Surrey South Eastern Combination
I could reel off a library of information on this great club, but I cannot do it any justice, so here are some quick hits. Often credited with being one of the founding figures of the game we all love today, Charles William Alcock, after finishing at Harrow (where else), in 1859, saw a gap in the market for a way to continue his sporting endeavours, and with his brother, John, formed Forest Club, as a prelude to Wanderers FC. They went on to play, and beat Crystal Palace in a 15-a-side match.
Charles was a busy man. He was elected to the FA committee, which he had a hand in founding, and was secretary in 1870, and did this for 25 years, the first 17 just happened to be unpaid (take note, Sepp Blatter). He also had stints as Secretary of Surrey Country Cricket Club, President of the Referees Association and the Surrey FA, played for England and managed to publish books and articles. Not to mention, proposed the creation of the FA Cup, which Wanderers FC won five times. The club folded in 1887, but in 2009, they have been reborn and reformed, with the blessing of descendants of Alcock. They begun life at step 17, in the Surrey pyramid, and today, find themselves at a ground that matches their history. The Crystal Palace National Sports Stadium, which hosted FA Cup finals between 1895 and 1914.
After a mazy, complex walk through the sports centre, passing through every sport imaginable, including Beach Volleyball (perfect for sunny Norwood), you are finally greeted by this glorious stadium. It's a very Soviet style bowl, could easily be Bulgaria or Serbia rather then the deepest of South London. If you were watching Spartak Wanderers vs Torpedo Warlingham, no questions would be asked. A fabulous, brutalist scoreboard which is now serving as an apartment complex for pigeons, and terraces which are competing against weeds only seem to heighten the senses. A slightly late kick off, possibly due to the time it takes to get pitch side, and the sound of hockey and athletics jarring against the natural audio sensations. Wanderers are playing in a lovely horizontal striped kit that makes me wish for a club shop. The away teams number 14 is running the line, adding to the corinthian spirit as the ball bobbles on the uneven surface.
Wanderers have the better of the early exchanges, playing expansively. A wonderful passing manoeuvre sees a 1-0 lead. 2-0 on the stroke of half time and this is a wander in the park. It seems they have learnt from their pioneering forefathers.
The second half brings a change for the away team, former lino number 14 takes to the field, and running the line in his stead, is a shirtless man. What would Alcock think?! It's hard to keep track of the game when you are in such a legendary venue, but Warlingham play a lot better, must have been the touchline blasting the manager gave them. Wanderers initially do not seem phased, playing a composed low block, until the composure leaves them, and somehow, the game finishes 3-3. A glorious exhibition of football, played in the spirit of competition, makes you wish this stadium was full.
Wanderers wear their history well, it's clearly a club with respect for what came before them, and with big aims. It's clear the council or local authorities do not seem to care about heritage, but they must do something for this ground. In the meantime, a club is doing it's bit, to keep this stadium, and what came before, and shaped what we know today, alive. The heritage of Wanderers FC is here to stay.